Hidden Gems: Meet Dr. Camille Braxton of OMNE

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Camille Braxton.

Hi Dr. Braxton, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve had various careers in my young adult years. The two prominent careers that lead me to becoming a psychotherapist was being an Exceptional Children’s Teacher and High School Counselor. While teaching, I knew I was meant to work with students to assist them in planning. for their life after high school. So, I pursued a career in becoming a School Counselor in the high school setting. After receiving my master’s degree and working as a School Counselor, I was still unfulfilled.

Interestingly, it was not my original plan to become a clinician. During the time I was a school counselor in a high school, a colleague continuously told me that I should think about becoming a therapist. I kept thinking, who would like to talk to me about their deepest/darkest thoughts… After continuous discussions, he urged me to contact his clinical supervisor. I contacted his supervisor he challenged me to past the test to become a therapist and I was thinking… Bet. After passing the test after my first try, I called him and he asked was I ready to begin working. I said, of course! After seeing my first client, I immediately feel in love with the career and knew this was my purpose!

For years, I worked as a contract therapist with other practices, until 2013. In 2013, I began my practice which is formerly named L.C. Braxton Counseling, PLLC. I was set on working as a solo psychotherapist and working in the office part time while continuing my career as a School Counselor full time. In 2015, I realized to walk in my purpose I had to leave School Counseling behind and grow my practice to what it is today. What is most interesting, my life has evolved beyond L.C. Braxton Counseling. I worked tirelessly on developing who I would like to become in my business. I pursued and accomplished receiving my doctorate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and set my sights on growing my business…

I knew working as a solo practitioner could not continue as I observed a tremendous growth in the business. So, I set my sights on rebranding the business to OMNE & Co. OMNE & Co emerged during the pandemic of 2020. My decision on changing the name was very important due to the culture I would like to create in my business. I want my employees and clients to feel that they are apart of a family and not working for Dr. Camille. OMNE & Co. is a combination of my late father’s name and my mother’s middle name. Addition, OMNE means HEALING! My family (parents) are my inspiration and the main reason I am who I am today.

It was important to name for my to represent my father in my business, because he was the main push for me opening my business. He was to be the backbone of my business. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2013. Nevertheless, my mother stepped in and has been the businesses secret weapon! Leaving L.C. Braxton. Counseling behind and establishing a group practice has been the ultimate experience as an entrepreneur! I am now capable of servicing the community and achieving our slogan assisting people in the healing they deserve on a daily basis!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being a business owner has not been a smooth road. There have been times when I thought I was not going to make it and even wanted to throw in the towel. However, I am continuously reminded that I have not reached my destination. Even though the practice began in 2013, I feel 2020 has been the awakening of it’s destiny. It’s just still evolving.

The first struggle in business was, I am educated in counseling and had little knowledge at business. Owning a practice, one has to be knowledgable about the business in addition to counseling. I have a saying, you learn more from your mistakes than your accomplishments. I am a living testimony…. I have made some many mistakes regarding investments, taxes, who should be apart of your team… I am now well verse in understanding of being knowledgable of your business instead of relying on others to tell you.

The second struggle is burnout. Understanding how to take care of yourself is very important! When you own a business, the business can easily overwhelm your life. You have to take time to tune into your needs, because owning a business is 24-7. There is not a day, hour, moment, or second that I am not thinking and working on OMNE & Co. To have a business is to be involved. To obtain your business goals means that you have to have a rigorous work ethic. At the same time, burnout is real and if you do not take care of yourself, your business can not grow.

Another struggle is navigating the new world of technology and social media. You have to understand the logistics and be aware of how technology and social media is changing. this still remains a struggle. But… I am working on it, so be on the lookout. ha.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
OMNE & Co. (formerly L.C. Braxton Counseling) was founded in 2013 by Dr. L. Camille Braxton, DA, LCMHCS, NCC. While working with our counselors, you will develop tools to help navigate through the complexities of life. Everyone experiences the various emotions that accompany life transitions. In a comfortable and supportive atmosphere, our trained counselors offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each client’s individual needs. You will be able to achieve clarity, balance, and a renewed perspective through counseling. We help our clients overcome a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues through implementing various modalities of therapy. Our counseling headquarters are based in Raleigh, North Carolina. During the pandemic, we have been working virtually and have the opportunity of working with others in the surrounding areas and beyond.

Our specialty is helping professional women achieve work-life balance, while removing the enemies of stress, anxiety, depression and grief. Many of our clients are women who have achieved corporate success and happiness by the world’s standards, but internally, they’ve suffered from depression or anxiety due to unhealthy pressure and a lack of balance. Through our nurturing approach and intuitive insight, we are able to identify the underlying issues affecting our clients and help them create personal success plans that lead to peace and prosperity.

What sets our business apart is our story. My inspiration from my mother and father. Before my father’s death, I was not the best therapist. Growing up, I was the only child to my parents and lived a privileged lifestyle. I didn’t experience any struggles that were traumatic. My father’s death was a very traumatic experience. Healing from his death (which is something that I am still healing from) has given me a deeper understanding of what my clients are experiencing. I understand what it’s like to be in their position. Even though I may not have experienced what they are coming to see me for, our vunerablitlies of tragedy and pain connects us.

I would like your readers to know that OMNE & Co is the place to come a receive the healing you deserve. We are offering individual and family counseling. We will be offering group and luxury retreats in the near future. WE are very cautious about COVID-19 and prefer to provide our services virtually until it’s safe.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
As I have stated, my parents are my first inspirations! My mom was a social worker and my dad very connected to our community as he worked in the corporate world. My parents, unbeknownst to them created the therapist in me.

I have a host fo therapist mentors that I still talk to about the business of therapy, answering questions about thearputic techniques, and a ear to listen when I am overwhelmed. The Raleigh (black Raleigh therapist) in the area are a small network of great individuals who are there to support you through your hardships and successes! Dr. Tammie Moore, Dr. Rodney Harris, Dr. Renee Evans, Gretchen Campbell, just to name a few. The therapist community rocks!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.omneandco.com
• Instagram: @camillebraxton, @omneandco
• Facebook: omneandco

Image Credits
Amy Galimore and Tyra Dixon