Meet Apree Clicque | Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Apree Clicque and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Apree, what role has risk played in your life or career?
A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a leadership conference where the theme was: Retreat? Hell, we just got here. That has stuck with me more than most views on leadership. It has helped me to harness energy to make hard decisions and be willing to sit in discomfort. Hard things take work. Often times, our brain wants us to quit – not because we are incapable of hard things, but because it would feel more comfortable. I strive to be the type of leader who understands things will be hard and almost finds comfort in that feeling, knowing I do not have to take a step back or retreat. I have also had to learn the hard lesson of most things do not need an automatic reaction, because trust me I am a knee jerk reactor. Still am as my gut instinct! Most of the time, the best course of action is not to react, listen/take inventory and make a decision based on best course of action.

Over the years, I have become more of a leap of faith person. Through leadership training, books, personal development and community learning, I have learned to recognize my own strengths and weaknesses as well as how to use these to make sound decisions. Additionally, I have spent time cultivating a group of individuals in my life (friends, mentors, colleagues), who I know I can lean into for additional guidance and support. Risk has allowed me (and my business partners) to grow our business (even during a pandemic!), start a non-profit (still in progress) and face some hard truths about my self. Risk is in and of itself scary; however, fear also allows to do hard things, if we allow it to be motivating.

What should our readers know about your business?
A couple of years ago, Mika Smith, Zakia Inyang and I started Dallas Therapeutic Services. Our goal was to create a private practice, which served the mental health of our surrounding communities. We each came with our own passions and populations we wanted to serve. My speciality was Military and First Responders. Mika brought with her LGBTQ+ and OCD. Zakia sought to serve the Black communities and couples. While we started with those foundational elements, our business grew to have over a dozen additional therapists – each bringing with them their own specialties. Now, we are proud to say we have a diverse set of specialities and are always looking to grow and expand to meet the needs of our community.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I currently live in the Turtle Creek, and I love being able to take people through that area and the surrounding ones. We may start with a hot chocolate (if it’s wintery weather) from Chocolate Secrets. Go for a walk either around Turtle Creek or over around White Rock. Perhaps swing through Bishop Arts for lunch or shopping. Big fan of hammocks so in an ideal world perhaps grab a couple of those and read for a bit by the lake. Maybe end the day with dinner on lower Greenville. If there’s extra time, check out some of the amazing museums or see a show at Fair Park Musicals.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Hands down the volunteer work/organizations I have been apart of have been the most inspiring and life changing. Special shout out to Team Rubicon – their work and dedication to helping communities effected by disasters has pushed me way outside of my comfort zone. Through them, I have had the opportunity to be with people on their worst day, to sit with discomfort/hurt/fear and to experience the awe of a community coming together – neighbors helping neighbors. This is also the group that invited me to be a part of their leadership conference, where I learned the phrase: Retreat? Hell, we just got here.

Website: www.DallasTherapeutic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dallastherapeuticservices/

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Image Credits
Family members and friends