Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Williams
Hi Brandon, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Focal Point started as an education firm and community resource for Transracial Adoptive individuals and families. Stormey Nielsen and Brandon Williams co-own Focal Point. They are both transracial adoptees (TRA). This means that they are individuals of one race adopted by parents of a different race. Stormey and Brandon met in their undergraduate program of social work at Utah Valley University. One of their classes that focused on topics of race and culture in society cultivated conversations between them about their shared, lived experience as TRAs. These conversations also led them to examine their professional experiences working with adoptees in social work settings such as crisis shelters, residential treatment centers, and the juvenile justice system. Stormey and Brandon continued to discuss their experiences personally and professionally and recognized the unique needs of TRAs within mental health and community building. With an effort to support, uplift, and empower TRAs, Focal Point was created. Focal Point was initially focused on raising awareness in Utah’s Black and White communities about the specific needs of TRAs, providing education to parents and individuals within transracial adoptive homes, and building community for TRA’s. Creating space for TRA’s and giving them a voice has been impactful in helping TRA’s be seen for their unique experience. This type of representation and advocacy creates opportunities for TRA’s to feel validated and hopeful in their lives. The unique needs of TRA’s require mental health practitioners that are competent in culture, adoption, race, trauma and identity. Due to this, Focal Point is now a mental health agency that provides outpatient therapeutic services as well as continuing to work in the community.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In the beginning it was easy to have conversations and build the vision of Focal Point. With our background in social work, it didn’t take a lot to see that TRA’s have specific needs. As we continued to grow and work in the community that’s where the challenges started. It is easy for others to see the needs of TRAs but getting individuals to invest in their needs has been where the difficulty lies. There’s a bias and perspective that adoptees need to be completely grateful for their experience and that these parents are “saving” these children. This is an unhealthy and extremely limited perspective on adoption as it invalidates a lot of adoptees experiences. Adoption is full of loss, grief, and trauma. Getting people to see this isn’t the issue; it is finding those with power and platform to advocate for TRAs that has been difficult. Also, we are social workers. We did not receive education in our programs about running a business. We have had to learn a lot along the way when it comes to running a business and making sure our practices and efforts are sustainable.
We’ve been impressed with Focal Point LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Focal Point is an outpatient mental health company founded in 2021 by Stormey Nielsen and Brandon Williams, both of whom are Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs). Our personal and professional experiences have deeply informed our understanding of the diverse needs within our community.
Focal Point specializes in offering tailored mental health services that address the unique needs of our clients. Our approach is rooted in understanding and responding to the diverse cultural backgrounds of those we serve. We provide a range of therapeutic services designed to support mental wellness and strengthen communities.
The inception of Focal Point stemmed from conversations between Stormey and Brandon about their shared experiences working in the community and their identities as transracial adoptees. These discussions highlighted significant gaps and needs in mental health services, especially regarding culturally competent care.
By founding Focal Point, we aimed to address these gaps and provide a specialized service that emphasizes cultural competence and adoptee competence. This focus is central to our mission, as we believe that understanding and respecting our clients’ cultural contexts leads to more effective care and better outcomes.
Focal Point is dedicated to our community and recognizes the importance of collaborating with other local organizations. Our goal is to strengthen communities that have historically been torn apart and to work hand-in-hand with community members to rebuild and enhance these areas. As part of the community ourselves, we are committed to continuous growth and partnership with others. Together, we can create a stronger, healthier community for everyone.
We are proud that we are one of the only practices in Utah that focuses on serving transracial adoptee individuals and families. Our brand isn’t just about the office. We are actively engaged in the community to address mental health needs from a wholistic lens. As social workers we work with the individuals and their environment. Being active in the community is helping us shape the environment for transracial adoptees, their families and other people of color.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Focal Point is looking to continuing to strengthen the support and competency for adoptees. We look to have offices in both Salt Lake and Utah County with adoption competent therapists. We want to build connections with key stakeholders who directly interact with adoptees whether that be within mental health agencies, education systems, career development, etc. We look to influence changes in policy (specifically in Utah) that currently disenfranchises adoptees and their families especially through the foster care system. We look to create spaces that are safe for all adoptees to support each other and engage in their community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.focalpointut.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focalpointut/profilecard/?igsh=YjczaGNrMm5pcHRk
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focalpointut
