Zandra Kierstead – KV Family Counselling

KV FAMILY COUNSELLING

Who is Zandra Kierstead?

That’s a hard question to answer. I’ve been a clinical social worker since 2004. I have four degrees — my Bachelor of Arts (psychology, sociology), my Bachelor of Social Work, and two Masters in critical studies and social work. This fall I will be starting my doctoral studies in psychology. Very excited for that. I got here with my four children, my grandmother and little grandchild. I have three little ones at home with me. I started the practice about four months ago so I’m getting ready to open my doors at this point.

How did you get started? What is the birth story of this business?

I had a practice years ago in Oromocto. I had it for a few years after I got out of the military because I had served as a military social worker. I got out of the forces and opened a private practice in Oromocto which I had for three years until I found out I was pregnant with my fourth child. So, I took about a five-year hiatus from the counselling/mental field to stay home and raise my children. I always said when Lauren, my daughter, started school, I would go back to work so that’s what I did. She started last September in kindergarten. I’ve been in private practice before, working with various populations and all age groups. Right now, my caseload is made up primarily of children and youth, but I did secure some contracts with, for example, Work Safe New Brunswick, Blue Cross, and Health Canada. I will be taking on virtual clients starting as early as July 2022. I’ve also partnered with a local business to start a selfesteem program aimed at young women that will be launching in September.

Why New Brunswick?

This was where I was raised. I moved here from Africa when I was nine when we settled in Fredericton, New Brunswick. During my career, I’ve also worked in Nova Scotia and British Columbia. I decided to move back to the East Coast because this is where I grew up, it’s home for me and I find there is a lack of services and supports here, particularly for the Black community. So, what better opportunity than to come here to Saint John, which has a large Black population, to raise my kids and open a business? It’s just great to be part of the community and be a Black-owned business.

What are your goals for this business?

I want to build a legacy for my children and my family. My goal is to fill the gaps that are out there not only in the mental health crisis we’re having, but particularly to serve the Black community. There are so few Black clinicians out there. It’s a very small number in the Maritimes. I want to be that strong role model for young Black girls and women who are coming up in New Brunswick. My daughter is one of them and I want to show they can do something to be successful right here. Because when I was growing up; I didn’t get those messages. I was told I was going to be nothing. I was told I wasn’t going to do well, and I wasn’t going to succeed. I understand the lived experience of Black persons who have gone through these racist assaults — it’s trauma. Our bodies and our minds ingest it. We need to get that out by talking about it, becoming comfortable in our own skin, and loving who we are by looking in the mirror and having that positive sense of self-worth, self-esteem and feeling good about ourselves. It transcends to other aspects of your life. You will have good interpersonal relationships with people when you’re happy with yourself.

Advice to Black female entrepreneurs?

Don’t give up. There are a lot of reasons to not take steps, but we need this in the community. We need to see strong Black leaders and strong Black businesspeople because it’s not only our peers and our colleagues who are seeing us do what we’re doing, but it’s the children who are growing up seeing people in these positions. Find those strong people in the Black community — people who have established businesses, connect with them and learn all the information you can. Find mentors to guide you and help build yourself to a place where you can be successful. When I found out the Black Business Initiative has expanded to New Brunswick, I thought, ‘This is fantastic’. As African Canadians, there are barriers to accessing funds. I had to use my own money to start my first counselling business. So, the BBI is a very supportive organization.

By Thandiwe McCarthy Photo by Weekes Photography

Zandra Kierstead is a Clinical Social Worker / Therapist in New Brunswick. She has experience working with various populations and has worked in child protection, acute care settings within hospitals – including tertiary care, community mental health and addictions – private practice, and served as a social work

officer in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Email: zandra@kvfamilycounselling.com