Today we’d like to introduce you to Isaiah Gwinn.
Hi Isaiah, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ll give you the condensed version. Shortly after graduating high school and entering the real world. I realize I didn’t know as much as I thought I did ended up working two part-time jobs to pay my rent and not much else. So decided to restart my education applied and was accepted into the university of Pittsburgh. Fast forward to nearly completing my bachelor degree and still not having a real game plan, I decided to talk to my advisor. I was asked about my passion, which I had never been asked and certainly never thought about before. A friend of mine was doing BHRS (commonly known as wraparound) and told me I should try it out, which I did. I landed with a student who was reported to be on their way to placement. My job was to help with behavioral challenges. The student would dart out the classroom and I had to search around to find them. I didn’t really think I was making an impact or even equipped to do the work. Turns out it was a crash course every other case after that was much easier in comparison. Some years later, I bumped into a young man he recognized me before I recognized him and simply said to me “I made you.” I glanced in the direction of the voice, pause a moment and replied “you sure did,” after a few years in wraparound return to school to complete my masters program. From there, I became a therapist in a private practice under a former supervisor. Some years later I landed at a clinic. Work my way up from a therapist to a supervisor and ultimately clinical director stayed at the clinic for nearly 8 years. From there, I went out on my own and started a private practice.
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?
A smooth road, not quite. It’s always been a lot of obstacles in life, however I gained resilience from a young age and learned the value of consistency and determination. If we’re just talking professionally, I ultimately wanted to enter private practice about 10 years ago My application was rejected a number of times for certain insurance panels which didn’t make the transition seam feasible. The dream all but perished for a number of years. I failed my LSW examination the first time as well as the LCSW examination the first time, however, was successful with both the second time around. Actually ended up driving three hours away to complete the testing the second time around for the LCSW and would have to start the process all over again had I not been successful at that time, so there was a lot on the line.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Isaiah Gwinn, LCSW, is a dedicated mental health professional who holds a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh. With a deep commitment to providing quality care, focusing on cultural competence, and increasing wellness. Operating a private practice, Innovative Guidance, LLC. offers virtual appointments to accommodate clients’ schedules and needs. Innovative Guidance, LLC. works with couples, families, and individuals. Ensuring accessibility to therapy services, Innovative Guidance, LLC. accepts various insurance plans to support individuals on their mental health journey. Compassionate and experienced, Innovative Guidance, LLC. strives to create a safe and supportive environment for clients to explore and grow into the best version of yourself.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
God: above all
Oronde Sharif- student advisor:
David Burton – mentor: from professor, to supervisor, to colleague
Leon Pitt – mentor: professor, father figure
Andrew Allen- business owner: watched/learned from Andrew over the years
Jennifer Gwinn – wife: support/inspiration
Contact Info:
- Website: https://igllcsolutions.com
