Today, we’d like to introduce you to Mary Taylor. Mary was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Andre Hayes.
Mary, can you walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in Orlando, Florida by my very loving and hardworking parents, John and Roberta. I am the youngest of three and I have a close relationship with my immediate and extended family. Growing up, I loved school and would strive to make good grades and excel in every avenue possible. I enjoyed being active as well which led me to participate in various sports, join different clubs and committees, and play the clarinet in marching and concert band. Through these various activities, I’ve met and developed friendships with women who are still in my life today and are my biggest supporters.
A large part of my story is rooted in my faith. Growing up in a Christian home, faith was such an important principle that was instilled in me. It truly is the foundation of who I am and what I do. Throughout my life, I always found satisfaction and fulfillment in helping others and I know this stemmed from my belief in God. God is love, and love is shown in action, therefore, I choose to show His love by helping others. This is something that I do in my personal life and my professional career.
I attended the University of Florida (Go Gators) for my undergraduate degree and began to consider the career field that I wanted to pursue. As I mentioned, helping others comes second nature to me so I knew this was the goal. I considered becoming an educator and helping young children discover a love of learning. I thought about entering the medical field and developing treatments for various ailments. Whatever it was, I wanted to help others. It was while taking an Intro to Counseling course that I would decide to become a counselor. I obtained my Master’s in Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy from the University of Central Florida (Charge On) and I am now a Licensed Marriage & Family therapist.
Let’s talk about your work and career – what else should we know?
The mental health field has gained much attention over the years. Its significance in the daily lives of individuals has become so important that initiatives that promote awareness are being put into place, interdisciplinary trainings are being implemented in school programs, and even employers are offering resources for employees and their families. Also, the growing acceptance of substance use as a disease allows for treatments and services to be developed and provided to individuals who are impacted. I love that I am in a field where I get to aid in the treatment of these individuals. I currently provide counseling services through a community mental health and substance use organization in Central Florida. I started out in a residential setting where I focused on helping women explore their past traumas, build self-esteem, and secure the tools to maintain long-term sobriety. Now, in an outpatient setting, my services have expanded to provide services to men and youth, providing them a safe space to begin their healing journey. What I love most about the individuals I serve is dealing with people’s ambivalence. To some degree, we all experience ambivalence at some point and I love the idea of helping people move past theirs to achieve the goals they set before them, or validating that uncertainty is okay and reminding people of their choices in life. My role is to help individuals to first see that it is possible, because once they believe it, then they can explore the journey to achieve it.
Andre Hayes and AllGoodSweat, LLC have been great to us and I know you’ve got a great relationship with them as well. Maybe you can tell our audience a bit about Andre Hayes and AllGoodSweat, LLC and your experience with them.
I mentioned before that I enjoy working with people who struggle with the ambivalence of making changes in their lives. At one point, I was going through my own experience with ambivalence about attending a gym. I grew up being very active, and even through my undergrad years, I always managed to keep myself physically active through sports or dance. But once those years were over, and adulting required I find work to support myself financially, being active took a back seat.
I was introduced to Andre through a mutual friend. My curiosity led me to explore the AllGoodSweat social media account where I would see the workouts, the motivational posts, and, let’s just say it, the amazingly sculpted bodies of his clientele. The program allows for group or individual training by a certified trainer; it offers a beginner’s guide with information about setting goals, eating right, and proper training; and includes reasonably priced monthly plans. I was intrigued but still ambivalent, which he must have sensed because next came a warm, “Hello”, followed by his introduction of himself and his program. “I can’t say no now,” I thought and honestly, I didn’t want to. I was finally prepared to do what I had pushed off for so long.
Andre was just what I needed in a trainer. During our initial sessions, I found him to be very patient and encouraging. As I found myself frustrated with my process, he remained consistent knowing that eventually I would reach the goal I was seeking. And every now and then hearing, “Good work!” or “I knew you could do it!” gave me the push to keep going. As I progressed, Andre began pushing me to greater limits and setting the bar, literally, to a much higher standard. I found myself lifting weights I’d never touched and completing workouts feeling energized and powerful. The group sessions are great because I feel like I’m a part of a family where we encourage one another, laugh at jokes, and celebrate victories, which is the atmosphere that Andre creates. I think my favorite quality that Andre exhibits as a trainer is his ability to see the potential of his clients even when we don’t see it in ourselves… yet. My journey with AllGoodSweat started as a means to change my weight and is now a journey to change my life and for that I am grateful.
