Today we’d like to introduce you to Mallory Kurkosky.
Hi Mallory, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
It started on a missions trip I signed up for last August where our team went to serve a safehouse, whose primary focus is to rescue and house/restore sex trafficking survivors. I started asking questions about their mental health program for these women, and their response was very concerning. They had limited access to the services that were necessary to appropriately serve this population. I began discussions on the different evidenced-based interventions used with clients who have significant traumatic histories, and they were ecstatic. As a mental health therapist for almost 10 years, I’ve always had a passion for survivors of trafficking. So, I returned with the mission of working with this specific safehouse to provide the training, psychoeducation, and support they need to work with the high needs of these individuals. As safehouses can often be non-profit organizations and have limitations in their finances, they are not able to fund this type of training, as they need to focus on meeting basic needs of their residents. Thus, Refined by Fire was established. I needed a way to raise money to be able to financially support myself so I can focus on this mission, to train staff and develop effective mental health programs for safehouses in an effort to sustain long-term growth and healing of survivors. A friend of mine had the idea of selling merchandise with Refined by Fire’s name and logo, since so many of us can relate to the fact that our pain and suffering (ie. the fire) can change and refine us. I have been promoting it ever since!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road! I am trying to juggle a new business, building a mental health program in another state, along with continuing to work my current job as a mental health therapist, not to mention homeschooling my children. I have greatly leaned into my faith during this process, to help me stay grounded, and continue to persevere through the challenges. Getting the message out there has probably been the most difficult part in order to raise the funds that are needed, so I appreciate any avenue that I can get to be able to share and promote this vision with others.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Licensed Clinical Counselor and Supervisor as well as a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. I have been in the mental health field for almost 10 years, and I have mostly worked with children, ages three and up. I have been so passionate about using play therapy and attachment focused interventions to help children heal from their trauma, and I have seen it do miraculous things. I also love to learn, which means I have sought out trainings in many modalities outside of play therapy that has really helped provide a larger scope for me to use in my practice. I love taking pieces of modalities and meshing them well to fit the needs of my clients. I also deeply enjoy teaching and supervising other up and coming therapists in the field. I teach a graduate level course at a university in the fall and supervise several therapists who also want to become play therapists. I love that I can help clinicians find their strengths and use them to serve the children and families in our communities. I think the level of training I have, with only being in the field for ten years, is what can set me a part from other therapists. I have done several trainings that are very intensive and expensive, so they can be hard to complete in that amount of time. However, I have been given rare opportunities from my current clinic, who has invested so much into me as they deeply care about training great clinicians. I’m proud of the progress I’ve made in my career so far. It’s taken dedication, long hours, and learning from challenges along the way to get to this point. At the same time, I recognize there’s always more to learn, and I’m genuinely excited about the opportunities and growth that lie ahead.
Any big plans?
The future often feels uncertain, but it’s full of wide-open and exciting possibilities. I have also recently launched a non-profit, Embers of Hope, that will pay for the therapeutic treatment of trafficking survivors, as there can often be barriers to accessing effective forms of treatment. I want Refined by Fire and Embers of Hope to work hand in hand as they each play different roles in the restoration process of a survivor rescued from trafficking. My goal is to grow these companies in a way that fosters healing and restoration nationwide, so survivors feel empowered to move forward without returning to the life they’ve worked so hard to leave behind.
Pricing:
- Cost of merchandise
- Consultation
Contact Info:
- Website: https://refinedbyfire.info
- Instagram: @refinedbyfirellc
- Facebook: Refined by Fire
