Hidden Gems: Meet Mallory Godin of Restore & Renew Counseling

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mallory Godin.  

Hi Mallory, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I started my undergraduate studies at Albion College, where I then decided to pursue a Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling at Michigan State University. The program appealed to me because I would hold both a certification as a rehabilitation counselor as well as hold full licensure as an LPC- Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Michigan. After a debilitating knee injury playing college soccer, I realized that I wanted to pursue a degree that would provide an appreciation and focus on both the mental and physical well-being of individuals and the emphasis that you can’t have one without the other and that they are strongly interconnected. Once graduating from MSU in 2016, I went on to pursue work within the public sector. I gained experience working with students from MSU, providing career exploration opportunities, and helping individuals with disabilities find their place in the world. As fulfilling as that work was, I still felt like there was something missing in terms of my career and the direction in which I felt I was meant to be. I realized through my connections and conversations with other clinicians in the field that there was a missing area of focus in terms of private counseling. This area of focus emphasizes the mind, body, and spirit of an individual, focusing on the holistic aspect and approach to counseling. When we think of humans and our needs, it’s hard to imagine those three categories outside of one another. Restore & Renew was founded with the mission that “We believe in the power to restore and heal through the process of counseling. Restoration means an act of restoring or the condition of being restored, such as bringing back to former position or condition. Here at Restore & Renew Counseling, we believe in the mission of working with our clients to achieve a restored sense of self and renewal. We strive to create a judgement-free environment that fosters growth and inspires people to become the best version of themselves. We are a group of authentic therapists that strive to find joy in the small things and have hearts of gold. Restoration and Renewal is always our goal, and we recognize that looks differently for each person. We all believe that humans are among the greatest creation, and we are here to embrace and empower each individual we serve.” Currently today, Restore & Renew Counseling has 16 therapists all with different specialties and areas of focus. We recently received a grant for therapists through the practice, where the a total of 10 therapists were trained in EMDR (which is a trauma-focused modality, as well as other trainings. It has encouraged the growth and continued learning of all of the therapists. It is a dynamic group, and I am so thankful to work alongside them. We are located all throughout Michigan offering telehealth across the state and in-person services in Lansing, Brighton, and soon to come in the Saginaw area. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been a smooth road like anything when you are starting something from the ground up; it takes a lot of time and passion to recognize and stay focused on the end goal. The passion to change the lives of others and create a work environment where flexibility and balance exists for the therapists has been such a joy. There was and still is a lot of trial and error, but that is what I love about this work; there is not a day that goes by where I am not challenging myself to grow and problem solving my way through things. It’s a privilege to work with the team as well as to work with the clients that I get to work with, and they truly make this all worth it. My faith is a large part of who I am and I owe a lot of the success to this journey of knowing that this is bigger than myself and recognizing all of the people that may positively be impacted along the way. 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Restore & Renew Counseling is a private practice serving clients across the state of Michigan through both telehealth and in person. Personally, as a therapist, I specialize in working with athletes ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, and maternal health. Restore & Renew is different because the platform that has been created for therapists. It’s amazing the quality of work that can be done regardless of if you are all located in one place or spread across Michigan. We are known as a holistic practice, focusing on the mind, body, and spirit. These are vital in the success of clients. We partner with local holistic practitioners to offer nutritional guidance and that physical aspect of the person. The collaboration is vital to the success, and we have seen such progress with clients. We recently had our second retreat for the therapists in Northern Michigan. It was a weekend full of self-care-related things such as massages and a presentation from Liz Bouma, who focuses on women’s health, specifically hormone health. It is so wonderful to pour into this group of women!!! 

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Mentorship is important to your success. I have had many great mentors that come to mind in which I have learned so much from them and I have seen them share their knowledge. I am forever grateful to the people who have crossed my path and allowed me to recognize the potential for this work exists and to see it in myself to believe that I can create it. We can’t survive without those strong pillars of women who build us up and show us things are possible. This has truly been a dream come true. Doing the work that I feel I was meant to do and finding my place in the world. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.restorerenewcounseling.com/