Today we’d like to introduce you to Machal Brewington.
Hi Machal, 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?
My journey into becoming a mental health provider began in 2010. At the time, I was in school for pre-medicine. I spent several months in Africa working with victims of human trafficking, and my heart was gripped by their stories. I decided I wanted to shift from physical health to treating mental health. Through my journey at University and while training, everything seemed to confirm this was the right path for me. I became passionate about helping to heal the trauma and pain of people who were suffering silently. Through my own loss of a close family member to mental health struggles, I became even more comfortable sitting in pain, in grief, in loss. I wanted to make a difference, and I haven’t looked back since meeting those young ladies in Africa who gripped my heart all those years ago.
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?
This journey has been full of ups and downs. I wasn’t prepared for the long hours of unpaid internships or the supervision experiences that challenge and push you to become a better practitioner. But each of these has shaped me into the provider I am today. I don’t take my experience for granted, and I had the opportunity to train under some of the most amazing, competent providers I know.
In the middle of my Graduate Program, I received the news that my brother had lost his long battle with mental illness. I wanted to push through and focus on reaching my goals, but I learned that even helpers can become wounded. I took six months off school and focused on giving myself space to grieve. Looking back, I know this was the right decision. I can now confidently tell my clients that it’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to take the space and time to heal. This experience taught me more than words can express.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I currently run a counseling practice with a base in Haines City, FL. I see clients via telehealth and in person throughout the state – but mostly in the corridor from Tampa to Orlando. I have a few specialities, including working with adolescents and teenagers with behavioral or developmental concerns. I also work heavily with adult clients who carry heavy trauma backgrounds. Lastly, I really enjoy work with minority and faith communities, who are known to be underserved in the field of counseling. It’s my goal to continue normalizing mental health services in these communities.
If there is one thing that makes me stand out as a provider, I’d say its my collaborative view of counseling and warmth in services. I want my clients to feel empowered to live their lives, and I truly believe that successful counseling means my clients won’t need me anymore. This is the aim we work toward – independence, wholeness, and healthy skills to approach the world.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
In my field, finding a mentor can be a challenge – especially once you enter private practice. But it’s absolutely vital not to develop in a bubble. We are built for community, and we sharpen one another when we allow ourselves to be mentored or consulted with. Even if you can’t find a physical mentor to work with one-on-one, I’d recommend finding people who inspire you online. Follow their socials, read their books, watch their YouTube videos. Take the time to study the thing you love in order to become the best you can be at it. In the field of counseling, I have the highest respect for the Gottmans and Daniel Amen. I’ve never had the chance to meet them in person, but I’ve devoured everything I can find online to make me a great practitioner. There’s no excuse to be an island in 2025.
Pricing:
- $125/session out of pocket
- sliding scale if needed
- accepts insurance
Contact Info:
- Website: https://care.headway.co/providers/machal-brewington
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/machalbrewington
Image Credits
two outside photographs – Hadassah Painter
