Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Seneka Gainer.
Hi Dr. Gainer, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in San Diego, California, to military parents. Since the age of eight, my volunteerism, practice, and research have been in the nonprofit sector, highlighting the phenomena of homelessness and mental health. My parents valued spirituality and community service and instilled those values in me. My family and I moved to Yokosuka, Japan, in my seventh-grade year. I thoroughly enjoyed being raised in Japan. Because of the military, I spent my coming-of-age years in a diverse community on the navy base, exploring the city off base.
I spent most of my adult life in Central Florida, returning to the states after graduating high school. I obtained a bachelor of arts in English from Bethune-Cookman University and a master of science in Marriage and Family Counseling from Stetson University. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Qualified Supervisor. I have been working as a counselor for 12+ years now. I have worked in every clinical setting: nonprofit, for-profit, private practice, residential facilities, behavioral hospitals, in-home, and schools. My training includes working with individuals, couples and families, and groups.
I obtained my Ph.D. in counseling and counselor education from Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID. I am an Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling, educating masters-level counselor trainees. As a counselor and professor, I believe that connection is a valuable resource, and inherent within us is the power and capacity to make meaning of our circumstances and hope again.
I enjoy speaking and presenting on the abovementioned topics and training various workplaces on identifying stress and burnout. I also relish serving in my local church as a minister and leader. In addition, I appreciate movies, family, and traveling in my free time.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The path has not been the smoothest. While I chose to reframe my extensive work history as experience, I endured a rough time. Often funding was not available to maintain mental health positions. Due to the uncertainty, I always held two jobs. Before returning to school full-time in Idaho as a nontraditional student, my last work assignments included a behavioral hospital. I worked 10 hours overnight with individuals experiencing severe mental health issues like schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder. During the day, I worked as a group counselor at a substance abuse residential facility. I learned that working in these various settings helped to shape my interests and counseling specialties. It was fulfilling, although sometimes temporary.
In addition to employment struggles, I lost my father in May 2019. He passed away suddenly from a heart attack. We had a plan that he would meet me in Idaho to help me get situated as I started a new venture. My heart ached, and I still grieve today. He was a strong figure in my life. I carry him with me now, and I know he is proud of his “big girl.”
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Gainer Group, Counseling and Consulting?
I am CEO of The Gainer Group (TGG), Counseling and Consulting. We offer mental health counseling services and coaching. We are passionate about developing interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships, broaching the topic of mental health in religious spaces, leadership development, and identifying trauma. We recognize the effects of trauma and tailor our multi-modal approach to the issues presented in our sessions, classes, and presentations.
The Gainer Group also provides consulting and training services, including, but not limited to, Counseling Supervision, Counselor Identity Development Wellness and Stress Management, Counselor Education, Diversity Equity Inclusion Justice, training, Spiritual and Ministerial Identity Development, Financial Management, Leadership Development, and Business Management. My husband, COO DeAndre Gainer, oversees the financial sector and services of TGG. The Gainer Group has years of experience providing consultation services in corporate, religious, nonprofit, and academic sectors.
As a brand, we are most proud to hold core dispositions of empathy, mindfulness, flexibility, and cultural humility. We strive to embody the bible scripture, “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22). In addition, we address issues presented in corporate settings and the barriers faced by underprivileged populations.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Due to accessibility, mental health stigma, and gaps in healthcare, I hope to serve as an advocate and change agent in my community. I aspire to see homelessness and poverty prioritized in religious, corporate, and academic settings. In the near future, I seek to develop products and resources that will aid in deep reflection and self-exploration.
Pricing:
- Therapy services for residents of Idaho and Florida starting at $185
- Coaching prices and program lengths vary
- Consultation prices and program lengths vary
Contact Info:
- Website: https://drseneka-gainer.clientsecure.me/
- Instagram: @drsenekarachel
Image Credits
Jami Films
