Today we’d like to introduce you to Kionna Jones.
Hi Kionna, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
While in high school, I built a connection with a young boy in my neighborhood who was often outside alone. Eventually, he would come over when I got home from school, I’d feed him, sometimes bathe him, we’d play together, and sometimes I would take him with me to my high school football games. I was a sense of support for him. I knew then I wanted to be a sense of support for others and help others, but I didn’t quite know how.
As I attempted to narrow down a college major/ profession, I reflected on how I witnessed poverty, environmental stressors, crime, and other factors crippling the mental health of my community growing up in Memphis. These very things impacted how one may show up within their families, on the job, and in school.
This inspired me to major in Social Work at the University of Tennessee. Near the completion of my bachelor’s degree, I had this pressing desire to create a safe space for one to vent, process through years of trauma, and develop healthy coping skills. This influenced my desire to obtain my Masters in Social Work which I successfully completed and obtained from the University of Alabama in 2017.
Since that time, I have served in intensive residential facilities for boys and school-based programs as a therapist. Following those roles, I transitioned to Community Health Systems (CHS) assessing patients in crisis (suicidal, homicidal, or psychotic) in hospitals across twelve states and determining the appropriate level of care. Being a crisis provider in different states magnified the deficits that I witnessed my entire life growing up in Memphis.
So many individuals suffer from mental illness with primary stressors being finances, low resources, low support, and access to equitable healthcare, particularly people of color. This fueled my desire to explore working in outpatient therapy through private practice as an effort to prevent the likelihood of crisis involvement.
I started out doing contract work in private practice in 2021 with a colleague I met at CHS and I absolutely loved it. Anyone who asked, I would always say “My long-long term goal is to have a one-stop shop mental health and wellness resource hub for the city of Memphis.” I recall writing just that in my prayer journal under “My God-Sized Dream.”
In the midst of recovering from a bad car accident, mourning two tragic deaths in my family, and moving back to Memphis, I was able to successfully study for and pass my exam to be a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in December 2021. I went on a fast following that because my long-term goal at the time seemed unattainable so I needed direction.
While fasting, God came to me in a dream and gave me the name of my business. I woke up in the middle of the night, using the last of what was in my bank account to apply for my practice’s LLC. My goal is to help break cycles of poor mental health management and normalize mental health treatment in my community. I have served over 100 clients of color seeking therapeutic services with someone who looks like them and may be able to identify with what they have experienced.
As a black woman from Memphis, TN, it makes me immensely proud to be a licensed therapist and the proprietor of a growing business that was created out of passion and purpose. Every day I am working to better my home community. I am thinking of new ways every day to expand my practice and be able to serve and meet the needs of these very people.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road by a long shot. During my sophomore year in college, I became very sick and went undiagnosed for almost a year. In December 2015 I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, Lupus. This of course caused my grades to drop and my family was extremely concerned about me being sick and six hours away in Knoxville. I was very close to withdrawing and moving back home.
I suffered not only with physical pain as a result of my illness but it also took a mental and emotional toll on me. My weight fluctuated, I had hair loss, and just simply not being able to do all the things I once did, at least not without assistance. I learned three very valuable things at the time— 1) the importance of a community/ support system, I seriously would not be where I am today without all the people who loved on me near and far; 2) the importance of maintaining your mental health.
Things were happening to me that I couldn’t control and I started therapy as a means to process that and learn ways to cope. Life changing!! 3) The importance of not giving up. In my junior year, I received an email saying I lost my scholarship which I assumed was from me missing class so much and my grades dropping. I have always been a A&B student so this was new to me. I remember crying to my mom who was convinced I needed to be under her eye in Memphis so she could take care of me.
I told her I would work hard during my spring semester and if I didn’t get my scholarship back, I would come back home. I went back that Spring, worked hard to get all A’s, and mid-semester I received an email saying there was an error in the system and I in fact did not lose my scholarship. I needed that push to work harder because otherwise, I wouldn’t be where I am today. God showed me then, as long as I have faith, this “illness” was not a limitation and would be used to minister to others.
Another struggle I would say has been just learning how to be a business owner and all that it entails— all the time. Society today promotes entrepreneurship as the thing to do, but not too many talks about what that requires. I never thought I would be a business owner, but God had different plans apparently.
As now a full-time entrepreneur, it has been hard at times to have faith, trust God, and not give up! It’s through daily reminders from my clients who talk about the impact I’ve had and seeing their growth, that has consistently reminded myself that I am being obedient and walking in God’s purpose for my life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Infinity and Beyond Mental Health Services?
Infinity and Beyond Mental Health Services is a mental health private practice. We offer individual, family, and couples therapy sessions. I am also looking to add group therapy to that list soon. We treat a variety of mental illnesses: depression, anxiety, bipolar, etc., or even its just work/life balance, self-love, self-esteem, recent break-ups, or if you can’t put your finger on what it is, we are here. On staff is me, and I have two other pre-licensed clinicians who are ready to serve anyone who is looking.
The mission of Infinity and Beyond is to 1) reduce stigma surrounding mental health in underserved communities, 2) provide people of color access to clinicians of color, and 3) have increased accessibility to mental health and wellness resources. Far too often the stigmas and shame of mental health stopped someone who really needed it from seeking help. Statistically, most Black people see mental illness as a weakness and although Black people are more likely to suffer from a mental illness, we are less likely to seek treatment.
I’m here today to remind anyone who’s reading this: It’s okay to talk about your problems with someone. It’s okay to get help. It does not make you crazy. Yes, you can believe in God and be in therapy. You can be free from the pain that has made you who you are today. You don’t have to suffer alone. You can do something about your feelings.
Infinity and Beyond offer in-person and virtual sessions for anyone in the state of Tennessee. We are also accepting most major insurance providers— Optum/ United Healthcare, Amerigroup, Aetna, Lyra, Cigna, BlueCross Blue Shield (BCBS), and TennCare: Amerigroup and BlueCare.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I am trying to have more healthy conservations about mental health in unconventional spaces. If you think you have a team or an event that would benefit from simply learning more about mental health and the benefits of maintaining your mental health, I would be more than happy to collaborate in that way. Please, if yourself or someone you know would benefit from therapy, send them our way! Infinity and Beyond would be more than happy to serve you!
Pricing:
- Individual Therapy: $120/ session
- We have some sliding scale spots as well.
- We accept insurance at Infinity and Beyond as well. Check your behavior and health benefits with your insurance provider.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.infinityandbeyondmhs.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/infinityandbeyondmhs?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/infinityandbeyondmhs?mibextid=LQQJ4d
