Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Lavender.
Hi Kimberly, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I could write a book about my journey so I will do my best to give the condensed version.
As an abuse survivor, I decided to leave the corporate world and go to school (a lifelong dream of mine) for social work so that I could help others. I had moved to Greenville, MI after leaving an abusive relationship (repeating childhood abusive relationships) to raise my child away from that environment. Not long after moving to Greenville is when I decided to go to college after urging from my grandmother (who I had lived with on and off growing up due to abusive parents). I started school part-time while working in HR. After I got laid off and couldn’t find another office job, I went to work in a local restaurant. For several years, I worked 2-3 jobs as a server and went to school while raising a child by myself. I found my passion in Social work, focusing on integrated health, and volunteered as a board member at Cherry Health (where I am now on the executive, governance, and personnel committees), which is another story on its own, but I got involved w/ Cherry Health during school when I learned about then through a class project and became a patient. After graduating with my Master’s Degree, I went to work at a Community Health Center (another abusive relationship) where I worked for a few years before leaving to start my own practice.
Throughout my school years, I dealt with extreme poverty, two cancer diagnosis, a major car accident, and two years of physical therapy, while making sure I didn’t lose the small house I had bought and raising my daughter by myself. I have never married, never lived with another relationship after my daughter’s dad, and have continued working towards my success.
The practice I started in 2014 is thriving, has 12 independently contracted therapists (I teach them all how to open and maintain their own business), gives thousands back to the community each year through donations and sponsorships, and continues to be democratically and transparently operated. I’m proud to say that three therapists that started with my company, Belle Tower Group, have left to start their own companies and have also found success.
On top of all this, in 2023 I moved to Southern California. A dream of mine and still see clients and run my business virtually. Although, in just a few months, I’m giving up my residence to live as a nomad while I save money to buy or build a space in Greenville to have our offices (I currently rent space) and to add on a teen drop in center. Another long-term dream of mine.
My daughter, Taryn Sinclaire, is who recommended me to you and I see her article came out recently. She is the reason for everything I did, why I never quit fighting, and seeing her succeed is my reward for not giving up on my dreams. Ironically enough, she and her best friend are two of my previous therapists that opened their own business in the community that they grew up in and where Belle Tower Group is located.
Our story has come full circle.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all but it has been worth it! I included just some of my struggles in the last paragraph. Abuse, medical challenges, poverty, bankruptcy, and generational trauma. Just to name a few.
As you know, we’re big fans of Belle Tower Group. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I own a private, small group therapy practice in rural Michigan. Each clinician has their own specialty, covering several different areas: individuals and families in transition, Children and teens, SUD, First responders; LEO’s & DOC, Religious abuse and deconstruction, spiritual recovery, the GLBTQ+ community, parenting, and many more. Our focus is finding the right fit for the client and if we do not have someone that is a good fit or doesn’t specialize in an area of need, we help that client find someone.
https://www.belletowergroup.com/
What does success mean to you?
Success is seeing my team happy and successful, having clients feel safe and accepted at Belle Tower Group, and being able to give back to my community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.belletowergroup.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Belletowergroup/
