Meet Cecil Holston II | Mental Health Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cecil Holston II and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cecil, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
I am a Licensed Mastered Therapist. Being a black male therapist for the past 9 years, I have been able to provide therapy to a community that very rarely experiences therapy from professionals that look like them. I provide individual counseling to men, adolescents and children. I have found that being a black male has allowed black men to feel comfortable coming to therapy to process and explore their emotions and daily stressors.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have been a social worker for 14 years. I have been nicknamed by co-workers and colleagues “the black unicorn” being the rarity in social work. I have enjoyed the ability to be relatable to my clients and the demographic I work with (men and youth). I have found that not conforming to typical “business casual” wear and wearing streetwear with sneakers has allowed clients to see me as a therapist that can connect with them where they are at today.

Becoming the professional I am today has been a journey. I have worked in varying organizations, participated in grant funding programs, helped with writing a federally funded grant, been fired and lost my mother while working to obtain my masters degree. I have learned that failure is not an option along with understanding that failure is all apart of becoming successful in life.

If the world could get a glimpse into me, I would say I have never given up, I have continued to show up even when I didnt want to or understand why, and lastly, I am who I am today because I have two women, my mother and my grandmother, never give up on me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is a slightly interesting question. Living in Toledo has its pros and cons. I would first take them to sight seeing around the city to help them get comfortable. I would go to Downtown Toledo. For lunch, visit Grumpys or my favorite restaurant, Chick Fil A, cant ever go wrong. As the days passed, I would visit, Jackys Depot in Maumee for ice cream, have pizza at Village Idiot or Pizza Cat, stop for retro candy at Boyds, and before sending them back home try Bertha Maes, which has some of the best fried fish in the city. I know there are amazing food trucks in the city from Glaze’Em Gourmet funnel cakes to Just Roll With It, specialty egg rolls. Maybe even enjoying a Tuesday or weekend at the 406 Bar or Allure Hookah Lounge.

There are many other places, activities, and events to enjoy within the city of Toledo, you just have to find what fits for the vibe and fun you are looking for.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a shoutout first to all social workers working in a field currently, you are all doing amazing work and are appreciated for showing up for others selflessly. Second shoutout, to all upcoming social workers, counselors, and therapists, thank you for accepting the task of saving lives.

Website: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/cecil-holston-ii-toledo-oh/879483

Facebook: Cecil LMSW Holston II