Valerie Williams has done a stellar job of controlling the controllable her in her life; her resume shows some of the pay-off. Recently, though, she’s been all up in an exploration around the limitations of her control… and the deep power of her influence. 

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About Valerie Williams | Therapist, Consultant in the communication, culture & DEIB spaces, Mom

Valerie Miller Williams, is a licensed psychotherapist and Communications strategist who engages head & heart to drive change, engagement and solutions. Her purpose, “meeting people where they are to help bring them higher.” 

As a counselor, she provides soul-care by supporting individuals, couples and families in navigating life with purpose and intentionality to produce positive outcomes, healing and growth. 

Valerie is also an award-winning Communications strategist, working with clients/fortune 40 organizations to develop authentic and engaging plans, tools and experiences to reach people in meaningful ways. She provides executive and leadership coaching and consulting on professional (work) and personal (life) matters. 

Her success formula: bringing all of who she is, to whatever she is doing, wherever she is. Courageous authenticity is foundational to her life and work with clients. She believes that knowing who you are is imperative, but actually being who you are is transformative.  Because, Authentic Leadership is core to both intrapersonal (relating to self) and interpersonal (relating to others) effectiveness. 

Valerie has been recognized by The Network Journal as a Top 40 under 40 Achiever and Who’s Who in Black Charlotte.  She’s also a member of Psi Chi (The International Honor Society in Psychology). She volunteers with nonprofit organizations providing in-kind counseling and communications services to undeserved  populations. Her life is full when she's spending time with her husband and two sons, family and friends.   

Learn more at linkedin.com/in/valeriemillerwilliams and https://selfsoul.net/

Valerie highlighted an organization that she’s been working with for some time now, ChangedChoices, an organization focused on female offenders and ex-offenders and the resources that dramatically drop recidivism rates, for example, support with housing and reintegration, job training, and, of course, mental health services. https://changedchoices.org/our-programming/

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All Up in It is a project by coach SB Rawz focused on telling stories of growth and change from the thick of learning. Learn more about SB & her projects at 

https://rawzcoaching.com

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Some key moments in our conversation:

• In a place of a heightened place of self-awareness which is like having a front-row seat to herself and how she shows up which is both good for growth
• She’s noticing the power of her influence and the limitations of her control
• Structure, organization and order used to feel like peace to her and now she’s noticing an opportunity for more freedom through releasing control
• In her clinical work, she can influence but not control. We also explored the “use of self” in therapy in defiance to the traditional cold separation between therapist and patient – and the particularly importance of building rapport with clients of color
• The reciprocal relationship in therapy (and coaching!) of sharing and learning with clients
• Valerie’s DEIB consulting work and influencing as a way to create buy-in for the changes she’s proposing
• The radiant influence of her work as both a therapist and a consultant and how her work is in the space of countering/healing centuries of damage
• Valerie reflected on how overwhelming the idea of world change is and the accessibility of recognizing herself as a piece, not A World Changer, which also ties into practicing not taking responsibility for things that aren’t hers
• Women and especially women of color trend toward being too humble and that owning our skills means sharing them more fully in the world – this also means not being responsible with our influence
• In her family life, Valerie hopes her family is feeling more freedom as she’s shifting away from control and toward taking responsibility for her influence
• Valerie asked her younger son if he would like to implement a parenting report card
• Tools: For Valerie, her faith and being intentional with her connection is her foremost tool. Also, therapy in a variety of forms, reading, community (especially face to face) and networking
• Valerie spotlighted ChangedChoices, an organization focused on female offenders and ex-offenders and the resources that dramatically drop recidivism rates, for example, support with housing and reintegration, job training, and, of course, mental health services

Find Valerie at SELFsoul – Counseling, Psychotherapist, Communications