Today we’d like to introduce you to Lyndsey Williams.
Hi Lyndsey, 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 backstories with our readers.
I graduated from University of Maryland Baltimore in 2017 with my Masters of Social Work. I started working at a Baltimore area hospital and OB/GYN clinic in 2018. At first, I was a generalist social worker taking referrals, checking boxes, and connecting patients to resources. I even thought I was bored and wanted to pursue a degree in public health. Thankfully, my wise supervisor at the time encouraged me to dig a little deeper into the work I was doing and find my passion point. This turned out to be such essential advice. I networked with other social workers in the field and realized there were evidenced-based practices to work with pregnant and postpartum women. I received more training from entities like Postpartum Support International and Seleni Institute and fell in love with the work of women’s therapy. I expanded my specialty to include reproductive mental health throughout the lifespan. After leaving the hospital setting, I continued my passion for women’s health in my role as program manager for maternal child health initiatives for a Baltimore nonprofit . The maternal mental health field has gained traction and presented opportunities for me to expand my work outside of Maryland to include Seattle, WA where I continue to gain clinical experience and work as a primary care behavioral health provider and consultant.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Being a young parent and forming your career path is not easy. I burned the candle at both ends to be a good employee, good student, and an even better parent. I had to come up with a new babysitter plan every semester, but I got it done.
Starting a business is also risky as a parent. Money can be inconsistent. You worry about benefits. You may not be as available to the business as you want to be. Being a clinical professional also brings its challenges because you are never done learning. There is always a new training to do or pay for to ensure the most expertise with my clients. Over the years, I have been able to strike a healthier balance between these competing interests.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Kyla Care?
When I was searching for a name for my business, it was important that I incorporated a village concept. I opened my private practice, Kyla Care, in 2020. Kyla means village in Finnish. I wanted to create a practice where women could feel seen as they cope through their unique experiences. Specializing in reproductive mental health is valuable as certain subjects like difficulties with motherhood, miscarriage, infant loss, perimenopause, postpartum depression and infertility remain taboo topics within our community. My services are unique because I connect with my clients through our common intersectionality. I bring the beauty and nuance of being a black professional, entreprenuer, working mother to my work. I have been expertly trained and certified in reproductive and maternal mental health to provide competent treatment and interventions. I have had the benefit of working in various women’s healthcare settings, which gives me a more complete understanding of what my clients experience and helps me to meet them where they are.
Brand-wise, I am most proud of starting my business and designing my image as a practitioner. It takes a lot of courage to put your stick in the ground and will it to grow. Anyone who steps into private practice is brave.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Giving off the best energy in everything I do is what matters to me. I really try to achieve this by maintaining my boundaries, staying true to myself and my values, saying no when I have to, and prioritizing self-care. This really helps me to bring my best self to the people and situations that matter to me the most.
Contact Info:
- Website: kylacaretherapy.com
- Instagram: kylacaretherapy
