Purpose to Profit of a Thera-Preneur Journey:
The Highs, Lows, & How Tos of Private Practice
PANEL MEMBERS
Kietha Adams, MS, LMFT, ABS; Barbie Atkinson, LPC-S;
Mehgan Castillo, LMFT, Nikquan Lewis, MS, LMFT, LPC, ST;
Jessica Medina, MS, LMFT-S, Cortnee White, LPC;
WHEN & WHERE
Friday, August 15th
9:00 AM-12:00 PM
At United Way of Greater Houston
50 Waugh Dr Houston, TX 77007
Meeting Room AB
DESCRIPTION
Come meet a diverse group of successful entrepreneur therapists who are paving the way for our profession. These therapists have created successful businesses and taken it upon themselves to grow past the traditional routes. This panel will be hosted by a HAMFT Board Member. There will be various curated questions, plus there will be time for HAMFT member to ask their own questions about starting, growing, or expanding your own practice in a new direction.
ABOUT OUR PANEL
Kietha Adams, MS, LMFT, ABS is a distinguished Relationship and American Board Certified Sex Therapist with a passion for promoting sex positivity. With a Master's degree in Psychology with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy, as well as certification from the American Board of Sexology (ABS), Kietha brings a comprehensive and holistic approach to her practice.
In her work, Kietha views the client's journey through the lens of time — the present, the future, and the past. She guides individuals and couples as they navigate the complexities of their current relationships, helping them understand and address issues that may be affecting their well-being.
In the present, Kietha collaborates with her clients to explore the dynamics of their relationships, fostering emotional intimacy and addressing immediate concerns. She understands the importance of building strong foundations for healthier connections.
Barbie Atkinson, LPC-S is a psychotherapist and licensed professional counselor and supervisor. She founded Catalyst Counseling to offer clients a chance to really feel seen, heard and ask them questions they hadn't considered before. Not your Mama’s therapist. Her One-Size-Can't-Possibly-Fit-All approach is refreshingly human and personal. She brings curiosity to each assessment and has helped a wide breadth of clients.
For over 25 years, she's helped clients in such places as Baylor and University of Texas community clinics, probation offices, various community agencies, schools, research studies through Human Behavior and Research Institute at University of Texas, University of Houston's Center for Latina Maternal & Family Health Research, online, and in private practice. She holds an M.S. with dual specializations in Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy from Barry University and a B. A. in Psychology from Florida International University (Go, Golden Panthers!).
Mehgan Castillo, MS, LMFT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with an eagerness to work side-by-side with people who are seeking growth and change.I am a "homegrown" therapist, beginning my studies at the University of St. Thomas. Following undergrad, I enjoyed a 7yr. teaching career with Houston-ISD where my passion for working with families and adolescents grew. I, then, pursued a Master’s degree in Individual, Couple’s and Family Counseling from Our Lady of the Lake University.
My theoretical orientation is based on Solution-Focused Therapy, Collaborative Language Systems and Narrative Therapy. Therefore, I work with the client to maximize and utilize their strengths to create change. I strive to offer a place where people feel safe, empowered and encouraged to be themselves. I am known for my honesty and forwardness with my clients while also being gentle and supportive.
Nikquan Lewis, MS, LMFT, LPC, ST is an Author, Speaker | Licensed Relationship & Sex Therapist | CEO of Intimate Connections PLLC. Nikquan Lewis is a licensed Relationship & Sex therapist, nationally recognized speaker, and best selling author of When Trauma Is Your Author: The Price Your Relationships Pay and How to Reclaim Your Story. She is the founder and CEO of Intimate Connections PLLC, a thriving virtual private practice based in Katy, Texas, serving clients across the state. With over a decade of experience in mental health, Nikquan blends clinical expertise with cultural intentionality, centering Black women, couples, and marginalized communities in her work.
As one of the 4% of Black therapists in the U.S., Nikquan built her business to interrupt generational trauma, dismantle shame, and empower others to live more connected, pleasure-centered lives. Her practice offers therapy, virtual couples intensives, coaching, and professional wellness consulting for organizations. She is known for her deeply human, no-fluff approach that makes healing and intimacy accessible and transformational.
Nikquan is also a sought-after media expert who has been featured in Essence, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and more, and she has proudly served as the resident sexpert for Essence Magazine. She also creates tools that make uncomfortable conversations easier, like her How Do You Want It? Relationship and Sex Conversation Cards and the Digital Guide to Intimacy, now used by clinicians, individuals and couples alike.
Her business has scaled beyond the therapy room, including speaking on major stages like Essence Festival of Culture, leading corporate workshops for companies like Microsoft, and serving as a consultant for sexuality-focused brands. Through it all, her mission remains clear: to help people reclaim their stories, prioritize pleasure, and create relationships that feel good and actually work.
Jessica Medina, MS, LMFT-S, is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Supervisor in the state of Texas. She hold a Master’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in Marriage & Family Therapy from Our Lady of the Lake University, and my bachelor’s degree is in Psychology from the University of Houston.
Jessica primarily works from a collaborative and strength-based perspective. I am the expert of creating change, but you are the expert of your life. Together, we collaborate our expertise and find what works best for your needs. I believe that change happens one step at a time... one day at a time. With hard work and dedication, we can achieve the life that you want to live.
Cortnee White, LPC, Mental Performance Specialist, has a degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University-Kingsville and a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lamar University. Cortnee is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She holds certifications as a personal fitness trainer and certified mental strength coach. I have worked in primary mental health practices, wellness centers, fitness facilities, and Sport-specialized practices.
Cortnee specializations are helping athletes manage performance anxiety, work through mental blocks, slumps, and building strong mental consistency in and out of their competitions.
