Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassandra Holt Kimbell.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey to founding Freestyle Therapy was built on a refusal to stay in boxes that didn’t fit. Before this practice existed, I was doing whatever it took to keep to cover rent, and worked a lot of different jobs since the age of 14. Those years of hustling gave me a real-world look at how exhausting it is to survive in systems that aren’t built for us. Along the way, I worked for other clinical practices where the leadership was unhealthy and the rules were rigid. Places where you were made to feel bad for thinking differently. Those experiences eventually pushed me to create my own space. I wanted a place with no limits where I could collaborate with other therapists to dream without limits, and offer the kind of support that actually feels human.
Music has also been a massive part of my story. As a lifelong musician, I know how it feels to have your art be your soul, but I also know the deep traumas that the music world and a creative life can bring. That complicated mix is exactly why I’m so passionate about working with artists and creatives; I’ve lived through the burnout, the imposter syndrome, and the physical toll it takes. As an AuDHD person navigating C-PTSD myself, I’ve moved away from the cold, clinical way of doing things. I’ve worked hard to build a team that focuses on unmasking and body-based healing, making sure our clients have a place where they can finally just be themselves and get help without judgment or having to explain how their brain works.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been a hell of a road. Like to the point where I have had moments where I questioned why absolutely everything in my life has to be hard. Not one single thing has been easy. There is always a barrier, always a struggle, always a “no”, always an uphill climb to get to where I am going. People who know me personally know the severe traumas I have thankfully survived. There are so many moments that could have resulted in me not being alive. Several.
But the way my brain is wired, ( I have an AuDHD brain- meaning I have an Autistic and ADHD neurotype), I do not register giving up as an option. Ever. I am just not built that way. I problem solve. I creatively problem solve. I follow up, I knock on five more doors when the other ones slam shut. Or I build my own door to walk through. Even this year, prices got grossly ridiculous for office rent and I had to give up my in office space I had spent so much time curating for my clients. I let myself cry and be sad for a day, and then I started applying for grants. I am still applying, still hoping I get a yes. Someone with money somewhere has to have a soul and want to help us turn a space into a small trauma center. I am speaking it into existence that we will have a downpayment for our own permanent space. Especially trauma survivors need consistency, and I will be damned if I can’t create that same physical space again.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Freestyle Therapy and its sister organization, Freestyle Supervision & EMDR Group, operate as boutique clinical practices specializing in the intersection of neurodivergence and complex trauma. Serving clients across Texas and California, the organization takes a neurodivergent-affirming approach, particularly in supporting ADHD, Autism, and the unique lived experiences of these individuals. They are best known for providing specialized mental health services to musicians and creatives, utilizing an eclectic mix of EMDR, somatic processing, and expressive arts to address issues like imposter syndrome, burnout, and sensory overwhelm.
What truly sets our organization apart is its commitment to being “trauma-rooted” rather than just trauma-informed. Every clinician on the team is EMDR-trained and actively practices from an anti-ableist, strengths-based perspective. We are proud of our fierce advocacy and genuine inclusivity of the LGBTQIA+ community and taking an active stance on social and racial justice. We take pride in their mentorship-based supervision model, which prioritizes manageable caseloads for associate therapists to ensure high-quality, present care for every client, but a healthy life for the intern themselves, while they earn their hours and grow.
Freestyle is a space where clients don’t have to explain or apologize for how their brain works. Whether through individual sessions, EMDR intensives, or collaborative Autism and ADHD assessments, the practice offers a laid-back and welcoming environment designed to help people unmask and regulate their nervous systems. From offering unique “body doubling” sessions to providing specialized training for other mental health professionals, Freestyle Therapy is dedicated to bridging the gap between clinical expertise and lived experience, ensuring that every individual feels truly seen, heard, and celebrated.
What does success mean to you?
This is such a subjective question. I think success is feeling like you made a difference in someone’s life when you lay down to go to sleep. I think success is setting a goal and knocking that sh** out. The older adults I work with tend to share that they only regret the things they never tried. So I think success is just continually living life to the absolute best of your ability.
Pricing:
- Payment plans available for Mental Health Assessments (Autism, ADHD, CPTSD, etc.) 1800.00
- individual therapy sessions 200.00/hr
- EMDR 250.00/hr
- Couples EMDR 350.00/hr
- Body Doubling 200.00/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.freestyletherapy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealfreestyletherapy/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/freestyle-therapy-llc/?viewAsMember=true
- Other: https://linktr.ee/freestyletherapyLLC?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=63bd8f7f-31a2-4424-851f-b12c8f6162ab
Image Credits
Personal photo credit: Larry Gee
Photo in chair: Larry Gee
Band Photo: Karlo Ramos
