Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie McCoy.
Hi Katie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
When I was younger, I honestly had no idea what I wanted to “do” or “be.” I knew I just enjoyed people and felt most at peace when I was around others and supporting others. I remember when I first heard about Social Work, I thought it sounded like being paid to volunteer and at the time, it sounded great! The only professions I remember being exposed to that seemed even options to me as a child was nursing or teaching, and those just didn’t seem to fit me. However, being a therapist was never a “life goal” or anything. I just kept doing the next thing that I enjoyed and each step I just wanted to keep moving forward and progressing.
When I graduated high school, I went on a received my bachelor’s in Social Work, the last semester of undergraduate I decided to get my Masters. After graduate school, I decided to do my supervision to become a clinical Social Worker. While I was still in supervision to receive my License Clincial Social Worker licensure, I got pregnant and that slowed down my fast track plan a little bit, however, I was still working full time and kept going towards my 3,000 direct hours to become fully licensed. I began my career working with children with behavioral and mental health issues. After I had my own child, I decided I didn’t want to work with children anymore so I went on to work with adults in the substance abuse field as a counselor in May 2019. I was finally fully licensed in December 2020 and at that moment, I decided to work part-time at the agency I was and start my own private practice. I saw my first client January 2021. Now, May 2021, I am full-time private practice, have my own office space and am fully self-employed. I see adults and teens for all sorts of mental health issues, mostly anxiety, depression and identity issues. All that to say is, where I’m at now was never my “end goal,” all I did was take one season at a time and keep doing what I enjoy and now I am where I’m at and thriving. I know eventually, I will progress and move on towards something new, maybe opening a group counseling practice, only the future knows.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t often view typical obstacles as a negative thing, I see them as another way to grow and progress. I don’t want to be quick to label something as “good” or “bad” because many outcomes can come from a single event. Soon after I graduated graduate school I unexpectedly became pregnant, that was not part of my “plan,” but God knew what he was doing. Being a single mom, I didn’t have the option not to work, I worked all the way up to going into labor, going into homes and working with children with behavioral issues.
After I had my daughter in 2018, I did not feel very connected to her; therefore, working with other mothers and children to work on their attachment felt very triggering. I no longer wanted to work with kids at that time and I was at a loss of what to even do anymore since that is what I worked my whole career towards. When I felt unsettled at my job at the time, it caused me to apply for other jobs and eventually, I began working with adults with substance use disorders, something I never even imagined, but since I always keep an open mind, it was perfect for me at the time. Now that my daughter is almost three, I am much more connected to her and now I love working with mother’s who experienced what I did. I am very compassionate towards others and others can sense that during therapy with me, I never judge anyone and listen with an open mind.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I offer individual compassionate counseling for adults and teens and specialize in anxiety, depression and identity issues. People often come to me because they want me to “tell them what to do,” and they soon realize I won’t tell them what to do because I feel they answers they’re looking for are within themselves. I help them gain more trust in themselves so they can feel at peace with their own choices and feel more confident in themselves.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Traveling all the way up the east coast up to Canada with my family on a 21-day road trip in our big white van!
Pricing:
- $120 – 50 minute individual counseling session
- $150 – 50 minute family/couple session
Contact Info:
- Email: katie@mindwelltherapy.org
- Website: https://mindwelltherapy.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindwell.therapy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindwell.therapy
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mindwell-therapy-pllc-southlake
