Today we’d like to introduce you to Akeya Kester.
Hi Akeya, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Growing up, I witnessed many members of my community struggle with substance use and the lasting effects of trauma. As a child, I didn’t fully understand the underlying causes, but I could clearly see the impact these challenges had on the lives of my friends and their families. Even then, I knew I wanted to help in some way. At the time, however, I wasn’t aware of the strong connection between substance use, trauma, and mental health. Conversations about mental health were largely taboo, and seeking support from a mental health professional was rarely discussed openly.
After graduating from college, I began working in the mental health field with refugee and low-income families. It was there that I recognized many of the same patterns of trauma and substance use that I had witnessed growing up. Those experiences reinforced my commitment to serving underserved communities and inspired me to pursue a Master’s degree in Professional Counseling.
After earning my master’s degree in 2019, I opened my private practice with the goal of making mental health care more accessible. I understood that many individuals in my community faced barriers such as limited transportation, childcare responsibilities, financial constraints, and concerns about stigma. By offering virtual counseling services, I sought to reduce those barriers, increase privacy, and ensure that more people could access the support they needed.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wear many hats; I am a mother of three, a wife, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, and a friend. Balancing those roles while working full time and pursuing graduate school full time was both demanding and deeply rewarding. There were moments when it was difficult to be as present as I wanted to be for the people I love most, but I was incredibly fortunate to have a strong support system that encouraged me every step of the way.
Professionally, the journey was equally challenging. Graduate school required me to complete an intensive clinical internship while maintaining my full-time job. Although the internship was unpaid, it provided invaluable hands-on experience working with clients. In addition to my coursework and internship, I prepared for and passed the National Counselor Examination, then completed 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience before earning my professional licensure. The process demanded resilience, perseverance, and a deep commitment to my purpose, but it ultimately strengthened my passion for serving others and providing accessible, compassionate mental health care.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and I provide counseling services to clients throughout the state via telehealth. I am the founder and owner of A Key to Peace, a mental health counseling practice dedicated to helping individuals and couples navigate life’s challenges with compassion and evidence-based care.
My areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship and couples counseling, career-related concerns, and racial identity and race-related stress. One of my greatest professional accomplishments is building a thriving practice that has served the community for nearly seven years. I am especially proud that my practice has grown primarily through referrals from current and former clients, a testament to the trust they place in my work and the care they receive.
I also want readers to know that A Key to Peace is a Black-owned, woman-led small business committed to increasing access to quality mental health care while helping to reduce the stigma surrounding therapy in underserved communities.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I believe resilience has been the most important quality contributing to my success. Building a career in mental health while balancing the responsibilities of being a wife, mother, business owner, and student required perseverance and a clear sense of purpose. There were many challenges along the way, but I remained committed to my goal of creating meaningful change in the lives of others.
Equally important is empathy. I strive to create a space where people feel seen, heard, and understood without judgment. That ability to genuinely connect with others has been the foundation of both my clinical work and the growth of my practice. Success, to me, isn’t measured solely by professional milestones; it’s reflected in the trust my clients place in me and the positive impact I can make in their lives and in my community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.akeytopeace.com
