A Heart for Healing – Tamatha Borkcom Leads with Compassion at Kindred Place

( May 14, 2025) At the heart of Kindred Place—a Memphis-based center dedicated to family counseling, trauma recovery, and violence prevention—is a woman whose compassion is matched only by her conviction. Tamatha M. Borkcom, NCC, LPC-MHSP, brings a powerful combination of clinical skill, lived experience, and faith-centered leadership to her role as Clinical Coordinator. With every client she sees and every peer counselor she trains, Borkcom helps shape a healing environment rooted in grace, dignity, and hope.

Borkcom’s journey to this work is as inspirational as it is intentional. A proud alumna of the University of Memphis—then Memphis State University—Borkcom later pursued her master’s in Professional Counseling from Liberty University, achieving certifications as a Nationally Certified Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor with Mental Health Service Provider specialization. She holds a Grief-Informed Professional certification and now serves on the Domestic Violence Council Board of the Tennessee Coalition to End Violence. Her resume is expansive, yet it is the depth of her service that defines her legacy.

“My joy has always been in helping people realize they’re not alone,” Borkcom says. “Sometimes people forget just how strong they are. I get to be the one who reminds them.”

For Borkcom, returning to Kindred Place (formerly The Exchange Club Family Center) wasn’t just a professional assignment—it was deeply personal. As a former intern at the center while completing her graduate training, she recalls the joy she felt walking through its doors, the growth she experienced in the presence of seasoned counselors, and the early clients who taught her lessons in resilience. Her time in AmeriCorps and Youth Villages, along with work in human resources and content facilitation, all laid the foundation for the leader she is today.

Since joining Kindred Place in August 2024, Borkcom has overseen the resurgence of programs that meet families where they are. Under her clinical leadership, Kindred Place has provided individual and group therapy, domestic violence recovery groups, and educational resources for clients of all backgrounds. Many of those clients are what Borkcom calls “the worried well”—individuals carrying unresolved trauma or emotional burdens who now, thanks to increased insurance access and affordable community care, have a safe place to turn.

In her short time leading the clinical team, she’s already witnessed meaningful outcomes. “I’ve seen people cry tears of joy simply because we’re open again,” she says. “Our DV group participants are uplifted by each other’s stories. Even receiving a certificate of course completion has brought people a sense of pride.”

Beyond her credentials and clinical insight, Borkcom brings a powerful presence to Kindred Place—one grounded in faith, authenticity, and an unwavering belief in transformation. Married to her husband Jon for over 23 years, mother to a son, and grandmother to a vibrant five-year-old granddaughter, Borkcom draws on her own family journey to support others navigating parenting, marriage, and self-worth.

“Everything I’ve been through has led me here,” she reflects. “And every part of my life—my imperfections, my joy, my faith—comes with me into this work. I want our clients to know they’re worthy of healing. They’re not alone. There is hope.”

When asked what advice she has for those considering counseling at Kindred Place, her message is simple yet profound: “Invest in yourself. Try three sessions. Don’t let someone else’s story—or something you saw on TV—make the decision for you. Come see for yourself how powerful your healing can be.”

Tamatha Borkcom is more than a clinical coordinator. She is a testimony of what it means to live on purpose—with wisdom, grace, and a commitment to helping others find wholeness.

Kindred Place is honored to have her leading the clinical team as part of the SchoolSeed family. SchoolSeed acquired Kindred Place in July of 2024. Visit Kindred Place website and schedule an appointment today at kindred-place.org. Kindred Place is located at 2180 Union Avenune, Memphis, TN 38104.