Dr. Karlissa Wise is a Clinical Social Worker who works with individuals and couples in therapy. Dr. Wise is the founder of Wise Counseling & Consultation, LLC. Wise Counseling & Consultation focuses on providing clients with coping strategies to manage stress and different life challenges. Her goal is to continue helping others in need of mental health services.
Karlissa Wise, Clinical Social Worker
What inspired you to start Wise Counseling & Consultation, LLC, and how has your vision for the business evolved over time?
I was inspired to create Wise Counseling & Consultation because I wanted to provide therapy services and assist social workers seeking clinical supervision hours. I wanted to start a space that allowed me to be creative and build upon my clinical skills using my own unique approach. My vision for my business has evolved. I think that is the beauty of having my own business. As my learning increases, the vision for my business also evolves. I have incorporated a co-parenting group and plan to create more groups in the future for clients.
What is your approach to counseling and consultation, and how do you tailor your methods to meet the individual needs of your clients?
My approach to counseling and consultation is quite different from the methods I was taught to use. We are taught to keep a straight face during therapy sessions, refrain from showing emotions, and refrain from telling clients about our day. In the beginning, I also used this same approach. However, it did not work for me. I did not feel like I was being myself. Now, I am quite the opposite. If something is funny, I laugh with my clients. If they took family photos over the weekend, I ask for permission to see the pictures. When a client asks me about my day or weekend, I tell them. I find that this approach improves rapport with clients.
Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far.
My greatest career achievement was starting my own private practice. Becoming a business owner is the most challenging goal I have ever created for myself. There were many steps that I had to take in order to start my business. I had a mentor and supportive friends that guided me along the way. They made the process less stressful. I am forever grateful for them. My second career achievement is publishing two peer reviewed articles. My articles focused on the safety of Child Protective Services (CPS) workers. As a former CPS worker, I wanted to highlight the safety issues within the field. I am happy that I was able to provide a platform for CPS workers to share their experiences.
Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.
One of the most pivotal moments in my life was when I realized I needed to enjoy the journey of life. Ignoring the expectations that have been created by others and focusing on the things I want out of life took a lot of courage. I am learning to enjoy the good times and bad times. Seeing bad times as life lessons and finding areas of growth instead of concentrating on the negative moment. Realizing life is beautiful regardless of what happens is a defining moment. It changed my perspective in many ways.
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