S1 Ep10: Prioritizing Your Health + Words From My Past Therapist
Meet Dee!
DeAnn is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Florida and owns a private practice in Orlando. She specializes in working with adolescent girls and young women struggling with self-esteem issues, anxiety and depression, self-harming and eating disorders. Her passion for empowering females drives her practice and her genuine, relational approach guides clients toward healing and growth. In addition, one of the most fulfilling roles DeAnn gets to play is her role in ministry. Along with her husband, Myles, DeAnn helps lead the youth group at C/Life Church called Wildfire.
The greatest thing that DeAnn has ever achieved, however, is becoming a mother to two beautiful girls, Adelynn (6) and Brooklyn (2). Motherhood has taught her grace, patience, strength, unconditional love and the realest work she’s ever had to endure, but also the most rewarding.
You can find her instagram on her life here.
DeAnn graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2007 with her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Psychology. After teaching High School for three years, and living abroad in Sydney, Australia, she pursued her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Grand Canyon University. She graduated at the top of her class with a 4.0 GPA and immediately went into private practice. DeAnn met her husband, Myles, back in 2006, and after being friends for six years, they fell in love, got engaged (in Thailand!) and were married in October of 2012. DeAnn, Myles, Adelynn and Brooklyn live in Orlando, Florida with their goldendoodle, Frank.
In this episode, Dee and I discuss various topics that go in-depth and very honestly share our experiences with our mental health. Talking with Dee again was such a delight, as she is an angel on earth, with so many hats in life. Some key talking points:
Dee takes us through her story and why she decided to switch from a modeling career to a counseling career. One of my favorite takeaways was when Dee was sharing her experience and said, “I would rather not be known and sit on a couch with a girl and empower her rather her looking at me in a magazine and wishing she looked like me.”
Dee shares a beautiful analogy about keeping OUR pitchers filled before we pour into others. How in order to stay full, we must continue to pour into ourselves instead of tipping empty all the way.
How God’s timing is the right timing, not what we believe it to be. My favorite thing that Dee said on this topic, “What I’ve learned more than anything in my life, is the second you let go, and the moment you truly say, “you have plans for me,” is the best timing.”
In addition, breaking the stigma of therapy, but not over exaggerating the mental terms to an extreme. Finding the difference between feeling depressed or feeling an emotion. There is a difference and I appreciate Dee for sharing this as something to be cautious of.
The best way to find a therapist (link below!)
I highly recommend grabbing a paper and pen near the end of the episode, after you get to hear more of Dee’s story and why she chose to go from a modeling career to counseling.
To anyone reading or listening know that you are strong, there are many resources to help you when you are feeling down, and taking care of yourself and mental health is never selfish. Below is the website that Dee mentions if you are looking to find a therapist. While she does suggest asking friends around to see what therapists work best for them, Psychology Today is another option!
Dee knew she had a different calling when something didn’t feel right. I hope this is a reminder for you that it’s never too late to start over, or dream big, my dear friend.
xo,
Shelby