My name is Gbemisola Ogunrinde. I’m a
Psychotherapist, and I run a counselling and therapy practice called “The Family
Place.”
WHAT FUELS ME?
 
I.               
FAITH: My faith in God is huge part of who I am. God is
one being that I know will always have my back! He has never failed me once, so
it only makes sense to keep holding on to Him and trusting His ways. I have come
thus far in life amidst all obstacles, because He kept me.
II.             
PURPOSE: This still takes me back to God
and His plans for me. I know that I have been created for a reason and this
gives me the drive to live life to the fullest rather than just merely exist.
As my pastor would say, “My life is too small the be the reason for my
existence.” I believe so much in this statement, that’s why I continue to seek
avenues to make impact.#
III.          
NURTURE: I believe strongly that the
family, being society’s fundamental unit, is its greatest agent of change.
Therefore, a huge part of what I do is to partner with parents to nurture and
groom tomorrow’s generation!
MY GREATEST INFLUENCE:
My greatest influence is Jesus Christ. He lived a
life worthy of emulation; very loving, humble, selfless and service-oriented.
My desire to maximize my potentials and die empty is also a great influence on
the way I live my life.
MY TOP THREE ROLE
MODELS:
Pastor Sam Adeyemi. His level of humility and
simplicity in spite of his depth and achievements is very inspiring.
Jennifer Smothermon. She was one of my supervisors
during my master’s practicum. She is a terrific mental health professional,
with a solid work-life balance. At a young age, she has managed to hold
leadership positions in the regulatory body for Licensed Professional
Counsellors in the state of Texas.
IN THE NEXT FIVE
YEARS…..
To
be joyfully married with two children and to have acquired a property for my
counselling and therapy practice, with all operations running fully. The Family
Place will be a household name in the mental health field in Nigeria. 
Yes,
I have friends that I share my dreams and goals with, but I think it’s time to
consider an “accountability manager!”
THE AFRICAN WOMAN’S CHALLENGE:
The
issue of limiting beliefs which stem from low self-esteem is a great challenge
that African women contend with. Helping a woman be secure in herself, through
an understanding of her capabilities, and the power of her mind goes a long way
in breaking her free and propelling her to dream and chase her dream. Working
with individual female clients and groups in therapy/counselling affords me the
opportunity to help them with this realization.
WHAT
I DO TO RELAX:
I watch movies, listen to music or just chill out in
the company of one or two friends.
MY   –  
I.C.E. [INSPIRE|CELEBRATE|EMPOWER] VISION
With
the African culture being traditionally patriarchal in nature, there’s a
tendency for women and their achievements to be relegated. Thankfully the times
are changing, and women are now in the forefront of a couple of industries. In
order to encourage other women to step out, we have to celebrate the courage of
these successful women. Also, when you inspire, celebrate and empower women,
you encourage them to strive for greater heights!  
MY
AFRICAN UNION PLANS:
I
would seek to advocate for the promotion of positive mental health in women.
Mental health is a vital part of our general wellbeing and should not be
neglected. Therefore, my responsibilities will include educating women on how
to care for themselves emotionally and psychologically, in order to foster
effective functioning.
FINAL WORDS OF ADVICE:
Being
a woman is a blessing and we should carry our heads up high with pride. We have
all been endowed with the potentials we need to fulfill purpose, we just need
reach deep down inside of us and begin to unleash them. We should dare to dream
and allow our imaginations run wild! If we can see it, we can be it!