Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Flores.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in Chihuahua, Mexico. When my family arrived in Memphis, I was the age of 10- years-old and we have been here ever since. I always knew how important it was to become accustomed to the culture while maintaining my native culture and traditions. When my sisters and I enrolled in school, we did not know how to speak English and there was only one school in the entire county that taught children how to speak English. I went through a couple of months of English lessons and grew up thinking that I did not know how to speak English because you always hear how difficult it is to learn another language, LOL. I attended college at Ole Miss and once I started diving deep into psychology and sociology, I knew the counseling field was the right career path.
I am where I am today thanks to the consistent support I’ve always received from my husband and family, along with my willingness to never give up. My professional experience includes working at a local mental health hospital, working with children who have endured severe sexual abuse, working with families who have experienced domestic and family violence, and working with victims of violent crimes at a local government agency. I also have extensive experience in collaborating with local agencies to ensure families are connected to resources in the community.
Flores Counseling Services was founded in 2019, as a Bilingual-Bicultural psychotherapy office offering culturally responsible counseling services to individuals, families, groups and couples, along with immigration psychological evaluations and other consulting services. FCS collaborates with many local organizations to provide many services free of charge.
I am a proponent and advocate for mental health wellness. My goal is to debunk the misinterpretation and misunderstanding about therapy and the overall concept of mental health wellness, particularly within the Hispanic 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?
One big challenge for me is feeling like I am on an island when advocating for my (Hispanic) community, there are few resources available for the community, but I am still grateful for those resources.
Other challenges I have encountered in my profession continue to relate to the Hispanic community such as navigating cultural nuances, building trust and dealing with other barriers like immigration related concerns. Many of these challenges stem from cultural values, generational beliefs, religion and faith. There is a big misconception centered around mental health services and keeping within cultural norms, it is believed that mental health struggles are personal weaknesses and that problems should be kept with the family. There is also have a lack of understanding of what therapy really entails, so it is common to believe that when a person has reached a point where they have to seek therapeutic services is because they are “crazy” rather than looking at therapy as a preventive measure and just overall mental wellness.
I am always up to the challenge! By allowing people to build trust, providing culturally sensitive therapy and making sure people have the knowledge and a clear understanding of mental health, I am excited to change people’s negative perception of therapy one session at a time!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My official professional title is (Bilingual-Bicultural) Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health Service Provider. My specialty is trauma, and anything related. My job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Conduct individual, family, and/or group therapy sessions in accordance with ethical and professional standards.
Complete clinical assessments, intake evaluations, and diagnostic formulations.
Develop and implement individualized treatment plans based on client goals and therapeutic needs.
Provide crisis intervention and risk assessments as needed.
Collaborate with other clinicians, case managers, and outside agencies to ensure coordinated care.
Participate in team meetings, and continuing education.
Stay informed of current evidence-based practices and professional trends.
I am extremely proud that Flores Counseling Services goes far beyond a counseling practice, it is a community anchor. This is a safe and culturally affirming space for healing, education and belonging. On a personal level I am proud that I am able to balance family, work, leaderships, and self-care. On an emotional level, I proud that I choose growth over comfort. Most important of all, I am proud of the impact I get to make on other people’s lives.
How do you define success?
Success is not a one size fits all, it is motivated by your morals, values and belief system. Some people focus on tangible things like financial stability, careers, and other milestones. Other focus on inner success like emotional well-being and peace. For me, success resonates with progress, growth, inner peace, emotional and mental health wellness. It is not perfection but who you become in the process of achieving a goal. I personally identify success with enjoying what I do and being the best version of myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.florescounselingservices.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/florescounselingservices/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Flores-Counseling-Services/100063494626076/#
Image Credits
Headshot by Susan Heard
Susan Heard Photography, LLC
