Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacy Heaps.
Hi Stacy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In college I worked for a company called TKJ inc caring for individuals with disabilities. While working there I was encouraged to get my master’s so I could become a behavior specialist. I did my first internship at my place or work but doing behavior management stuff and I loved it. I was so stoked to get my master’s to become a master level behavior specialist. My second internship had to be different than the first so I chose an agency that did clinical therapy and adoption work so I could have a variety. Turns out I loved both of those things as well. They hired me on after I graduated, and I helped run the adoption program and provided individual and family therapy. I worked very part time at first as I had a one-year-old by now. I learned a lot about what the agency’s values were and after close to 10 years working for them, I knew that our values did not always align. For example: Their stance on LGBTQ is that it is okay for people to be LGBTQ but not okay for them to act out sexually. I saw this as damaging and hurtful and I did not agree with this and other things. At the same time they stopped their adoption program. This was a perfect transition time for me to get out on my own. I started my own company in March 2015 called S&S Counseling. I left that agency I worked for in November of 2015. I am grateful for what I learned while there; most of all- make sure the place you work has a mission and values that you agree with. Its your life, your time your expertise, life is too short to regret you were not doing something that you believe in.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not always been smooth. It took me forever to figure out insurance panels. I gave away a ton of free therapy while I navigated billing errors.
Also hiring people that did not represent the mission and vision of the company I created was hard, I could only blame myself.
And imposter syndrome sets in pretty easily if you let it.
As you know, we’re big fans of S&S Counseling. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My mission statement is: “We believe all people have inherent power. Our mission is to strengthen and support individuals in harnessing that power to create healthy minds, nurture relationships, and cultivate a meaningful life.”
My Vision is:
We aim to be a leader in delivering evidence-based tools and expanding our services. By empowering clients as active partners, we work together to cultivate a mentally healthy community.
Each therapist has a niche; each therapist has the ability to help someone with depression and anxiety and trauma but beyond that they specialize in a particular area. Currently we have 20 therapists each with their own niche.
My brand is celebrating everyone, wherever they are. It is love, inclusivity, empowerment, goodness.
We work hard at being able to serve our community, we partner well with others and contract with several other entities. We have a great training program for interns, and the vibe is top tier at S&S Counseling. We have 6 locations: 5 of them in Southern Utah being 2 in St George, 1 in Cedar. 1 in Hurricane and 1 in Hildale and then we have a straggler out in the ocean on the island of Oahu.
What makes you happy?
It makes me happy to be able to do what I love, with people I adore and provide value to the community.
Pricing:
- We take most insurances
- We offer a lot of groups and classes
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sandscounseling.org
- Instagram: sands.counseling
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/sands.counseling
- Other: You Might Relate Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
