about me

My name is Onika Eversole (Oh Knee Kah), a licensed master-level social worker and psychotherapist in Kentucky. I'm on a mission, a mission to impact the lives of as many people as I can through planting seeds, breaking systemic barriers, counseling/therapy, and providing psychoeducation to individuals and the public to increase awareness and promote the people's right to self-determination. 

I have lived experience facing the journey that many of you are on today. My childhood and adolescent years were very difficult. I faced the impacts of addiction (both parents were addicts), homelessness, violence/abuse, sexual assault, and eventually would end up on house arrest and being sent off to a detention center for teens. I couldn't cope with the mental health impact of all of the traumatizing experiences, and this led to fighting and acting out in unprecedented ways because I didn't have the support I needed from my parents, and the school/legal/CPS systems failed me - as they do many children and teens. Eventually, I decided to leave and enroll in the job corps program and never looked back. I left for the program from a homeless shelter in London, Kentucky, at 17 and changed my life forever. During this time, I focused on completing high school, developing meaningful relationships, and discovering my purpose in the world - "What was I meant to do?" I realized my dream was to become a therapist, and so the journey began. 

I entered and finished my first semester of community college in 2015 and then "took a break". Between 2016 and 2021, I was in school off and on, and experienced my own devastating encounter with addiction, trauma/abuse in relationships, and experiencing what felt like losing everything and everyone you've ever cherished with love. Though I should be dead, or cracked out on the streets (according to statistics), I remain resilient and am a breathing, walking testament that RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE. FOLLOWING YOUR DREAMS IS NOT A FAIRYTALE. It's real, and it's attainable. Hence, the reason you're here today, YOU are my passion. Doing GOOD is my MOTIVATION. I want to see others succeed and thrive in reaching their fullest potential. 

Passion and lived experience create a cocktail of pure motivation that drives me to be the best that I can be.

Outside of my career, I love being around water (swimming, kayaking, boating, etc.), studying/learning about space science, and advocating or caring for animals! As I said, I'm passion-driven, so I am always working on a new project, learning, or engaged in some form of creative expression (art and music at times - re-learning percussion). I have two fur babies - L.J and Loki, who I adore - they are quite literally my "cat children"!