Today we’d like to introduce you to Tangier Lemon.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey to creating Lemon Pathways, LLC really came from my own life experiences and realizing that there isn’t one “right” way to get where you’re going.
My path has been anything but traditional. I’m a mother of three, a social worker/psychotherapist, and someone who returned to school later in life while balancing motherhood, work, family, and all of the responsibilities that come with simply trying to build a better life. I started my educational journey at community college, went on to earn my bachelor’s degree, and eventually earned my Master of Social Work from Fordham University. Most recently, I became a licensed social worker, which was another huge milestone in a journey that once felt very far away.
Along the way, I experienced grief, major life transitions, setbacks, rejection, and plenty of moments where I had to figure out what came next. But I also learned that sometimes the path that looks unconventional from the outside is exactly the path that is meant to shape you.
That realization became the foundation for Lemon Pathways.
I created Lemon Pathways, LLC because I wanted to build something that supports people who may be navigating life differently than they imagined. I’m especially passionate about creating spaces for mothers, people experiencing grief or major life transitions, and nontraditional students and career changers who are trying to figure out their next chapter.
Two of the communities I’ve developed through Lemon Pathways reflect that mission: The Well, which focuses on creating supportive space for mothers navigating grief, identity, and life transitions, and the Unconventional Scholars Circle, which is designed for people pursuing education, changing careers, or building something new on a timeline that may look different from everyone else’s.
A lot of Lemon Pathways is rooted in what I wish I had during different seasons of my own life: community, encouragement, practical resources, and a reminder that taking a different route doesn’t mean you’re behind.
Today, I’m continuing to grow Lemon Pathways while also building my career as a social worker and therapist. I’m still figuring things out, still evolving, and still dreaming bigger. I think that’s actually an important part of the story. Lemon Pathways wasn’t created because I had everything figured out. It was created because I learned how powerful it can be to keep moving forward even when the path changes.
Ultimately, I want Lemon Pathways to be a place that reminds people that their journey doesn’t have to look traditional to be meaningful, successful, or worthy of celebration.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I think one of the biggest challenges has been learning how to keep moving forward when life doesn’t necessarily slow down just because you have goals.
I’ve had to navigate motherhood, work, school, grief, major life transitions, and building a business—sometimes all at the same time. There have been plenty of moments where I’ve questioned whether I was doing too much, whether I was on the right path, or even whether some of the things I wanted were actually possible for me.
Being a nontraditional student came with its own challenges. I wasn’t just going to school; I was going to school while raising children, working, managing a household, and dealing with real life outside of the classroom. There were rejections and setbacks along the way, and there were definitely times when I had to adjust the plan.
Building Lemon Pathways has also required me to get comfortable with figuring things out as I go. I’m a social worker by training, not a marketing expert, web designer, or business strategist. So there have been a lot of “okay, how do I do this?” moments. I’ve had to learn to put myself and my ideas out there, even when it feels uncomfortable or when I don’t have every detail figured out yet.
One of the biggest lessons for me has been realizing that I don’t have to do everything at once. I can put something down when I don’t have the capacity for it and come back to it without giving up on the bigger vision.
I think that’s also why Lemon Pathways means so much to me. The business was born from understanding that life can be messy and nonlinear. Sometimes you take a few steps forward, sometimes you have to reroute, and sometimes you just have to give yourself permission to pause. None of that means you’ve failed. You’re still on your path.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I wear a few different hats, but the common thread in all of my work is helping people navigate difficult moments, transitions, and the spaces where they’re trying to figure out what comes next.
Professionally, I’m a licensed social worker and therapist. My experience spans mental health, substance use, medical social work, crisis support, and care coordination. In my therapy work, I’m especially interested in supporting people navigating anxiety, depression, grief, relationships, motherhood, identity, and major life transitions. I really enjoy working with people who are in those “I know something needs to change, but I’m not exactly sure what that looks like yet” seasons.
I’m also the founder of Lemon Pathways, LLC, where my work expands beyond traditional clinical spaces. Through Lemon Pathways, I’m developing supportive communities, programming, and resources for people navigating motherhood, grief, education, career changes, and other major transitions.
If there’s something I’m known for, I would say it’s making people feel comfortable enough to be honest. I don’t believe people need another person telling them what they should be doing. I’m much more interested in listening, asking the right questions, helping people recognize what they already carry within themselves, and creating a space where they can figure out what makes sense for their own lives.
What sets me apart is probably the combination of who I am personally and who I am professionally. I can bring the education, clinical knowledge, and professional experience into a room without losing the human part of the work. I’m warm, I’m direct when I need to be, I laugh, and I’m myself. I want the people I work with to know that they’re sitting across from another human being, not just a title or credential.
What I’m most proud of is the range of work I’ve been able to build while staying connected to the kind of social worker I always wanted to be. Whether I’m sitting with someone individually, supporting a family during a difficult moment, helping someone navigate a system, or building something through Lemon Pathways, I want people to leave an interaction with me feeling like they were genuinely seen and that there is a way forward.
That, more than any title or accomplishment, is what I want my work to be known for.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Professionally, I think I’ve become much more comfortable with taking calculated risks. I’ve never wanted to box myself into one area of social work, so I’ve intentionally allowed myself to explore different spaces within the field. I’ve worked across substance use, medical social work, mental health, crisis-related work, care coordination, and now clinical therapy. Each move has required me to be willing to be new at something again, learn a different system, and trust that the skills I already have will translate.
One of the bigger professional risks for me has been saying yes to opportunities before I felt 100% ready. I think sometimes, especially as women, we can convince ourselves that we need another training, another credential, or a little more experience before we’re qualified to step into a room. I’ve had to learn that there’s a difference between being unprepared and simply being uncomfortable because something is new.
I also think pursuing licensure and stepping into clinical work required a different level of confidence in myself professionally. There’s a responsibility that comes with this work, and I take that very seriously. At the same time, I’ve had to trust my education, my experience, my supervision, and my ability to continue learning.
My approach to professional risk is really about asking myself, “Will this stretch me or will this compromise me?” If it stretches me, teaches me something, or moves me closer to the kind of social worker and clinician I want to become, I’m usually willing to take the chance.
I don’t think career growth always happens by waiting until you feel completely ready. Sometimes you have to apply, accept the opportunity, enter the room, and then grow into the version of yourself that can handle it.
Pricing:
- Community support circle $20–30
- Organization $1500
- community workshop 60–90 min corporate workshop $900
- Digital workbook/toolkit $24
- Multi-session organization package $1,500+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lemonpathwaysllc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lemonpathwaysllc?igsh=YXhsdzAyYmRubHJh&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lemonpathwaysllc/
- Yelp: https://g.page/r/CfsE9aV5cCtzEAE/review
- Other: https://lemonpathways.gumroad.com/l/aitobh
