Meet Anna Flores Locke | Latina author, speaker, and mental health counselor.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anna Flores Locke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anna Flores, what’s the end goal, career-wise?
When I started Charlandra Counseling Services it served as a healthy distraction from my academic and motherhood obligations. Now almost 8 years later, my end goal is for Charlandra Counseling Services to be a beacon of hope, inspiration, and community for all of us seeking mental health and infertility support. After more than 18 years as a practicing mental health counselor, 6 years as a college professor, and a twin mom living with infertility, I am shifting my focus to writing and public speaking. By the end of my career, I want to be remembered as someone who inspired others towards life altering mindset shifts that led to a more fulfilling life despite adversity. My mission is to open doors for conversation on the taboo topic of infertility and mental health, especially in the Latine community; so others don’t have to suffer in silence like I did. The end goal is to provide helpful, meaningful, and accessible counseling tips and affirmations through my newly launched, Mama Counselor On-the-Go online resource, and through future public speaking engagements.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Charlandra Consulting and Counseling Service serves as a mental health and infertility counseling center that provides emotional support, guidance, and community. From my personal story of infertility (that is shared in my book: “Body Betrayal: Living and Understanding Infertility”) coupled with my professional experience and specialized training in infertility counseling, my mission is to ensure that others no longer suffer in silence, like I did. My clinical focus is on healing through community, within relationship, and through acceptance. Further, my gift to others is to encourage them to shift their mindset towards wellness being an everyday. integral part of living that allows them to easily and joyfully meet their multiple role obligations. It is a practice that I commit to on a daily basis because maintaining a certified minority women business enterprise is not easy. There were times when I wanted to quit and give up due to fatigue and disappointment. By leaning into my supportive community, I learned that to want to retreat into your shell is normal and healthy, at times; and to accept and embrace it. I learned to ride the wave of adversity and struggle until I land on shore rejuvenated for the next business goal. Being a Latinapreneur is like living in hurricane, sometimes I am in the storm and other times I am enjoying the serenity of the eye of the storm instead. As with any hurricane, the storm passes and the sunlight returns. Charlandra Counseling Service is a place rooted in hope, inspiration, and community. We are the Mama Counselors, who truly get it, and are here for you every step of the way.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Healing and prosperity happen in community. Without my community and dream team of supporters, I wouldn’t have this story of success to share with you. My husband and twins deserve the most recognition because they sustain me through their love and encouragement. My business name, Charlandra, was formed through the combination of my son’s (Charles) and my daughter’s (Alejandra) names; and is my legacy to them. There are many other family members, fellow entrepreneurs, and professional organizations that form my supportive community, and believe in my potential (often when I don’t); who have been instrumental to my success.

Website: https://www.charlandra.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlandra_counseling

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-anna-flores-locke-35660321/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Charlandra1

Image Credits
Shoott Photography (professional headshot)