Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren White.
Lauren, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I proudly profess I am a lifelong Chicagoan and one of many Englewood success stories. Chicago has and continues to have a lot more to offer than what is often reported in the media. We are more than the mayhem.
My story isn’t that different than other young people still residing in Chicago. I am a Southside girl and a former teen welfare mom. I came from a loving two parent home. I attended some good public schools in the community. I had really wonderful teachers and a really good childhood. I fell in love with a kid from the neighborhood. We had a little girl. I knew I wanted more than just to become a statistic so I used all of the support afforded to me to move my life forward. I utilized Illinois Department of Public Aid’s Project Chance and the Mayor’s Office of Employment and Training in the 1980s to acquire skills beyond my diplomas that moved me “from welfare to work”. I dreamed of attending college however, I was not confident. I would visit the enrollment office of DePaul University, write my name on the sign-in log, and sit there as my name was called–on more than one occasion. I was paralyzed by my fear of not being good enough and would sit there as if I wasn’t the person being called to meet with the enrollment counselor. I just didn’t believe I had what it took to be more than I was at the time.
On one of those occasions, the fabulous Dr. Derise Tolliver was the enrollment counselor for the day. It was she encouraged me to “lifted my behind from my chair” when I attempted to do this again. She called my name staring directly into my eyes and welcomed me into the land of possibility. After sitting with her, I realized it was up to me. If I worked for it, I could have it! I left her confident enough to pursue my dream of attending college. I earned my undergraduate degree from DePaul University, School for New Learning and my M.A. in psychology from Argosy University. I’m forever grateful for her understanding of the human psyche and helping me to move beyond my fear.
In the words of Oprah, “What I know for sure,” is the love of my family, community, and my spiritual leaders/teachers, helped me to fly. I worked hard and gained big!
Today, I pay it forward by working with individuals that come to the Anxiety and Stress Center who are stuck or battling depression, anxiety, fears, injustices in the workplace and so much more. I know if they can just trust in the process, as I did with Dr. Tolliver, together, we can affect change in their lives.
You shared some challenges, but in retrospect do you feel its been a smooth road overall?
My life has not been a smooth road. However, I am blessed to have an extremely supportive family. Both of my parents have since passed away. They were beautiful human beings and I love them dearly. I have one sister. She is a joy. We tell each other the truth and we love each other unabashedly. My daughter is Iris Patterson of Iris Botanicals. She’s the baby I had as a teen mom. My son, Aaron White-Johnson, is the owner of Wildcat Beard Oils. The crew that rounds out this tight-knit little family is my beautiful new grandson Weston, my handsome nephew Antoine, my handsome son-in-law John, my lovely daughter-in-law Danyelle, and my delightful granddaughter, Teylor Johnson owner of Upperlight Media who provided the photography shots for this article. She also provided the photography for Iris’s article earlier this year.
As a young woman finding my way, living a pretty simple life. I didn’t aspire to do much of anything. I just wanted to exist and keep chaos at bay. However, after following my mother to Sunday service one day, I connected with a ministry. It was different. It was inspiring and challenged me to stand-up and live. Stop simply existing each day. Rev. Dr. Nita M. Clemons of St. Jude Temple was a beautiful force of nature that had me examining my choices in life and the opportunity to make better choices. Her love, teaching, and guidance along with the late Rev. Paulette Smith were integral to shaping the person I am today. I listened and worked hard to put the practices learned in to play. While there were some tough lessons learned, I refused to stop until I changed the trajectory of my life.
My mom and dad taught us, anything worth having is worth working hard for. As previously stated, I utilized everything I could to remove myself from the welfare rolls. I am grateful there were resources available to me as a new teen mom, but also very grateful that my parents were adamant that I work for more. Don’t stop reaching for more.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Anxiety and Stress Center story.
Dr. Holly Houston is the owner of The Anxiety and Stress Center. Her practice has served the Orland Park and Homewood community for more than a decade. The Anxiety and Stress Center accepts all major insurances and offers individuals suffering from mental health stressors tools that address barriers to their daily functioning.
As a member of the practice for more than 8 years, I work with women and men to address the antecedent–the root cause of the stressor. My work focuses on the thought patterns and deeply held beliefs formed by individuals that drive their decision-making processes. Through evidenced based modalities, I use tools that work to eradicate the distorted beliefs individuals often have about themselves and the world around them. I truly believe maladaptive thoughts and behaviors can be modified or changed to eliminate troublesome symptoms in the clients I work with. Shame is the enemy and acceptance is the key to freeing your mind, body, and spirit.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
One of the big shifts or changes from those in this profession is working to help the country as a whole, gain a better understanding of systemic trauma and how it shows up in everything we do.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a persistent mental and emotional stress occurring as a result of injury or severe psychological shock. Everyday there is a new horrific crime committed against society. Individuals need assistance on how to properly address what they are feeling in a safe nonjudgmental environment.
I work with my clients to help them understand the importance of using/incorporating trauma-informed approaches. There are five principles of Trauma-Informed Care that are effective when appropriately applied in specific settings to affect change. The five principles are safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness, and empowerment. Annual mental health and wellness events for all communities is one way to share the information and tools that address and reduce systemic trauma. As a country, we simply need to find a better way to address mental health in our nation.
Contact Info:
- Address: Anxiety and Stress Center, P.C.
62 Orland Square Drive, Suite 101, Orland Park, IL 60462 - Website: www.anxiety-stresscenter.com
- Phone: 708/349-5433 opt 2
- Email: lwhite-johnson@anxiety-stresscenter.com
- Facebook: Anxiety & Stress Center-Holly Houston Ph.D. & Associates
Image Credit:
Teylor Johnson, Upperlight Media
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