Daily Inspiration: Meet Dr. Reba Royster

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Reba Royster.

Hi Dr. Reba, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey to becoming a trauma counselor was driven by a growing passion for caring for and serving others. I completed my biology undergraduate degree at Shaw University in downtown Raleigh. As a senior, I gained experience writing policies and procedures for an adult group home, but at the time had no idea that similar services would be in my future. After a few years of research at Wake Forest University, I returned to Raleigh and completed a master’s in Genetics at NCSU, studying alcohol sensitivity in fruit flies (drosophila melanogaster). At the same time I started working in behavioral health to help my husband reach back and encourage young men from similar struggles that he experienced being a male in foster care since he was 2 days old. I also saw where my early experiences intersected with my growing interest in serving and helping others. I worked my way up as I gained experience and training and ultimately capped out.

I enrolled in the professional counseling program at Liberty University with a plan to provide therapy and supervise others in the clinical care of some of the community’s most vulnerable populations. I earned my licensure as a professional counselor and a clinical addictions specialist to treat individuals afflicted with mental health and substance abuse struggles. I have served children and adults, and currently, I am specializing in trauma care. I am a trauma-certified therapist and have been using that training for the past several years to provide care to children with various traumas. My expertise came in handy during the pandemic, where the drastic changes in each person’s life across the globe resulted in increased crisis and trauma responses. I have supported children with the loss of parents due to Covid, trained teachers on supporting students through both the pandemic and the evolving “new normal” over the last 2 years, and led support groups for parents having to juggle work, home, and increased responsibilities with their children’s academic endeavors. I love the creativity allowed in therapy and bring my personality to my clients daily. Last year I released trauma coping cards to give strategies for dealing with very difficult circumstances that many go through and may not have access to or the motivation to reach out. The trauma coping cards are illustrated with my main character Isaiah going through some tough circumstances, but for each situation, there is some help that he can get. It is a product that is ideal for any age and is great at stimulating conversations with parents and their kids, therapists have used them in sessions, and other behavioral healthcare workers have found that the cards are easy, relevant, and useful.

I am looking forward to more projects and developing more products in the future to extend my impact to those who could benefit.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been fairly smooth?
There have indeed been challenges over the years. My husband is a basketball coach, and we have four children, our daughter attends NC A&T in Greensboro, and our three boys will all be in high school this fall and are all basketball players, so the mission of being in several places at one time is a true challenge. Schedule hassling, getting my family on a routine, and having energy and presence for my clients is a piece of cake to being a trauma therapist in a pandemic. It has been the biggest challenge to endure the emotional challenges that we have all experienced in the past couple years. I was also hit hard with one client crisis after another, including families being unhoused, death of parents orphaning the children, and needs for resources which were limited or shut down at the height of the pandemic when the need was greatest. Even now that the world is making efforts to get some normality back, the impact of the pandemic on the current culture is deep.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am known as Dr. Reba in professional circles. I earned my doctorate in Business Administration to extend my knowledge in developing, growing and managing businesses. It is an awesome complement to my clinical ability. I use the combination of the skill sets to mentor new business owners, consult businesses on strategy, and motivate those coming behind me to strive for the best.

As a therapist, I am certified as a TF-CBT (trauma-focused- cognitive behavioral therapy) clinician. I provide therapy each week to children at an orphanage here in NC. I stay connected with a circle of clinicians, business owners, and creatives to keep the motivation going so the bar is continually rising.

What were you like growing up?
I grew up mainly in Savannah, Georgia (both of my parents served in the US Army). I was introverted growing up, shy but I would say brilliant. I became interested in science and math and recalled attending all the academic clubs geared toward my science interest. I have always been a leader, which I attribute to my upbringing. The part of my childhood I recall the most is living on the Army base in Savannah. My father served in Operation Desert Storm in Iraq, and while he was away, my mother worked several jobs to keep things flowing in the household. As the oldest, I had to get up on Saturdays to mow the grass, trim the hedges, and do all the typical outdoor work my father would do when he was home. In childhood I would not have guessed that I would be Dr. Reba today, but the same intellect, driven personality, and motivation to succeed that little Reba had are still present in Dr. Reba.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.drrebaonline.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drrebaonline/

Image Credits
Rick Crank