May 13, 2020

Meet Wendy Talley of Thelese Consulting Group in West Los Angeles

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy Talley.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Wendy. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am a native of Los Angeles, CA where I reside with my husband and my son. I am currently the CEO and founder of Thelese Consulting Group, LLC which focuses on leadership and staff development, assisting workplace organizations to develop wellness spaces to retain productive employees. In addition, another aspect of the organization is mental health, where I have licensed and unlicensed staff provides therapy and group therapy for working professionals, families and couples.

I started my organization because I wanted to be my own business owner and I wanted to one be financially free so I can spend more time with my family and myself. This road was not an easy one because I did not have the skills to start, let alone run a business. Through my journey, I’ve had many mentors, friends, and colleagues to support me. Thelese Consulting Group was first launched in 2010, however, with many failures, I shut my business down and continue to work as a social worker in the field. Nevertheless, my desire did not die, just placed on a shelf. In 2014 I joined an MLM which sparked my desire all over again. I met some really great people who because mentors that taught me about starting a business in my field. This was the best decision I made because it put me in rooms with people I would not have met doing home-visits and clinical assessments 365 days a year. I knew I was destined to be more than just an employee, but my own boss.

Since the rebirth of Thelese Consulting Group, LLC in December 2019, I have employed many independent contractors, provide clinical supervision for postgraduates MSWs, AMFT, and APCC for their clinical hours became an Onsite Counselor for SONY Pictures Entertainment in Culver City, CA in 2019 and a staff development trainer for many other organizations throughout the LA County. We are very busy and making a significant impact on the community and the mental health professional world.

So as my world as a business owner is growing, I decided to return back to school to obtain my Doctorate in Social Work from the University California of Southern California, Suzzanne Dwork-Peck School of Social Work with the graduating class of May ’20. My desired capstone is inspired by one of the 12 Grand Challenges for Social Work, “Building Healthy Relationships to End Violence” to focus on ending intimate partner violence in aging adults. I created an innovation called the Save an Aging Life from Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Screening Tool and Training Progam which is focused on training healthcare providers (physicians, nurses, social workers, and discharge planners) on IPV, the aging population, the impact of IPV on their health and lastly how to implement my one-of-a-kind screening tool which uses images to determine whether an aging adult with or without a cognitive impairment if they are experiencing or have experienced IPV in their intimate relationship. I am looking to change the misconception providers have about screening aging adults for IPV and increase screening at every medical visit. I am looking to launch my training in May 2020 through virtual webinars and later On-Demand training because COVID-19 has disrupted the ability to gather in groups. I am looking to partner with LA County Hospitals and clinics, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, Victims of Crime Programs, shelters and other violence prevent programs to ensure this gets in the hands of providers ASAP.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Overall, life brings you ups and down on any journey we decided to venture based on goals and dreams we have. Of course, there have been ups and downs in my career and personal life. In my business, I have had challenges in growing it and recruiting the right people to be a part of my team. My current team is absolutely amazing and talented. I believe I have recruited some top professionals in the field of mental health to grown my consulting firm but also develop their own ideas as well. They are very supportive professionally and personally. They have stuck by my side while in school and health challenges so I am forever grateful for them.

However, the biggest challenge I had was losing my mother in August 2018 to natural causes. I really struggled to have to write her obituary and not having her see me accomplish being the first doctor in our family. There is no right way to grieve the loss of a parent, however, the support from God in Heaven, my husband, son, best friends, extended family, and colleagues to hold me up emotionally during that time has been beyond what I could pray for. It is through my pain and struggle I have come forth as pure as gold to make my parents proud of me.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Thelese Consulting Group, LLC – what should we know?
Our goal is to help individuals and families uncover their true potential and lead a life that is worth celebrating. While we can’t change difficult situations of the past, we work with clients to better understand and resolve challenges in their life. By applying complementary therapy approaches and techniques, we will unearth long-standing behavior patterns or negative perceptions that may be holding you back from experiencing a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

We work with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues providing services that span from therapy for depression and grief counseling to parenting support, couples counseling and beyond. In a comfortable and supportive atmosphere, we offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each of our client’s individual needs to help attain the personal growth they’re striving for.

We assist individuals, couples, families in the following areas:

Depression
Anxiety
Grief, Loss, and Bereavement
Anger Management
Effective Two-Way Communication
Positive Coping Skills
Life Transitions
Trauma
Domestic Violence Therapy and Resources
California Victim Compensation Program (CALVCP)
Conflict Resolution
Company Employee Training
Employee Assistance Programs
Clinical Supervision for Post Graduates
……..and more!

We are unique as we are highly visual in the community and across the nation to be a firm of color with a very talented group of clinicians. We are constantly creating innovative products and services that speak to issues that are hidden by society. We are not afraid to take risks to create tools to move the needle in areas of mental health and health.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
There are so many people I like to thank for my journey and my accomplishments. I am a believer of God and Jesus Christ. If it was not for prayers from my husband, son, and friends I would not have gotten far. I recently completed the doctoral program at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work and will graduate in May 2020. The support from my family and friends was beyond what I could imagine.

I value mentorship. I believe it is the cornerstone for individuals who want to be exceptional in the world of entrepreneurship. The greatest speakers (Les Brown, Lisa Nichols, Eric Thomas) all have mentors, businessmen, and women work with executive coaches to stay focus on their goals. I have had many mentors for every aspect of my personal and professional life. It would be hard for me to choose one person, cause each person has played a part in my struggle and journey.

Contact Info:

Address: 8929 S. Sepulveda Blvd
Ste. 410
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Website: https://www.theleseconsultinggroup.com
Phone: 424-317-6800
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelesespeaks/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheleseLLC/

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Meet West LA Series Sponsor:

Megan Gallagher: Hi! My name is Megan Gallagher! I’m a 24 year old 2x TED speaker, #1 best selling author, afterbuzz tv host, mental health advocate & podcast host! I am very passionate about helping teenagers and changing the school system to have mandatory classes about self love, mental health and following your dreams! Growing up, I started struggling with anxiety as young as three. As a got older, I became more aware of my body and by 14, I knew that something was wrong and I needed help. It was really scary to be sitting in class(in High School) and all the sudden feel hot, sweaty, a fast heart rate and like I was going to pass out. These “episodes” happened every day, in all seven of my classes. After a few months of struggling, I decided to sit my parents down and vent to them. It was so scary and surreal, yet I felt so understood and safe. I then started therapy for three years and went on a journey to discover who Megan was. Now, having overcome it all and being in such a different place in my life- I have dedicated my life to being that person I craved as a teen. I speak at middle schools and high schools across the country in hopes of spreading positivity and inspiring teens to reach for the stars!