Meet The Team
Dedicated to Service
True Journey Counseling Group was founded by Alonda Daniels and Colleen Innis in February 2019. Alonda and Colleen are childhood friends that knew from a
tender age of 15 that the helping profession would be their destiny. They sought
to help kids and adults in their community that look like them, with similar
histories of trauma and substance use disorder, to name a few.
The goal of True Journey Counseling Group is to support and build the
community by offering counseling and educational services. Our goal is to promote
individual growth and improve family and interpersonal relationships.
Alonda and Colleen recognize that there are many agencies small and large that
offer similar services of counseling, trainings and parent support services. However, there are few service providers that are of African descent.
COLLEEN INNIS, LPC
Co-Founder/ Director of Programs + Operations
Colleen Innis is a graduate of Kansas City, Missouri Public Schools, who became a teenage mother. Colleen has two adult children and a grandchild. Colleen is a Licensed Professional Counselor who holds a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Webster University. Colleen is the Director of Programs and Operations for True Journey Counseling Group, a nonprofit organization of which she co-founded with a childhood friend. Colleen spent over 20 years working with youth and their families through community based mental health programs.
Colleen has lived and worked in Kansas City, Missouri neighborhoods where children and adults are plagued with scenes of trauma, substance use, neglect, prostitution, domestic disputes and gun violence. Colleen’s trauma based therapy training allows her to practice evidenced based treatments with youth and adults that have experienced or witnessed the impact of generational trauma. Colleen strives to foster a safe space where clients can share their story, acknowledge the impact of the trauma and gain new meaning for hope and healing.
Colleen’s passion for working with youth and their families to build healthy communities are recognized through her practice, and training and community outreach. Colleen volunteers as a member on the Board of Directors of Midwest African American Psychotherapist and gives back to the community in other various ways through donations and community service. Colleen works to advance the mental health profession by coaching and training others aspiring to become licensed professional counselors. Colleen is a certified Mental Health First Aid trainer. She conducts “QPR (Question Persuade and Response)” Suicide Prevention and Organizational Trauma Informed Care Training.
ALONDA DANIELS, MSW, LCSW
Co-Founder + Executive Director
Alonda Daniels, LCSW, is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of True Journey Counseling Group. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a sought-after substance use disorder expert in Kansas City, MO. She attended the University of Kansas City, Missouri and has a master’s degree in social work. She is certified in Trauma Informed Care, Mental Health First Aid and Crisis Intervention Prevention (CIP). In 2008, Alonda Co-Founded ACT Youth and Family Services with Colleen Innis and contracted with the Kansas City Children’s Division to provide parent aide and therapy services. She is also a member of the Metropolitan Association of African American Psychotherapist (MAAP).
With 15+ years of experience, she has served her community in various capacities providing both therapeutic and behavioral health services with a Trauma Informed Care and Person-Centered approach. Alonda has years of experience of providing therapeutic services to individuals, groups and families with co-occurring disorders (substance use disorder and mental illness).
As a Kansas City, MO native, she witnessed violence in multiple capacities such as drug addiction and neglect. Alonda experienced childhood trauma and dysfunction firsthand with both parents struggling with substance use disorders. This formed a passion to work with individuals and families with similar experiences to foster healing by helping them to identify, acknowledge, overcome trauma(s) and redefine their story.
Alonda uses a transformative outpatient recovery model for those struggling with mild to moderate substance use disorders, with care coordination when more intensive approaches are necessary. She creates an unforgettable full-service face to face or online therapeutic space that offers a comfortable reprieve.
Alonda is a mother of four and grandmother of three. She believes that “Everyone’s Journey Is Different” and is dedicated to her community by building healthy individuals and families and empowering others to conquer their past while living in the present.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Terry Groves, LCSW-President
Joanne Innis, MSA - Vice President
Alonda R. Daniels, LCSW- Co-Founder/Executive Director
Colleen Innis, LPC- Co-Founder/Director of Programs and Operations
Alexis Martin, BA-Secretary
Kim Drew, MBA-Treasurer
Ashley Daniels, LCSW- Board Member
Lolita McShann, BA- Board Member
Johnae Sawyer, MHA- Board Member
Ozella Stone, MSW- Board Member