Small Talk Counseling & Consulting

There are moments in life when you realize you've been preparing for something long before you knew it was coming.

This trip to Burundi felt like one of those moments.

A mental health practice and performance consulting company.
A basketball federation.
Government leaders.
Healthcare organizations.
Faith communities.
Young athletes with big dreams.

On paper, those things may seem unrelated. In reality, they all came together around one question: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲?

Over the past two weeks, we were honored to:
• Work alongside leaders from FEBABU
• Meet the Minister of Sport
• Engage the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Embassy
• Train with Burundi's U18 National Team
• Visit the ANSS Center-Turiho and Eglise Karpos
• Support coaches, referees, educators, and athletes who are committed to building a brighter future for Burundi

We coached. We listened. We learned. We shared.

We also laughed, worshipped, drank incredible coffee and tea, enjoyed unforgettable meals, and experienced a level of hospitality that will stay with us forever.

The greatest takeaway wasn't what we taught. It was what we witnessed: 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙝, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮. It was about planting seeds for sustainable growth that can impact generations.

Thank you, Burundi, for welcoming 𝙎𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙠 so warmly and to every person who shared a meal, opened a door, offered a conversation, or trusted us with your vision. This trip reminded us that meaningful impact starts with meaningful relationships.

We're leaving with full hearts, new friendships, and a renewed commitment to using sport, mental performance, and leadership as tools for impact.

This first chapter may be ending, but the story is just beginning. Let's get to work. 🇧🇮⚜️🧠

From ‘The Boot’ to Burundi ⚜️🏀🧠

Some opportunities feel bigger than business.

This upcoming partnership with FEBABU is one of those moments for us.

To combine basketball, mental performance, leadership, education, and community impact on an international level is something we do not take lightly. What started as conversations around mental performance, leadership, and athlete development is now becoming a global movement.

We’re honored to announce that we will be partnering with the Fédération de Basketball du Burundi () for a historic 10-day mission focused on:
✨ athlete development
✨ mental performance
✨ coach and staff education
✨ scholarship pathways
✨ sustainable infrastructure
✨ global opportunity

Over the next several years, this initiative aims to help build a sustainable ecosystem rooted in home-grown Burundian talent, education, wellness, and excellence. We are incredibly grateful to collaborate with FEBABU, community leaders, and the Burundian diaspora on a vision rooted in impact and sustainability.

This is bigger than basketball.
This is legacy.
This is purpose.
This is community.

Let’s build something historic together.

Mental health looks different across identities. Professional care and support should reflect that.

Looking for a safe space that welcomes all walks of life? Visit our website to get started (link in bio)!

Healing isn't linear and neither is support. Some days feel like progress, others feel like setbacks, and both are part of the same journey. Growth doesn’t happen in a straight line; it happens in layers, in pauses, in learning how to begin again.

May 2026: Mental Health is Not a Trend - It's a Lifestyle - https://mailchi.mp/50f73252cf8b/may2026

May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, a time when conversations about emotional well-being become more visible. While increased awareness is important, mental health is not a seasonal focus or social media trend. It is a daily, lifelong reality that affects how we think, feel, perform, and connect with others.