Meet Rebekah Yigael | Mental Health Therapist

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

Hi Rebekah, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
My comfort level in terms of taking risks has definitely evolved since beginning my journey as a social worker and mental health therapist. Throughout my graduate school career, I had a picture in my mind of what I thought success looked like and the steps that I would need to take to reach that success- 1. Finish school
2. Pass my first licensing exam
3. Get a stable job
4. Pass my second licensing exam
5. Stay at said job until retirement

Shortly after entering the work field, I started to realize that, for me, success is so much more about having a work-life balance in order to continue to feel passionate about the work I do than security and a stable paycheck. This certainly came into play when I began to feel burnt out even after trying to make things work within several different agencies and work environments to no avail. Deciding to start my private practice and becoming a business owner on top of being a mental health clinician required that I dig deep and take a leap of faith. I haven’t looked back since and now have grown to enjoy the process of risk taking, both within my career and personal life. Getting out of my comfort zone, learning how to trust myself and be OK with making mistakes, and putting myself out there was by far the most important professional decision I’ve ever made.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are an Integrated Therapy and Life Coaching Center specializing in infertility, pregnancy loss and IVF. The work that we do at HVL Therapy & Coaching Center is important because we are so very passionate about helping women, men and couples during one of the lowest, most challenging moments in their life. Deciding to have a baby can be such an exciting process, and when things don’t go as planned, it can be devastating. There’s a saying I remember from Marsha Linehan, the creator of an approach called Dialectical Behavior Therapy, (I think it originated elsewhere), which says something along the lines of “we go where angels fear to tread”. This has always stuck with me throughout my career, and working with women experiencing miscarriage, infertility, or both, means that we are ready to find hope and see light in our clients even during their darkest days. Encouraging people who have been affected by reproductive trauma and loss to explore the feelings stemming from what they have experienced, helping them recognize that they are so deserving of support, letting them know that what they have gone through is not their fault, and providing them with the proper space to begin the healing process is exactly what I am here on this earth to do. I’m most excited about working with women from the beginning stages, when they are trying to make sense of what has happened (or is still happening) to them- this might be when they are first diagnosed with infertility or going through one or multiple miscarriages- all the way through to the process of experiencing labor, raising their newborn, or, for those who are unable to conceive, helping women navigate next steps after ending the process of IVF or trying to conceive (this might look like deciding to adopt or recognizing other ways to find purpose and joy in life outside of having a child). I love what I do and am so excited to meet more badasses out there who are braving the process of IVF or figuring out how to carry on after going through pregnancy loss.

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.
Such a great question! I would recommend having a full day of fun at Buffalo Bayou Park- my most treasured spot in Houston. Start your day by having the best coffee in all of Houston at Ella Coffee, a coffee truck right by Water Works off of Sabine Street. Laura and Raina are true gems, so come for the coffee and stay for a nice chat with these ladies. They will certainly leave you with good feeling energy, from the coffee itself to their warm, cheerful vibes. You can enjoy your coffee while experiencing one of the best views of Houston’s skyline before exploring the nature of the park itself. You can walk, bring your own bike or rent one once you arrive in order to fully immerse yourself into the winding trails of Buffalo Bayou. If you get hungry, you can either bring a picnic basket or grab some gelato or tortas at the food trucks by the bayou. Bring a big blanket, a book or some music, and find a place with some shade to rest up before continuing your journey. You really can spend all day immersed in nature at this park. Enjoy!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Whew, my shoutout goes out to my business partner and husband- Dante Yigael. Without his support, encouragement and accountability, I know for a fact that I would not be where I am today. Dante believed in my skills and abilities as a clinician and also saw my potential as a business owner, encouraging me to see the big picture and observe the unique skills I bring to the table.

Website: https://www.hvltcc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvl_therapyandcoaching/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekah-yigael-30541a23b/

Image Credits
Madison Shingleton