Meet Alexandria Horton of Be Intentional Counseling & Consulting

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandria Horton.

Hi Alexandria, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have always loved helping, listening, and supporting people through their personal circumstances.

Even in high school, I was a peer helper, making sure that the new kids felt comfortable when they transferred in. My love of helping led me to pursue a Bachelors in Psychology from Tennessee State University, followed by a Masters in Professional Counseling from Georgia State, and then full licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC). I have been in the field now for 17 years.

Over the course of my career, I have worked with diverse populations in various settings including at-risk youth, addictions, and those with persistent mental illness. Once I realized that my passion was working with adults and couples I went on to one of my most fulfilling positions, supporting military service members and their families. As the spouse of a military veteran, I know firsthand the unique concerns and stressors associated with rebuilding your life every 3-4 years which is most times required within a military lifestyle.

My husband and I are both from Georgia and we knew we wanted to move back to be closer to our families once he transitioned out of the military. We settled in the Augusta area in 2015. Since we wouldn’t be moving anymore, it was the perfect time for me to open my private practice. Be Intentional Counseling & Consulting, LLC was born in 2017.

Because I had a full-time job and my youngest child was under a year old, I started building slowly. I worked with just a few clients only some evenings and every other Saturday in the beginning. At the end of 2019, I was finally able to step out on faith and resign from my job to pursue the practice full-time starting January 2020.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being an entrepreneur has been a journey. In the beginning, I underestimated how time consuming running a business is, especially when it is just you. As a wife, mom, and professional it was/is quite the balancing act, so figuring out my business boundaries became really important!

The second struggle was realizing that I didn’t know, what I didn’t know. I went to school for counseling, not business, not web design, nor systems management. In those early years, I spent a lot of time on YouTube and figured out enough to get by. As Be Intentional grew I recognized that I needed to invest in this business by leaning into those that understood the areas outside of my expertise. That was a game changer and I was really able to see the business blossom.

The final struggle was, of course, the Covid Pandemic. January 2020 was my first year in practice full-time and by mid-March, the world had shut down. I had to quickly pivot from in-person sessions to virtual/Telehealth sessions in order for the business to continue to function. There was a little resistance to this change and some clients opted to discontinue until the pandemic was over. Because so much of therapy is about looking at facial expressions and being in a comfortable, relaxed environment the best option was to close the physical practice location so that we could see each other’s faces without the risk of getting sick.

While initially, it was really disappointing to have to close the physical practice location, switching to virtual allowed me the flexibility to see clients all over the state of Georgia. Additionally, the clients are now enjoying the convenience of not commuting to the appointment, manage their work schedules, or having to arrange childcare. They can remain in the comfort of their environment.

Be Intentional remains a virtual practice to this day.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The overall mission of Be Intentional Counseling & Consulting is to help individuals and couples create the life they want, one intentional choice at a time.

I specialize in helping people that struggle with feeling stuck and frustrated with where they are in a situation, feeling overwhelmed by depression or anxiety, or figuring out life’s direction. I also love to work with couples to help them communicate better, solve problems, and find their way after infidelity or betrayal. I challenge the negative thoughts and behaviors that are holding them back and empower them by teaching them the tangible tools needed to tackle issues with confidence so they can flourish in their daily life.

I am known for my engaging and relatable style. I want my clients to feel that they are having a conversation instead of being scrutinized or judged. I am not the expert on them, they are. While I don’t rush the process, my goal is to work my way out of a job by equipping my clients with enough tools that they can eventually manage each situation in their lives effectively and therapy becomes a proactive strategy to prepare for something tough or to get back on track. I am most proud of how hard my clients work and the transformations that take place within them. It is a blessing and privilege to witness this.

Outside of the individual and couples therapy that I offer, I also host an annual Vision Board Event in mid-January featuring a transformational workbook, live workshop, great food, and all materials provided to help people get clear on their vision and outcomes for the year ahead. It is an amazing experience where like-minded women come together to take the first steps in cultivating the year they want to have, connecting with each other, and sharing their intentions.

In the fall Be Intentional will start hosting virtual couples workshops to help with concerns such as reoccurring arguments, expectations, communication, boundaries, and more. This will be a dynamic and engaging experience for the couples. They will have the opportunity to learn ways to handle some of their toughest issues, remove blame, connect on a deeper level, and have fun focusing on each other. Keep an eye out for more!

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I am currently at capacity and will not be taking on new clients until the fall, however, you can inquire about appointments and pricing information through my direct website, email, the Therapy for Black Girls directory or the Psychology Today directory.

If anyone is interested in collaborating with me please send a request to [email protected]. Also, feel free to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn @BeIntentionalCC to get some helpful tips and stay up to date on upcoming events.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://beintentionalcc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beintentionalcc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeIntentionalCC

Image Credits
Mecca Gamble Photography and Jarius Smith of Infocus Photography +