More than a therapist with Gary Taylor
My interview guest this week, Gary T. Taylor, is more than a therapist. A licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), he’s also an advocate, speaker, group facilitator, consultant, podcast host, and published author.
Gary is the owner of Uphold 31:8, a consulting agency that focuses on educating the world about mental health via trainings, advocacy, panel discussions, work groups, committees, and speaking engagements. They also provide therapy, coaching, and wellness services.
I spoke to Gary about his personal mission and how he’s been able to diversify his income as a therapist. Enjoy!
What's your personal mission?
My personal mission is what my business and brand, Uphold, is all about. It is based on the scripture Proverbs 31:8: “Speak Up For Those That Cannot Speak For Themselves.”
That has stuck with me for the last couple of years because some people are unable to express their wants and needs or are fearful or don’t feel confident in their voice. I aim to help and amplify their voices by education, awareness, and advocacy.
Why did you start a consulting agency?
I started the agency in 2017 because I needed an organizational structure for the speaking engagements I was doing along with community events I was hosting. I felt I could make an impact consulting due to my social work background and mental health experience.
I also felt Fortune 500 companies and major corporations could benefit from a LCSW to help provide holistic services to their employees.
What's the Goodfellaz Project?
I created the Goodfellaz Project to provide a safe space for Black Men to vent and heal. I felt there was a need to provide a space for Black Men to come talk about life, stress, and mental health. It is a support group, if you want to be technical, that meets monthly.
We started off with face-to-face meetings but with the pandemic it has been mainly virtual. This group has helped a good amount of Black Men to be educated about mental health and learn how to apply new skills to manage their life and stress. If you want to learn more, visit here.
How have you been able to diversify your income as a therapist?
I became an official therapist in December 2020 after becoming licensed. I was able to diversify my income long before becoming a therapist via my business. I did a multitude of things including being a published author of “You Good Fam? An Analysis of Mental Health in the Black Community” and “Mental Health Keys” (a manual to manage your stress).
I did speaking engagements around mental health facilitating workshops on mental health and stress-related activities. I also used to create and sell t-shirts that had mental health-related themes for the promotion of mental health in the Black community utilizing phrases such as “You Good Bro” or “You Good Sis?” Now I look to implement more consulting around racial and social justice work.
What challenges have you faced growing your business? What have you learned?
Typical challenges in running a business, supply and demand, charging your worth and not taking too many free engagements. Navigating electronic health records and what a private practice looks and runs like, but it’s fun learning on the fly!
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that when you speak out against injustices, serving one specific population or systems that have oppressed a marginalized population, you can quickly turn from a beloved individual to one that is only viewed as angry and argumentative.
Anything we didn't cover?
I also facilitate a podcast called Everybody, Relax Podcast available on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Anchor and most other streaming platforms.
Thank you to Gary for sharing with us. If you're looking for a speaker or facilitator, schedule an appointment here. You can contact Gary by email at gary@uphold318.com and follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.