Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Eugenia Agard.
Hi Dr. Agard, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have always been interested in working directly with the community and I have been engaged in this capacity since I was a youth. I was inspired by my mother, who demonstrated her love in action. She was the mother that all desired as their own as she assisted those depressed, abandoned by their family members and took them in and showed them what real love looked like and how it felt. Due to the first-hand experiences witness by my mother, it was natural for me to want to work in the field of mental health and community outreach, it was second nature. After obtaining my bachelor’s degree, I begin to work for a children’s agency & later was compelled to increase my role in influencing positive outcomes. I, therefore, returned to school and established my private practice, HUGS Therapy Services. At HUGS, we offer Individual Therapy, Couple’s Therapy, Family Therapy and Group Therapy. We also offer Healing retreats for woman and for couples. At HUGS we believe in the holistic approach to care. Telehealth services are also available to eliminate boundaries to care.
Alright, 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?
I believe that in anything one desires, they must be dedicated to the mission. No road along the journey will be straight and smooth, but we can expect to face some hills, curves, and detours. Challenges will come, but they present to us as a life lesson and make us stronger and wiser if we use it to our advantage. So yes, I have faced challenges in owning my own company, but I do not let them deter me. A detour is just that, a delay, but a delay is not denial.
We’ve been impressed with HUGS Therapy Services, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At HUGS Therapy we pride ourselves on the embrace that we give our community with our Community outreach services. We provide free services to underserved populations that would not be exposed to services or would not have the option to afford services. We are very pleased to offer free seminars and community psychoeducational events to uplift our community and change lives. The programs we offer focus on mental health awareness, anti-bullying, increasing self-esteem, STD prevention, heart health, breast cancer prevention and beyond. At HUGS we also send medical supplies to poor woman, children and families in Africa that reside in remote villages.
We offer a wealth of aide to communities to empower them without a fee because I believe God requires us look back, lift up and lend a hand. HUGS also offers some free grants for Therapy to some without coverage and offers significant sliding scales fees to those that requires additional support to eliminate barriers to care. At HUGS we pride ourselves on being a community provider for all. It is our prayer to one day be able to afford or have someone donate the means to build our MH camp to provide a multitude of services to those most venerable. HUGS Therapy offers individual, family, couples and group therapy and include our healing holistic approach. We pride ourselves on going the extra mile in our services and that brings me joy knowing lives are affecting and impacted positively. Our office offers treatment for anxiety, depression, PTSD, marriage counseling, family counseling, military counseling, LGBTQ support, Job-related issues and health issues co-occurring with depression. We take most major insurance companies for services. During the Covid-19 pandemic, HUGS begin a free program for the community to process what was occurring in our world and created a forum to prevent isolation with the “HUGS Healing Hour.” Many people shared this was life-saving at the time it was so needed. At that time, we were told to social distance, HUGS was still able to provide a virtual healing HUG to the community.
What makes you happy?
What makes me happy is being with my family, enjoying their smiles, their touch, their embrace and knowing that I am loved by them. My sweet dogs make me happy, being outside in the fresh air, swimming in the ocean, dancing and singing and hugging palm trees makes me so happy. Also, making homemade natural hair and skin products really excite me because they work and I find it so therapeutic to make. I must add eating some really good food and drinking my virgin natural juices are a joy!
Contact Info:
- Email: EugeniaAgard4HUGS@gmail.com
- Website: HUGSTherapyServices.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HUGS-501139700063369
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