Interns

LaToya Benson, Bachelors in Human Services and Ministry Leadership and Masters level candidate for Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling

I am excited to be completing my internship at Harmony in Hues Wellness Center.

My journey into the helping profession began during a challenging time in my life. It was in that darkness that I discovered the profound impact of relationships and the importance of compassionate counsel. I realized how my conditioned mindset had held me captive until I broke free from negative thinking patterns. This pivotal experience inspired me to become a therapist, dedicated to walking alongside others on their healing journeys.

As a Black woman, I understand the stigma surrounding therapy in the racialized community. This drives my passion for collaborating with women and adolescents from underserved backgrounds, as I aim to create a safe and supportive space for those who need it most.

I embrace an integrative theoretical approach tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. Throughout my internship, I look forward to taking part in training opportunities and gaining valuable experience to lay a solid foundation for my future as a clinician.

I hold an undergraduate degree in Human Services and Ministry Leadership from Cornerstone University and am currently enrolled in a dual track Master’s program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling at Spring Arbor University.

I am a first-generation college student with a passion for working in mental health. I currently have my associate’s degree in psychology from Lansing Community College where I mentored youth and enjoyed working with them on life skills. I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Community and Human Services with a Family Concentration from Siena Heights University where I learned how to work with other professionals to provide resources to clients to promote their activities of daily living. Currently, I am pursuing my master’s degree in social work through the University of Michigan. I aspire to do therapy after completing my MSW and my overall mission for the work that I do is to build meaningful and helpful relationships that promote my clients, equity, well-being, and quality of life.

I am a free-spirited, open-minded, and optimistic person. Growing up, I had many friends who shared personal moments with me that felt as though I was able to help them discover their own needs and desires and improve their understanding of themselves and others. That type of gratification led me to identify my passion for forming therapeutic relationships that support clients’ own potential and self-worth. Inevitably we all deal with insecurities; by seeking understanding and reflection of challenges we experience like morality, vulnerability, parental baggage, and imperfections etc., we can start to look at the complexity of things, gain awareness of our own depth, and see the depth in others. Healing is not an individual, but a shared journey in a collective effort to give ourselves space to feel and name our emotions. We are all complex and multifaceted. Sometimes we have no idea what trauma and fears our neighbors carry, and they have no idea which of those we carry. Shifting our focus on loving and improving ourselves by making peace with the most trying aspects of our lives supports our capacity for empathy and creates a safe space driven by our own dignity.

As a person, I understand that life can be difficult to navigate, but as a therapist, I understand that life involves highs and lows to get to an end goal. Connecting, understanding, and reflecting help us grow towards living a valued life and the life we desire. I do not shy away from occult or taboo conversations and offer an honest, true-neutralist, and nonjudgmental approach to complex discussions. I honor treating individuals with dignity and respect, uplifting and empowering self-actualization, and rooting everything in empathy and compassion. Some extra interests of mine include music, nature, games, art, and astrology. I look forward to collaborating with you on mindfulness and grounding to enchant your own potential
towards greater happiness and fulfillment!