Meet Cherish Brooks | Licensed Psychological Associate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cherish Brooks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cherish, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
Never Give Up. I began this journey believing that I was going to be a forensic psychologist. Only to find out that I didn’t have the stomach for that. I then went into aging and development; Alzheimers and Autism. I did a lot of Research in Autism to only end up pivoting to Physiology and Psychology. At that point I was researching mental health treatment pre and post surgery of Sexual Reassignment Surgery. Then after all that research on hormones and emotional regulation based on gender physiology, lead me here; Brooks Psychology; Women’s Wellness. All of what I have researched pertaining to genders and emotional regulation will be in my book “Man vs Woman” that will be released in 2027.

Dont ever be afraid to fail, learn how to pivot.

Learning how to pivot is one of the most important skills to have in order to be successful. There is a big difference in patience and wallowing. It is always important to be honest about your emotions and the intent behind them. Acknowledge your frustrations, disappointments and sadness. Then orchestrate a plan on how to press forward.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What many might not know is that Brooks Psychology is rooted in art and creative expression. When I first started my business it was during the time I was doing Autism research. The initial name of my business was Live Art Outloud (LAO). LAO was a company that promoted other female artists and all of our proceeds would go towards Autism research. We did a round table talk including art work at Diverse Works in Houston; “Connecting the Dots of Autism”. We also did an art show at Avant Garden in Houston. We had other art shows outside of Houston as well. Along the way there were many struggles. The research that I was encouraging and presenting was not heavily accepted at the time. Therefore, I was either rejected or deemed crazy for a good amount of time. Nonetheless, after the latest revision of the DSM was released, many of my colleagues were more able to see where I was coming from.

By the time that I began to feel more support in that area, I had already naturally pivoted to another area of psychology. During the time of being Live Art Outloud, it was the most exciting but also the roughest patch of my career. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am grateful for it because it paved the way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Houston is such a great city to explore, even the outskirts are nice to visit. If I had an itinerary, lets pretend that all these places are within distance. So I would suggest staying at Moody Gardens in Galveston. The hotel is nice and there are enough events to partake in to fill any empty space. My personal favorite is the Aquarium pyramid, but all the pyramids and events are enjoyable. So that is where we are grounded. However, I would start one of the days with breakfast at La Madeliene in Kingwood Texas. The croque madame is delicious. Early afternoon activities would be good to go to the Houston Zoo, the Children’s Muesem or any of the musems while it is still cool outside. Mary’z Mediterranean is a great spot for lunch, all the food is amazing. Eventually, stop by and get some desert at Flying Saucer Pie company. Finally, ending the nights by shopping on the River Oaks shopping strip or the Galleria and eating at whichever Cheesecake Factory is the nearest.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Absolutely, there are many people that have influeced me along the way. My first mentor Lt. Dr.. Leedjia Svecreally encouraged me to merge the worlds between art, science and psychology. I have been honored to create multiple of art pieces for her, including a demonstrative piece which was apart of her research presentation at the white House. Additionally, a requested piece of art for her blog’s (http://stylishstem.blogspot.com/) page which she began many years ago that has blossomed into a great community of women supporting women in STEM. She has always been extremely passionate about uplifting women and it has made a great impression on me and my career. Additionally she taught me to, “Always have something for yourself; your hobby can be your business.”

I have had other great female mentors, that I will have to dedicate another time and piece to at a later date. I have a great family that has always been very encouraging in all that I do. My beatiful parents Gerald and Charlotte Brooks who instiled the idea of independence and entrepreneurship in me. My best friend Jennifer Barnett who has seen every up and down during this long road to finding myself. My loving partner Chase Key who is my strength and has seen all sides of me and still loves me dearly. And last but not least our 2 amazing boys who keep us young and on our toes consistently.

Website: https://brookspsychology.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081181787945

Other: cherish@brookspsychology.net

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/cherish-marie-brooks-humble-tx/827612