Featured Leader: Myra Loving
Myra Loving
Licensed Professional Counselor
Private Practice
LT Class of 2015
I’ve learned that adding a supportive group is a wonderful way to be a leader in Texarkana. When I graduated from Leadership Texarkana, I began a feee support group ‘Left Behind’ for survivors whose loved ones died by suicide. This group meets monthly and has provided an avenue for fostering safe relationships among those with (an often taboo) shared trauma. Establishing this group has also opened a door for adding an ‘International Survivor Day’ in November. I plan to incorporate other agencies so that this might become a day for more people to come honor their loved ones.
To me, leadership is a practical skill and endeavor someone takes on to help better a group, community, project, etc. Leadership encompasses more than ‘taking charge’ but in working collaboratively and willingly together toward a common goal. Being a leader means finding your best asset that helps as a catalyst toward this common goal.
As a therapist and also a survivor of a loved one dying by suicide, I’m spending time, effort and money this year to work toward adding the International Survivor Day to Texarkana. It is affiliated with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention of which I’m a member and has a criteria and curriculum for having a therapeutic space that day. I applied last fall to run this day and will add this to Texarkana for survivors.
I wish I could make managed care/insurance for mental health understand the importance of it. Our healthcare system still falls behind so many regarding mental heath. People aren’t always able to afford to see a therapist when they desperately need to do so. I know that many of my colleagues and I’ve provided pro bono for clients over the years in practice, but unfortunately this isn’t something that can be sustained as being a practitioner in private practice and this is unfortunate.
About me, my hobbies: I love concerts. Live music is so wonderful! I believe it’s therapeutic. I have 2 beautiful granddaughters who bring such joy into my world. I’m a passionate person and believe in helping whenever I can. I’m a Cowboys and Rangers fan and get a little fanatical and obsessed sometimes. Attending games is such a fun hobby, too. I’m sort of a food, wine, coffee snob and love to eat great food. However, I do not cook. Nor do I pretend it’s even something I’m remotely interested in. However, watching someone cook, helping them, is lots of fun!! Travel and food are also hobbies.
I love attending the Perot and going to balls or parties. Attending functions that support Texarkana makes me happy. I like to eat at local restaurants and eat at Twisted Fork pretty often. It’s funny that when I pick up my Littles, they always ask if we can go to eat at TF.
I love that Texarkana has a small town feel and people are friendly and want to support each other. I enjoy people helping people. Life is short, so help each other if you can. And overall ‘life is good’.”
Myra Loving is a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice in Texarkana, Texas. Myra graduated with her bachelor’s in 1988. Was a pharmaceutical sales rep then started teaching in 1992. Myra received her master’s in Counseling Psychology in 1997 and has been a therapist since then. ISheworked for two agencies in Oklahoma and started her private practice in Texarkana in 2011. Myra has taught at Texarkana College and at TAMU-T as an adjunct instructor.
Her daughter and son-in-law have two daughters and live in Texarkana, which allows Myra to be an active MiMi, as family is important to her. After graduating Leadership Texarkana in 2015, Myra started Left Behind, a support group for survivors whose loved ones have committed suicide. She currently serves on the LT board and was on the committee for founding the LT Fall Luau to celebrate the upcoming class. Helping others is a high priority in her life, so community involvement, family support and professional memberships are important.