February Clinician Spotlight: Kianna Porter-Simons (she/her)
Introducing, Kianna Porter-Simons! Kianna is new to the Grounded Wellbeing Team and brings a wealth of knowledge as a Marriage and Family Therapist. Keep reading to learn more about her and all she brings to the therapy room, our team and beyond!
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
Hey Party People! I am Kianna (She/Her/Hers). I am a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) at Grounded Wellbeing. Although I am an MFT, I see all types of clients from individuals to diverse relationship structures and families. I graduated from Mercer University with my Masters in 2024, so I am coming to the therapy room with the most current knowledge and research. Outside of being a clinician, I am a Black Fat Queer Cis Woman who is chronically online or reading a dark romance novel. Very rarely will you find me in the real world as I am frequently off escaping into the fictional worlds of mafia Bosses and assassins or doom scrolling TikTok.
Personality-wise, some would describe me as a good time in spaces where I am most comfortable, but I can also be one of the quietest in the room as I assess and process my surroundings. Above all, I like to have a good time, so if you ever find yourself in therapy with me, we will definitely have a good balance of silly goofy moods mixed with a possible tear here and there.
When did you first know that you wanted to pursue this career path/how have your interests and passions developed over time?
Funnily enough, I took the scenic route to discover my calling as a Marriage & Family Therapist. While I was an undergrad at the University of Georgia (GO DAWGS), I was an economics major dreaming of being a corporate baddie in corporate America. Similar to many others, Covid provided me an opportunity for self-reflection and self-exploration. During what I label my “Self-Love Journey”, I rediscovered and further explored what my core values are and concluded that Corporate America is the WORST place for me to be. To put it simply, why would I work for a corporation when I am an anti-capitalist? During my time of reclaiming my love for self, I realized that I have a driving passion for social justice and a loathing passion for oppression. This led me to realize I wanted a career that would allow me to make a difference in the lives of marginalized people. My discovery of therapy and what therapy could provide for communities motivated me to make my career shift. Yay, more school!
Throughout my MFT graduate school program, I found myself consistently in the role of having to advocate for the rights and safety of my fellow students. Through my therapeutic work, I was able to witness the infinite ways systems of oppression are impacting my client’s relationships and their ability to thrive. Whether it is the strict gendered roles that are upheld in the household or internalized homophobia in parents, I have witnessed the vast ways in which relationships and their disconnection are heavily influenced by the dominant discourses many of us have been socialized to believe. For this reason, I am avid in utilizing feminist theory in my therapeutic work since it focuses on highlighting and deconstructing internal narratives that have been written and ingrained into us by our oppressors through generations. This approach to treatment in my view can be truly transformative in liberating relationships and individuals from the restrictions created by the “shoulds” we often use to shame ourselves to fit ‘normative’ expectations.
Do you have any creative outlets or interests? Tell us about them!
If you ever see me, you likely will find me with my nose in a book. Or more accurately, it would be in the Kindle app. I have a questionable obsession with dark romance novels. Last year I read almost 150 books just accounting for my leisure reading. I love a good morally grey love interest who has me questioning my sanity. Occasionally, I enjoy spending time with friends and experiencing new establishments. I am always down to try a new restaurant even though some may argue that I am the pickiest of eaters. However, I am very much a homebody and prefer to have quality time with my loved ones watching whatever is calling to us while we continue to yap through the entire program. Nevertheless, I do enjoy most forms of entertainment such as movies, TV shows, theater, and overall general performances. I am an avid movie watcher, and it is very common to see me at the $7 movies on Tuesdays at AMC. Action, Romance, Suspense, Thrillers, and Comedies are the main genres I watch however I am very open to all genres (except westerns and horror).
Which of GWB’s values do you feel connected to? Why?
One of GWB’s values I feel most connected to may be evident if you have read this far. The value that instantly called to me was Grounded Wellbeing’s dedication to Anti-Oppressive therapeutic practice. As I continue to manage my fears surrounding the current state of our country, I found it to be most important to me to find a work environment that would feel safe for me to work and exist. One would think the mental health profession would be one of the leading industries in safe and inclusive work environments but that has not been my experience. As an individual who holds many marginalized identities, I was passionate about politicizing therapeutic practice because politics affect our clients’ entire worlds, and to me, that means recognizing the systems of oppression that are constantly working overtime to harm our clients.
Vulnerability and Compassion are the other two values that strongly resonate with me, especially after my self-love journey, as I mentioned above. Through my personal growth, I have learned to value myself no matter what and that includes times in which I am flawed. I believe my ability to have compassion towards myself and others have allowed me to cherish my relationship with myself and others in a deeper and more meaningful way. Vulnerability feels so much easier to express due to my compassion for self and my ability to acknowledge the power and bravery that comes from vulnerability even though it has always been socialized in me to believe it equated to weakness. I think vulnerability and compassion liberate me in a way where unapologetic authenticity of self feels safe for me and that is the most freeing feeling. So, I really appreciate Vulnerability and Authenticity as values at Grounded Wellbeing.
What is your go-to coffee or tea order?
I am not a coffee drinker unless there is a caramel or white chocolate frappe on the menu and even in those cases, I will ask for it to be coffee free if it’s offered. Prior to me boycotting Starbies, I would be the complex customer that would order a Double Mocha Chocolate Chip Frappe, sub mocha for white chocolate mocha, no mocha drizzle, extra pump of white mocha, add caramel or white mocha drizzle, and light ice.
Alternatively, I do really love a white hot chocolate although it is not widely offered. But I happily save my coins and make my white hot chocolate at home. I would willingly have an IV of white hot chocolate run through my veins.
Is there anything else you want to share with us?
If you ever randomly hear someone singing “Defying Gravity” from Wicked at the top of their lungs, I’m likely guilty as charged. I have definitely paid to see that movie three separate times and I am not ashamed. Please feel welcomed to share with me your favorite song from the soundtrack if you ever bump into me!