Today we’d like to introduce you to DeMonta Whiting.
Hi DeMonta, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
At around age 20, I was diagnosed with cancer. The experience was an arduous one, to say the least. Through it, however, I learned a lot about the importance of self-care and how imperative it is to value yourself and your rights. Looking back on my experience, I felt disheartened that it took a near-death experience for me to stand up for myself and what I needed. I promised myself that if ever given the opportunity, I would take the tools that I developed during that experience and use them to help others. That opportunity arrived when I decided to go into the mental health field and become a licensed marriage and family therapist. As a therapist, I have worked with people from all different walks of life. One group that I particularly enjoy working with is high-achieving professionals. This group is one of the least likely to seek treatment, but one of the most likely to need it. A CEO of a Fortune 500 company may be great at creating business relationships, but horrible at building personal ones. A medical professional may have a knack for taking care of others’ needs, but no clue about how to take care of their own. Many are taught that the opposite of success is failure, and that failure is to be avoided at all costs. Thus, mental health issues like perfectionism, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, depression, and anxiety can run rampant in this population. As a high-achiever myself, I understand the difficulties that they face, and I strive to help them overcome their obstacles and lead happy and healthy lives.
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?
As a licensed therapist, one of the obstacles that I think I face is my own baggage. As well-versed as I may be in mental health practices, I can only go as far with my clients in treatment as I am willing to go myself. For example, if I have a client who is dealing with work/life balance issues and I am also struggling with those issues, there is only so much that I can do for that person. Therefore, I make it a point to be honest with myself and my client about my capabilities. This may limit the number of people that I can work with, but I think that it brings a certain level of authenticity to treatment that makes it easier for my clients to trust me.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Manifest Counseling Services?
I am the owner and CEO of Manifest Counseling Services, a mental health corporation that focuses on helping high-achieving professionals who struggle with perfectionism, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, depression, and anxiety to maximize success in their personal and professional lives.
My current and ideal clientele include medical professionals (e.g., Physicians, Dentists, Nurses, etc.), mental health professionals (e.g., Psychologists, LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, etc.), attorneys, c-level executives, and entrepreneurs. I utilize a goal-oriented therapeutic approach that enables my clients to identify their blind spots and roadblocks, undo patterns and behaviors that do not serve them and create new behaviors that help to ensure their success.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I love salsa dancing. After a long day, nothing beats lacing up my old dancing shoes and hitting up one of the local Salsa spots to shake a leg (or two).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.demontawhiting.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deethetherapist/
