Question 1

Why did you decide to become a counselor or psychiatric provider?

Accepted Answer

While I have always known I wanted to work in the mental health field, I decided to become a counselor largely due to my own experiences in therapy. I came to realize that we all have the internal resources needed for healing, but few of us have been taught how to access them. My goal in this work is to contribute something positive to my community by helping clients discover and access their inner resources through connection and self-discovery.

Question 2

What types of clients do you work with best?

Accepted Answer

I work best with clients who are curious and open to self-discovery! One of the greatest gifts therapy offers us is the opportunity to be curious about who we are, how we got here, and who we want to be. I am confident that clients who are ready to begin focusing attention on their internal experiences to uncover who they truly are will find success in our work together.

Question 3

What type of clients are you most excited to work with?

Accepted Answer

While I welcome clients at all stages of their journeys, I am particularly excited to work with those who are new to therapy or have not felt satisfied with their past experiences in therapy! I truly understand how difficult it can be to seek out help and I am so humbled by the trust clients place in me. Hearing a client say that our work together has shifted their view of therapy in general is one of the many rewarding and fulfilling parts of this work!

Question 4

What's one thing you wish all clients knew?

Accepted Answer

That every clinician's approach is different, and therapy is not one-size-fits-all! I have heard from so many clients, friends, family, etc., that therapy just does not 'work' for them. While feeling this way makes so much sense and I will always advocate for a client's autonomy and choice, I encourage everyone to make informed decisions about their care. I want clients to know that, even though all therapy should be grounded in evidence-based approaches, these approaches can look very different depending on the therapist. Given this, I also encourage clients to be open about what is and is not working for them - some therapists just may not be the right fit, and that's okay!

Question 5

Why did you choose to practice at Thriveworks?

Accepted Answer

I chose Thriveworks because they value both their clients and their clinicians. Thriveworks balances adequate support and supervision with independent practice - this allows us as therapists to focus our full attention on supporting our clients, which is exactly what I entered this field to do!

Question 6

What inspires you?

Accepted Answer

I am most inspired by the openness, vulnerability, and empathy I witness in others. It takes so much strength and confidence to show up as our true selves in a world that often teaches us to do the opposite. Seeing others embrace their individuality shows the rest of us that we can do the same!

Question 7

What can clients expect in their first session with you?

Accepted Answer

Aside from going over all the necessary paperwork and establishing general expectations for therapy, I try not to overly-structure the initial session. Depending on your comfortability, I may ask you questions about you, your experiences, and what brings you to therapy. I try not to place pressure on clients (or myself!) to answer every question in a single session - meeting a total stranger can be scary enough, so the only thing I expect from clients is a willingness to engage in the process and an understanding that our first session is more an opportunity to get to know each other than it is a "true" therapy session.

Question 8

What do you want to accomplish with an individual in their first session?

Accepted Answer

I have a couple of broad, flexible goals for initial sessions. First, I want clients to leave our first session with a general understanding of who I am and how I approach therapy. Second, and perhaps more importantly, I want to instill hope in the client that our work together will be helpful to them. This typically involves asking some variation of, "Why now?" to establish our starting point. Regardless of the answer, my job is to meet the client exactly where they are developmentally, socially, emotionally, etc. By showing up as my authentic self, I strive to connect with each client and show that our therapeutic relationship will be one of safety and consistency.

Question 9

What should clients know about you before scheduling a first session?

Accepted Answer

That I welcome questions and feedback! We ask clients to share so much of themselves during a first session, so I want clients to feel that they can get to know me as well. I am more than happy to answer questions about my approach, my experience, or therapy in general! While I will always uphold professional boundaries, I also understand that we are beginning deeply personal work together -- I will always do my best to be appropriately transparent about who I am and how I approach this work.

Question 10

What do you do for fun/on your time off?

Accepted Answer

I love to travel any chance I get! I truly value new experiences and expanding my comfort zone. I also spend as much time as I can with my wonderful group of friends and family, as well Benny, my 11-year-old puppy, and our many apartment plants. :)

Question 11

What's one thing about you that defines you (non-professional)?

Accepted Answer

I feel that curiosity defines nearly everything I do. I've found that the more I experience of the world, the more I want to learn about it! Letting my curiosity drive so much of my professional and personal development enriches every experience and allows me to access so much gratitude for each new opportunity.

Question 12

Can you tell us about a success you had with a client?

Accepted Answer

Considering all the amazing work I've witnessed from clients, it's hard to pick just one! One success that stands out to me is hearing a young adult client say that our work together helped not only them but also the people they care about most in the world whom I had never even met. This showed me how powerful and far-reaching personal growth can be and how our own healing causes ripples through the lives of others -- by showing up for ourselves, we are also showing up for all those we love and all those who love us.

Brighid Shea