Today we’d like to introduce you to LaMora D. Pace.
LaMora, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
As founder and CEO of Healing Hearts Behavioral Health Care, I provide a VIP Healing Experience to emotionally distressed individuals and help couples “strike up” healthy communications and Ignite Flames in their relationships. But “How did I get to where I am today?” is a question that I often ask myself, and all I know is “By God’s Grace.” Thank God for favoring me with ALL that I am and ALL that He wants me to be.
Beginning at the point in which I believed that my professional goals were against all odds, I started my career as a Mental Health Targeted Case Manager, and shortly thereafter, I performed in several leadership positions in the areas of Child Welfare and Behavioral Health.
While working full time and raising children as a single parent, I entered the Master’s of Social Work program as a part time student. After four long years of course work and an internship, I received my MSW and my 4th career promotion.
It didn’t stop there! With much doubt and hesitation, and a reminder of my poor judgment, I still completed the application to register as a clinical social work intern. Of course, I had to “jump through a few hoops” because the State of Florida had a few questions regarding my application. But when God has plans for your life, defeat is not an option.
The application was approved, which meant that the difficult part of the process for me was over, and I was ready to get the less challenging part of the process completed. This included 1500 hours of face to face therapy and clinical supervision while working full time in a leadership position, raising children, and studying for the National Exam. During that period in my life, I kept telling myself, “For when I am weak, then I am strong”. And Through Christ, I prevailed.
But it wasn’t over yet! This stage of my life was called Test Prep. Everywhere I went, I had my study cards and notebook in my purse, and many nights I would fall asleep with the lights on and books in my bed. Then the day that I wasn’t mentally prepared for, finally arrived. I clearly remember waking up the morning of May 10, 2009 thinking of how I could postpone my exam for another time. That was called fear and doubt, but all of a sudden, I began singing to myself, “I just can’t give up now, I’ve come too far from where I started from. Nobody told me the road would be easy. And I don’t believe He’s brought me this far to leave me.” And of course, He didn’t leave me. I Passed! I was now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and shortly thereafter came another promotion.
Fast forwarding to 2017, I reflected on the vision that was given to me in 2005 with the words, “The Restoration of the Mind, is the Art of Healing Hearts”, and I knew then that it was time for Healing Hearts Behavioral Health Care to be formed.
During that reflection, I realized that God anointed me in 2005 for a purpose that I wasn’t yet prepared for but because HE called me, it was no way that the State of Florida could have denied my application or that I would have failed my exam.
I was also reminded that the Obstacles of life don’t define me, and with God, Opportunities are available. I then established Obstacles 2 Opportunities, Inc. a non-profit program for at-risk youth and re-entry services for individuals transitioning back into communities as active contributors of society following incarceration.
As you continue through life, remember the words of Colin Powell, “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” We will all experience failure in one way or another, the question remains, “What will you do as a result of your failures and the obstacles you encounter?” The Opportunities are available to all of us; You Will Win!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
According to Theodore Roosevelt, “Nothing worth having comes easy.” Growing up in a home with two hard working disciplinarians, I was sheltered from the struggles of life yet exposed to the benefits and rewards of “putting in the work”. Since grade school, I understood the requirements of success and the benefits of hard work. But the lesson I was unprepared for was a result of poor judgment, which ultimately became “The Obstacle” of my life. Let’s just say that this “obstacle” completely complicated my dreams and devastated my parents.
At that point in my life, I believed there was no hope and I felt stuck. However, it didn’t take long before my inner strength kicked in and I came to realize that I was delayed but never destroyed. So I stepped over the obstacles that were in my way, and prepared myself for a new journey, with a different route.
While going through life’s lessons, it was hard for me to recognize my purpose or even believe that one existed. I was hurt and disappointed by the decisions that I made, to the point of believing that my future was bleak. A few years later, I realized that God chose me to be used as a vessel to heal the hearts of individuals and help them to recognize the opportunities that are available to them.
At that very moment, my fight began! I had no regrets, Only Wins! I permitted myself to regain my strength to fight for ME with everything I had. And, I want to give you that same permission — love yourself with no regrets, be strong and keep going!
Please tell us about your work.
I am the Founder and CEO of Healing Hearts Behavioral Health Care, a Private Counseling Practice and the Co-Founder of The Match, a Couples Therapy Institute. In 2005, God revealed the vision of Healing Hearts to me, and in September 2017, Healing Hearts Behavioral Health Care was birthed and is steadily evolving.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Addictions Professional with over 20 years of clinical experience, I currently provide Individual and Family Counseling, Anger Management, Batterers Intervention Services, Couples Counseling, Pre-Marital Counseling, and Professional Development Coaching in my private practice. I also facilitate groups, workshops, and conferences in the areas of Mental Health, Anger Management, and Relationships.
Additionally, Healing Hearts Behavioral Health Care in collaboration with my non-profit, Obstacles 2 Opportunities wants to break the vicious cycle of “learned helplessness” amongst at-risk youth that are shrinking in fear, living in doubt, and self-medicating with drugs to avoid facing the powerless beliefs they’ve learned.
My counseling approach starts with helping clients to understand the correlation between their family of origin and unhealthy patterns of “thinking” and “doing”. Both former and existing clients consider me as a sought out Clinician with a passion and commitment for helping them to recognize and replace learned patterns of destructive thinking and behaving that originated during the early years of development. During treatment, the client will learn to recognize old unhealthy patterns of insecurity, anger, resentment, fear, commitment, depression, or mistrust from childhood and/or past relationships and develop alternative ways of thinking and responding, intended to reduce years of unresolved emotional distress.
Overall, I am most proud of the rapid growth of Healing Hearts in private practice, and the opportunities that have been provided to me to conduct workshops for government organizations and in partnership with other mental health professionals.
I believe that my creativity and relatability sets me apart from other Clinicians. As a Thought Leader, CEO, Clinician, and Advocate, my vision is to move beyond the traditional concept of talk therapy services and create an ultimate healing experience that destigmatizes the shame associated with mental health. Additionally, Healing Hearts Behavioral Health Care in collaboration with my non-profit, Obstacles 2 Opportunities wants to break the vicious cycle of “learned helplessness” amongst at-risk youth that is shrinking in fear, living in doubt, and self-medicating with drugs to avoid facing the powerless beliefs they’ve learned.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The characteristics that I have found to be key to my success is Spirituality, Open-mindedness and persistence.
First and foremost is my Spirituality, because my faith in God gives me hope in the face of fear and doubt. At one point in my life, I couldn’t understand why or how God would allow me to endure the pain and shame that I had to experience during my early years of adulthood. However, I came to understand that the working of God in our lives is often difficult to see except in retrospect. In other words, it is only when I looked back, that I was able to recognize the favor of God working in my life to fulfill the assignments that He has positioned me for today.
Next, I consider myself as being Open-minded, because I consider everyone fairly and examine situations from all angles. This characteristic has taught me to set aside my personal biases and beliefs and consider views and perceptions other than my own. In doing so, I have the ability to empathize with others in such a way that limits me from judgment and criticism.
Finally, there’s Persistence, which I consider my ultimate characteristic. Why? Because if it wasn’t for my resiliency, it would have been impossible for me to achieve this level of success in the face of opposition and setbacks. My dedication, focus, and patience are qualities that I recognize within myself that helps me to finish what I start, in spite of distractions and defeats.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2500 Hollywood Blvd.
Suite 410
Hollywood, FL 33020 - Website: www.myhealingheartsllc.com
- Phone: 754-777-6871
- Email: lamorapace@myhealingheartsllc.com
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