We had the good fortune of connecting with Mishka Clavijo Kimball and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mishka, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think of risks as opportunities to grow, learn and transform. One of my favorite quotes is… “do one thing every day that scares you” by Eleanor Roosevelt. I am a true believer that the best way to overcome your fears is by doing the thing that scares you or the thing you believe you can’t do. This helps you take a step outside of your comfort zone, and while it may feel uncomfortable, it is incredibly valuable because that is when real growth and learning happens. When we take a chance and a leap of faith, regardless of the outcome, we transform ourselves just like the caterpillar who transforms into a beautiful butterfly. I have always been a risk taker and I can say with confidence that this has helped me reach goals and dreams beyond what I thought was possible. One of the most recent risks I took, was acquiring a new office suite to continue to grow my business. You can see my new office in the pictures, which I am in the process of furnishing and decorating.

What should our readers know about your business?
I founded Kimball Therapy, Overcoming Obstacles One Step at a Time, with the mission to help young adults and people of color overcome challenges, grow through life transitions, and be empowered to take charge of their own healing and transform into their best self. I am most proud to be a woman of color business owner, providing therapy and coaching services to my community and advocating to break the stigma of mental health. I am also proud to be a professor at Mount Saint Mary’s University in the Psychology department and to be a public speaker. I love to speak on topics I am passionate about, such as personal growth, relationships and anxiety recovery. I have gotten to where I am today with a lot of hard-work, dedication and sacrifice, but most of all collaboration. I had a wonderful mentor, Anita Avedian, who taught me and guided me on how to start my own private practice. I have also collaborated with other professionals from the beginning, done lots of networking and have built a community around me that has been essential to my success. Another key aspect to my growth has been joining the San Fernando Valley California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (SFV-CAMFT). I became a board member of this non-profit in 2018 and have served in various roles since then. I am very excited to announce that I will be President in 2021 and the first Latinx woman to ever be President of this organization. I think the biggest lesson I have learned is the importance of having a community as a business owner and to remain humble and grateful through the ups and downs. I’ve also learned to never give up and that with hard work, dedication and guidance, dreams do come true.

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?
Some of my favorite spots in Los Angeles are the museums, such as the Getty Museum and the Getty Villa. I think those are a must see when visiting LA. I also love going to Malibu and Santa Monica to be near the ocean. Some of my favorite places to eat are the Sushi House in Studio City, Lala’s Argentine Grill, and Blue Jam for breakfast or brunch. Los Angeles is such a full and vibrant city that you will never stop exploring.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I consider myself to be a hard-worker and go getter, however, I have not gotten to where I am today by myself. I have been very blessed to have wonderful people in my life, who have inspired, supported, mentored and assisted me throughout my journey. I am grateful to my family, my close friends and my mentor for their support. I would also like to give a special shoutout to my husband, Paul Kimball, who has supported and encouraged me from day one. He has been by my side through all the ups and downs, sleepless nights during graduate school, celebrating my graduation, helping me get started with my private practice and now helping me stay strong during the Covid-19 pandemic. Thanks babe for being amazing!

Website: www.kimballtherapy.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimballtherapy/?hl=en
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mishka-clavijo-kimball-m-s-lmft-45601649
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KimballTherapy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/mishkakimball/posts/\
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kimball-therapy-woodland-hills-3
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF9EbaS5zk0dG3VFSKny8YA
Other: Latinx Therapy Directory: https://latinxtherapy.com/therapist/mishka-kimball/ SFV-CAMFT Board of Directors: https://www.sfvcamft.org/Board_of_Directors Mount Saint Mary’s University Faculty: https://www.msmu.edu/resources-culture/faculty-directory/faculty-members/kimball-mishka.php

Image Credits
Paul Kimball and Carolyn Jordan