Today we’d like to introduce you to Mackenzie Torres.
Hi Mackenzie , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up in a very small, predominantly white town. I felt very different being one of the few people of color within my town.I was always a dreamer and knew that I wanted to help people. I came from a very poor family, where my parents would have to choose which bills to pay each month. We often would go without heat. My father struggled with schitzoaffective disorder and watching him go through his struggles and still be a great person I became interested in mental health. I started learning more about mental health through my gym class and I thought, “this, this is it.” I found mental health so facinating. I started going through my own struggles with depression and self-harm due to childhood trauma I had gone through. I went through severe emotional abuse and sexual abuse and was so lost and confused. My mom too had a lot of childhood trauma. I realized that my parents were just humans struggling with their own childhoods. I started to get my own treatment and I realized that therapy can completely change your life. I went from not wanting to live to being so happy to be alive. I wanted to help other people find joy and happiness in their life despite what happened to them.
I decided that I wanted to be a counselor at the age of 10 and pursured that path until I made it happen. I worked at McDonald’s from the age of 15 and a half until I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree in 2019. I then started working as a Dependency Case Manager for Children’s Home Society affliated with the Department of Children and Families. I realized that I truly loved the work that I did with the parents. I realized once again how the intergenerational trauma cycle could so gravely affect these children’s lives. I realized that these parents, like myself, all had inner children that needed healing so they could start breaking the cycles. At the time, I thought I had done a lot of trauma work but I was in for a surprise. I went through a traumatic break-up and this really helped me to truly heal and find myself. I did EMDR for all of the childhood and relationship trauma that I had gone through and my life was forever changed. I finally had started to choose myself when before I hated myself and therefor had no boundaries, no voice, no say in my life. I started living in a true place of happiness and I just knew I had to become EMDR trained.
I completed my intership at the VA and it reconfirmed that I loved the work that I did. Upon graduation with my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, I started working at a private practice for a few months that was not a good fit. I then worked at another practice for three years before I left and decided to start my own practice, Through The Woods Therapy.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I have been through a lot of trauma. As I stated earlier, I was in a low socieconomic class. I was the first person in my family to have a master’s degree (my mom wanted me to strive for marrying a wealthy husband versus me making my own income, I believe she just did not think it was possible).
My mother died of cervical cancer a month before I graduated with my Master’s degree. She was truly one of my best friends and always made people laugh with her snarky remarks. Upon going out into the field after graduation, one of my employers was very unsupportive and informed me I was not made for private practice and “not everyone’s mom just died.”
I have financially struggled as the field has paid very low wages for interns. They expect you to get your hours while also workign for very low pay. I have even had wages withheld for over a month due to practice issues that I worked at. I decided that I wanted a healthier life for myself and to have my own practice that could be me and the population that I serve due to all of my challenges.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and I specialize in working with adult survivors of childhood trauma, the LGTBQIA+ community/religious trauma, narcisstic abuse survivors, and codependency. I utilize EMDR, somatic-work, polyvagal theory, reparenting the inner child techniques, and positive psychology in order to help clients gain back their power. I truly believe that therapy should not be forever and that clients should see true life change to become a happier version of themselves to allow for a better life.
I have lived exerience with everything that I work with and I have done the exact same work. Because of my extensive trauma history I truly get what my clients are going through and how to help them to heal. I am often told by my clients that they have never experienced the type of therapy that I provide because I help them get results that last.
Through The Woods came about due to my love for nature and hikes. Going through trauma work and healing is quite like a hike, there are a lot of tough parts. We may get tired or hungry but we may also see some cute animals along the way. We may see some beautiful trees and plants. Then once we reach our destination we see a beautiful view whether it be a waterfall or mountain top. Then once we are done, the journey down is a whole lot easier than the journey up. The tiredness we feel was well worth the work, because the hike was life changing. This is what I am creating in the work that I do.
I am most proud that I am a multiracial women that is the first in her family to own a business. I am proud of the community that I serve and to be a part of the BIPOC community.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was a super shy child. I was really afraid to say what was on my mind or even be seen or noticed. If I was comfortable with someone I was very joyful and hyper. I knew that I wanted more for myself and I often dreamed of a better, happier life. I always loved nature and getting lost in a good book. I grew up in a small town where some of our only options were to be outside in nature. It really was my safe haven. I loved being silly and spending time with my friends and family. Now I find ways to nuture that little girl and found my love of nature and reading once more.
Pricing:
- 50 minute session 165
- 60 minute session 190
- EMDR session 190
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thewoodstherapy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/through_thewoodstherapy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580349178652
- Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/giqpa9erJ9933Rkh9
Image Credits
For logos, Phoenix Digital Marketing
