Angela Clark, MA, LPC, NCC, CTMH

It’s hard to be ok when your child’s not. If your child is struggling with their mental health, the first thing I want to start off with is saying: I’m so sorry to hear that. You are so welcome here. I can’t claim to know your experience, but I know that when my daughter was struggling with her mental health and ended up in a psychiatric hospital after self-harming and suicide attempts, all I wanted to do was take away her pain and make everything better. I felt impotent and alone. My thoughts were anxious, terrified, and panicked. I continuously asked myself: Had I caused this? Hi, I’m Angie. I’m a Coach, Counselor, and a Mother. However, none of these roles could prepare me for how terrified I was when my daughter experienced her mental health crisis. Like I said earlier, there were plenty of people and organizations to help my daughter, and I thank God for them. But, as her mother, I felt alone and isolated, there was no help available to me and at some level, it felt selfish and self-indulgent to ask for it. There was no one who could understand the constant thought that I had failed her. No one to stop me from reliving every one of my parenting mistakes. DisruptedKC has been set up so you do not have to navigate your child’s mental health struggles alone. Im pleased to say my daughter is thriving, we got through it and you can too. As a counselor, I was taught that things in the past affect the present, so it made sense for me to go to the past to find out what was going on in my daughter's present. But that exploration got me nowhere, apart from deeper into panic and fear. The answer was much simpler. I just needed to look in the right direction. Let me help you navigate this challenge. Through my coaching, counseling, and retreats, I give you the support you need and hold your hand, so you can hold theirs.

Ten years ago one of my children was struggling with severe depression, insecurity, and bullying at school. She began self-harming and eventually started having suicidal thoughts. I was completely shocked because I didn't know it had been going on. Thankfully she told our psychiatrist which then led to several acute hospitalizations and even a residential hospitalization. Over the next two years, we went in and out of hospitals, tried all the different psych meds, and went to multiple therapy sessions. During this time I felt helpless, hopeless, guilty, clueless, and all the other feelings that come with being a parent when your child is hurting. Luckily there were great doctors, therapists, and skill groups for my daughter so that she could start healing. What there wasn't was support for my husband and me as the parents of a suicidal child. So, I chose to go back to school and get a master's degree in clinical mental health so that I could be a support system and an educator to parents whose children are struggling. Because I have children with emotional and behavioral struggles and have the clinical experience of working with both parents and children, I offer a unique perspective when working with my clients. Helping parents help their families isn't just a job or focus of mine; it is my passion, and I infuse it with heart and soul.