Meet Brittany Stevens-pollard, M.ed, Lasac, D-cbt | Addiction and Trauma Counselor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brittany Stevens-pollard, M.ed, Lasac, D-cbt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brittany, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have worked in the mental health field since 2009 and throughout my time in this field, I have been able to serve from all levels of care. From least restrictive outpatient care to inpatient residential treatment facilities. I found great value in all levels of care, but I found the most impact I feel I am able to offer is in outpatient care. The kind of therapeutic interventions one offers needs to be adjusted based on the needs of the clients, and when a client is in their most vulnerable or mentally fragile, they require less tools and more structure. As I continue on in my journey as a therapist, I fell in love with offering tools rather than structure. Everyone can use more tools, so it feels rewarding for myself to see exponential growth in my clients.

As I continued working for other agencies in an outpatient setting, I then realized how my work life balance was dictated by others, and this was something that also did not sit well with me over time. I was overworked and burned out. I can’t blame the agencies I worked for, I did not have my own personal boundaries and so I needed to find my own. So, after confronting my own self-doubt, I ventured out on my own and started my own coaching business in 2021. I realized if I wanted to see change in my small town, I had the opportunity to be the change first.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The business I own is called Pollard Coaching LLC. It is based in the small town of Wickenburg, Arizona, offering in-person and telehealth coaching for anyone struggling with trauma or addiction. When moving to this small town I was confronted with how little services there were for local residents. Pollard Coaching is not a new concept, but it is an opportunity for someone in need of Trauma or Addiction Counseling to find it. Small town life comes with various degrees of the “handle it yourself” mentality, and when you are stuck in a trauma or domestically unsafe environment, it is hard to seek help or tools as the system discourages asking for help. Pollard Coaching takes a softer approach as some may feel “going to therapy” is a big jump from their life, but seeing a coach or counseling makes this step a little easier for others in the community.

Starting a business has its challenges, and I found that the biggest hurdle was my belief in myself. Once I got passed the “am I worthy” stage of my own self-doubt, then I was able to seek resources for all the rest of it. What I have learned along the way is that I am my own worst critic, and no one (I mean NO ONE) is thinking about me as much as I think they are, which means I am free to make my own choices, create my own goals and choose my own journey. If I say I cannot do something, that is my own limiting belief, if I challenge that belief then choose to move passed that limitation, now I have a new vantage point in my journey. I have grown passed my own limitation. This growth opportunity has been the lynchpin in my ability to grow as I have professionally.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Wickenburg, AZ is a beautiful little tourist town, so we would walk around downtown and eat at the locally owned restaurants at places like Spurs for breakfast, Bar 7 for lunch, and Hassayampa BBQ for dinner. Then, we would go see a movie in their historic theatre, the Saguaro Theatre, take a Jeep trail ride into Box Canyon, and go golfing at many of the amazing country clubs. We would also drink beer in the only local brewery the Vulture Peak Brewing Company, and eat BBQ from our local award-winning shops like 6H BBQ, and spend time with the wildlife at the Hassayampa River Preserve.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to Project SALT (Serving and Loving Together). My husband started his nonprofit clothing closet and food pantry to serve our community without getting paid, and this was inspiring to me. Helping things heal and grow is why I was put on this earth, and having a partner that models this in his own life has been a major inspiration for me to continue my journey of coaching and therapeutic intervention.

Website: https://www.pollardcoaching.com