Meet Gerreka “Gigi” Gilliam | Mental Health Therapist & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gerreka “Gigi” Gilliam and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gerreka “Gigi”, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I have been taking risks since I was a child. I remember being in elementary school and singing the solo “Freddie the Frog” because my music teacher thought none of the boys were good enough to do the lead, and I had the best voice for the role. For me playing a boy as a lead in a play over 15 years ago was scary. I was afraid about what others would think and if I would be judged especially growing up in a conservative City like Irving, Texas. Fast forwarding to adulthood, I moved to Los Angeles jobless, with no definite place to stay and only $1,000 to my name. My friends and family thought I was crazy but 9 years later I am still here living and thriving independently. The beginning was rough, I couched surfed, had several odd end jobs and moved a couple of times before getting my first Hollywood apartment and full-time position. Moving to Los Angeles was one of the biggest risks I have ever done and for some reason I had no fear only faith. That faith was not built over night.
After graduating from Clark-Atlanta University with my Bachelor of Arts degree I went back home to Texas for a year before I moved to Los Angeles. During that year, I prepared. I woke up every morning at 6am and jogged 2 miles, went to work and had bible study and two different churches every week. By the time I got to Los Angeles I was in the best physical, spiritual and mental health. Since, I have lived here, I believe in asking for what I want and negotiating my salary. Some would say it is a risk not to accept what is originally offered but I believe in being compensated for my experience and worth and I am willing to walk away if I do not feel valued. In addition, I have saved up my money and walked away from a position that I felt was very stressful and undervalued me several times which is definitely a risk. I consult God on all decisions and my faith in his confirmation has never led me wrong.

What should our readers know about your business?
I learned a few years ago I am much more productive when making my own schedule versus a set 9am to 5pm. My sister told me I have an entrepreneurial spirit and to find a position that fit my personality. Being a former advertising and marketing professional, I realized I was good at my job but felt overworked and unfilled. After my father passed, I saw the need for therapist representation for people of color. I went to school and received my Clinical Psychology Masters from Pepperdine University, with an emphasis in Family and Marriage. Honestly, I love what I do and have been able to find positions where I can make my own schedule. In addition, my sister and I are co-owners of a security company called G&G Protection & Assoc. located in Dallas, Texas. Inserts shameless plug, if you ever need services please reach out to us. Now security is of course a completely different field that allows me to make my own schedule and work remotely. I love the flexibility! I also love continuing my father’s legacy and taking on the company he built from scratch. Simultaneously, I work full time mental health therapist. Being a therapist is the most rewarding and emotionally taxing role I have ever had. I hear traumatic events daily. Being a mental health therapist in the midst of a global pandemic has added an additional layer of stress and is one of the hardest things I have ever done. Last year, was tough stabilizing myself to be grounded as well as my clients, family and friends. Quite frankly I was burnt out. Burnout is easy to happen if self-care is not implemented. Covid-19 is an environmental stressor that has caused mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and suicide to increase. As a therapist it was crucial for me to be emotionally sound to effectively help others. This is where listening to your body and self-check comes in. I had to learn a new set of healthy coping mechanisms since Los Angeles was completely shut down for months no gym, indoor dining and at one point even the beaches were closed. I also had to set firm boundaries with family and friends. Like the old saying goes you cannot pour out from a well that’s dry. What sets me apart from other therapists is that I am able to connect with people in a deep way in a short amount of time which happened even before I was a therapist. A huge part of progress in therapy is about finding a therapist that is the right fit. People tend not to share their most intimate moments with someone they do not trust. I encourage everyone to try therapy. Mental health has always been very important, and this is the time to strengthen your mental endurance as we navigate the pandemic and this environmental stressor. One of my favorite stress relievers is traveling. I strive to go to a different country every year.
Here are a few tips to protect your mental stability:
1. Practice self-care. (Mine are traveling, mediating, setting boundaries, eating veggies/fruits daily, drinking lots of water, fun Zoom calls, face-timing family and friends, and dancing.
2. Evaluate what you are listening and hearing. (Example: Is social media helping or hindering you? Need a break?)

3. Seek out a therapist or counselor to process past and present hurt and
experiences. Currently, with the changes of COVID we are going through a life
altering experience.

My motto now is, protect your peace at all costs.

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?
Breakfast/Brunch-Whiskey Reds in Marina has great food and beautiful view of the ocean. Rockefeller in Manhattan beach has great service and is walking distance from the beach. Dinner-Downtown Los Angeles: Broken Shaker has an awesome view of DTLA. Poppy and Rose has great food and a cute ambiance.

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?
I’d like to shoutout Ginger Lavender Wilkerson, mentor, colleague and most recently since I joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority incorporated, I can call her Soror as well. Ginger is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in working with teen girls and has been such an influential part of my career. I have been blessed to work with her on a professional level completing trauma-informed trainings and learning private practice under her leadership. She has been a great example of how to balance work and life and has supported me in my professional changes and career goals. Having taught me a lot about this field over the last few years and I’m forever grateful to her.

Instagram: @mytherapistisdope and @heymissgilliam

Twitter: @justgerreka