Canvas Rebel Interview

Meet Nicole Clement

We recently connected with Nicole Clement and have shared our conversation below. Full article HERE

Nicole , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?

I must admit, I wasn’t familiar with the social work field. I worked in corporate America in customer service or administrative roles, so I wasn’t quite sure I actually fit the job description. However, while in the interview for the Family Resource Clerk position, I listened to the principal and other individuals on the panel as they explained the qualifications for the position, and I certainly didn’t believe that I qualified. As the interview continued, I was asked several situational questions, I believed my responses was based on my ability to simple be myself. Nurturing toward other individual’s children in the way I had been to my own. I’m thinking to myself, certainly this could not be role or responsibility of the person they were seeking. Yet, to my surprise, I was exactly what they had been looking for. Although the required qualifications appeared daunting, the panel appeared more interested in filling the position who could provide the students with a sense of love and respect while having the mental ability to deal with the parents. If I must admit, I truly enjoyed that job and all the joys that came with seeing the smiles on the children’s face when I was able to meet their needs. When this position came to an end, I never wanted to go back to corporate America again and that’s when I decided to further my education as a social worker.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Nicole Clement, also known as “the mind challenger,” is a dynamic speaker, licensed social worker, and trauma specialist, who inspires audiences through education, empowerment, and compassion.

As an advocate for mental health and champion of women, Nicole provokes and teaches audiences how to challenge their mindsets through self-discovery; push beyond their realities; and believe they can achieve their goals with self-determination.

Nicole knows the unique challenges women face, particularly in surviving trauma. Nicole understands the global and generational impact of trauma on a woman’s life—often causing her to ignore her voice, emotions, and needs. Nicole recognizes the many figurative masks women wear daily because she has worn them in her life, starting in adolescence.

Experiencing rejection from her father and the abrupt loss of her mother, Nicole felt depressed and abandoned. As a means to cope, she compartmentalized her hurt. This negative pattern of behavior led to many years of sorrow, self-loathing, and hopelessness. In a defining and near-death encounter, Nicole ultimately pushed beyond decades of trauma to harness faith and a will to succeed. In that moment, Nicole realized she is and has always been enough. This realization is the foundation of Nicole’s work and core of her dynamic talks.

In addition to being a sought-after and acclaimed speaker, Nicole is a licensed clinical social worker and certified trauma therapist with more than 15 years of experience in the social work industry. Currently in private practice, Nicole is also the founder of Bridge to Restoration where she maintains a passion to serve vulnerable populations and equip them with tools to build self-esteem, manage emotions, and overcome trauma.

A loving wife to her supportive husband Roy and nurturing mother to her four amazing adult children Rashad, Tiberius Jr., Keegan, and Simone. Nicole maintains strong family values and roots. Her family is a driving force that propels her to support and empower others.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the need for validation from others. When I was 10 years of age, I remember it was a hot sunny day and I was playing hide-and-go-seek with my friends when my mother called me inside and sat me on the couch to tell me she was leaving. It was the most disturbing day of my life, but my parents weren’t the type who allowed us to question their decisions. So, I just packed as I was told and moved in with my father. I became heavily involved in many in/out of school activities to avoid my feelings. Until my senior year, with only 3 credits left to graduate, I learned that I had become pregnant and my father being a man of few words, sent me to live with the man who impregnated me. Only this was short lived, then I met a man who I thought was the man of my dreams and I would live happily ever after. Until one Wednesday night after bible study, we had been arguing when he uttered the words, I heard my mother say, “I’m leaving.” At that moment, it was like the world had stopped and I suddenly lost my hearing. I could still see his mouth moving, yet I could not hear anything coming out of his mouth. For months, I operated like a robot, maintaining the same weekly routine only I stopped talking, eating and slowly isolated myself from everyone. I went from wearing a size 12 to 2 in clothing, but I hadn’t noticed it. After seeking the only way, I thought I could rid myself of the pain through suicide, I was forced to seek guidance with my mentor at the time. I realized that I had been looking for someone to validate my worth, since the two most important people in my world didn’t see the importance of protecting, loving or affirming me. I had been telling myself that surely someone else will see my worth and hold on tight.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

I would definitely choose the same profession. I have learned so much about myself and others, which has shattered the myth of me being the only one who has experienced something so traumatic. This is why I have made it my mission to challenge women to Stop Suffering In Silence, especially about your past, but embrace it through self-discovery. At the end of the day, it has made us the resilience being that we are, not necessarily who we were meant to be and how we decipher through it is by participating in therapy.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bridgetorestoration.org

• Instagram: @nicoleclementspeaks

• Facebook: Nicole Clement

• Linkedin: Nicole Clement, LCSW, TF-CBT Certified

• Twitter: @nicoleclementspeaks

• Yelp: Bridge To Restoration LLC

  
  

Image CreditsThe Roland Experience and The Monday Brand

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