Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Clark.
Hi Crystal, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in Illinois and raised primarily in North Carolina, due to my parents work, I attended nine different schools between kindergarten and 12th grade. Each new school proved a challenge. While I liked people and wanted to talk to them, to make friends, I was shy. Yet each move to a different school or different state pulled me out of my shell, opened up my voice and taught me how to communicate with others. By the time I enrolled in college, communicating came naturally to me and it is now a skill I utilize daily in my professional life as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
I hold a Bachelor’s of Arts in theater from Ithaca College in upstate New York. I started out in theater as a performer, moved to teaching life and social skills to students with high functioning autism, and then started my journey to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. During and between those main careers I also held a myriad of various jobs ranging from pet sitting, to serving tables, to being a secret shopper.
So, as you can see, it took me a while to get here. I believe that therapy is and has always been my calling. Just one that I didn’t know had a name or was something that I could do. I love black community and culture, and it is no secret that mental health care is somewhat stigmatized and distrusted in communities of color. I am so happy to say that this is absolutely changing, but change takes time and there are valid reasons for distrust based on historical traumas endured by communities of color in therapeutic spaces. So when choosing a major in undergrad I didn’t even know that psychology/therapy was an option.
It was while I was teaching that I was introduced to the idea of therapy and how it can help people and change lives. I did not have a traditional teaching job. My job was to be part of a student’s overall support team, which often included educational specialists, teachers, psychiatrists, therapists, parents, baby sitters and more. In some ways I found myself being a safe space for students’ confidences which got me thinking about the various ways and systems of support that help people thrive and if therapy might be a good fit for my skills. But before I could be a therapist, I needed to know what it was to be in therapy, so I found a therapist and began my journey.
I quit my full time job and enrolled in a graduate program. I graduated with distinction from CSUN with a MS in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy in December of 2020. Yes, December of 2020 – I legit left campus for spring break in March and never went back…. because of Covid. Graduating during Covid was stressful. Most of the therapy I did as a trainee up until that point had been in person; however, everything was moved to virtual and job prospects were uncertain. I was fortunate enough to gain employment with a group that was providing teletherapy and was able to start working towards my license. I didn’t stay with that group for long. I ended up working with a licensed clinical psychologist named Dr. Lynn Kilroy; she changed my life.
Dr. Lynn was more than just my supervisor, she was/is my mentor, one of my fiercest supporters, and someone I am lucky to call a friend. As her associate, my confidence and skill as a therapist grew exponentially and I gained valuable insights about running a small business. By the time I got my license in February 2023, because of her guidance, I was ready to start my own private practice.
Priority: Love Therapy incorporated was founded a year later. When thinking about what to name my private practice and what values were important to me, I kept coming back to a common question I ask my clients , “What place are you operating from? What would it look like if you were to operate from a place of love?”. In a time where it is not uncommon to encounter hate, I wanted to create a space where love was a priority; Love for self, love for others, love for this world. Where love is woven into the fabric of intention so that when we act, it is from a place of compassion. Thus, Priority: Love Therapy.
While my journey has been a winding road I believe that everything I have done has shaped me into the therapist that I am today and allowed me to launch my own practice. I am excited to continue serving my clients and growing my business, and helping people find a little more love in their day to day.
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?
Definitely graduating and starting my practice during covid was a bit bumpy. I was so stressed and anxious about finding a job that I started looking for them before I even graduated. I was interviewing between classes – which were virtual at that time.
Also I don’t know if a lot of people know this but, when you are working towards licensure as an Associate (being supervised by a licensed therapist) we make very little money. During that time I was making so little money that I was working third shift at World Market stocking shelves. It was when I started working for Dr. Lynn Kilroy that that changed. She legit sent me “I don’t need to profit off of you” and paid me a living wage so I was able to work towards my license and also pay my rent.
The other thing that I will say is that starting a business is no small feat. There’s so much you don’t know that you don’t know until you know it. It is a steep learning curve and one that I’m really grateful to have had guidance on from other colleagues who did it before me.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Priority: Love. A Marriage and Marriage and Family Therapy Corp?
Priority: Love is a virtual Private Practice Mental Health Service.
While I am thrilled to work with all clients, my practice focuses on assisting those whose issues and existence are often excluded from the dominant narrative, particularly Black women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and those in Interracial/Intercultural and/or Polyamorous/CNM relationships. I also like working with individuals who are dealing with anxiety, just getting out of relationships, folks wanting to improve boundaries, and folks who want to incorporate mental health as part of their overall wellness routine. I am systematically trained, which highlights the impact of various factors on your well-being and your relationships. I pull from the humanistic, narrative, socio-cultural, positive psychology, and strength-based approaches.
What sets me apart, hmmm – well no two therapists are the same and I think that’s an important and beautiful thing about the work that we do. It is who we are as people that allows us to connect with our clients as a positive agent for change. I believe that my varied experiences—starting out in theater, transitioning into teaching, and eventually finding my way to therapy—have given me a unique perspective that I bring into the room to support my clients.
I am proud of incorporating my business and launching my website. My goal is to eventually hire other therapists and to also supervise Associates. Everything that I have done up until this point is laying a foundation for these future goals. I spent a lot of time training, educating myself, developing my skills and learning how to run a small business. I still have a lot to learn and I’m proud of how far I’ve gotten.
When it comes to my brand, Priority:Love, and the use of the word love in the name, I really lean into what I say on my website: Operating from a place of love still allows you to feel the full spectrum of emotion. You get to feel angry, hurt, and scared. You get to be imperfect, petty, and wrestle with negative thoughts. And then, you get to process, understand, regulate, heal, and grow.”
Love isn’t always easy or comfortable—but in the work I do, it’s both safe and fair. It’s not just a feeling or an action; it’s a vibe, and it’s a core value.
What makes you happy?
I really enjoy going on random adventures with my friends and my boyfriend. Just this past weekend, we went out for K’nafeh, a delicious Middle Eastern dessert. That actually ties into another thing that makes me happy: food. Ya girl LOVES food. I’m always down to try different cuisines—Thai is definitely my favorite.
I also love playing Candy Crush, listening to audiobooks on walks, getting a good massage, basking in temperatures above 72 degrees, and vibing to R&B, Neo-soul, or chill EDM. And honestly, as cliché as it might sound, I really enjoy feeling joyful. It makes me happy to know there’s always a moment of joy to be found, no matter what.
Pricing:
- Individual Therapy Sessions – $180
- Relationship Therapy Sessions – $220
- Please refer to my website for a free 30 minute consultation and up to date pricing
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.prioritylovetherapy.com
- Other: email – [email protected]
