Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynda Kersh.
Hi Lynda, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have always been someone people could talk to. I was often the friend others leaned on for advice or simply to share their concerns and challenges. I have even been approached in stores by people who thought they knew me, only to end up having long conversations with them. I learned to be present with these strangers and give them the time they needed.
When I was young, I had a desire to go into social work. My parents didn’t think I could support myself in that field and believed that becoming independent and able to take care of myself was essential to my upbringing. So, I relented and followed in my father’s footsteps into engineering.
Working in the oil industry, especially in refineries, gave me a sense of pride, but also a sense of being an imposter. I knew I could do the work, but it wasn’t my passion. I later moved into information technology. While the work was also challenging and allowed me to develop pride in my abilities, I continually found myself asking, What impact am I having on this world?
Fast forward to 2020 — a year we will all remember for one reason or another. For me, it was the moment my child came home with a suicide prevention information tag attached to his school ID. After asking about it, I learned this was standard practice for students from kindergarten through senior year. I knew there were mental health concerns among our children, but did COVID really exacerbate them to that extent?
At the same time, I was on the edge of empty nesting and wondering how I would spend the next 20 years post–child-rearing. I listened to a sermon in which the preacher spoke about the legacy one leaves behind. I asked myself, “Lynda, what legacy will you leave?” Yes, you have wonderful children. You have a fantastic, supportive husband. But is there more?
My husband was fully on board with me going back to school, this time to pursue a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. So, along with our two children, I returned to school. I earned my master’s degree one semester after my daughter graduated with her undergraduate degree and a year and a half after my son began college.
Throughout this chapter of my life, I have been encouraged by the presence of incredible mentors and supervisors. The professionals I have met have trusted me with opportunities to practice, and I feel honored to work in this field.
I called my husband after my first session and said, “I was designed for this.”
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
A smooth road? What is that?
As a trained engineer, my brain works in ways that often run counter to the social sciences. I believe I frequently left my professors wondering where my thoughts came from and questioning the way I organized them. I had to learn how to think differently, while still thinking authentically. The social sciences are not as black-and-white as engineering, and in therapy there is often more than one “right” answer.
What was intended to be a 34-month program ultimately became a 38-month journey when our son was diagnosed with cancer just before his senior year of high school. At the time, I was deeply immersed in a year-long internship while also taking classes. Balancing the emotional and physical needs of my family, researching everything I could about his diagnosis, continuing my coursework, and remaining present with my clients pushed me to my limits.
Ultimately, I needed to step away from classes for a period of time so we could focus on what it meant to best support our son during that critical season of his life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I work as a Marriage and Family Therapist Associate under the supervision of Julia Wesley, LMFT-S. While I am seasoned in life experience, I have completed fewer than the 3,000 hours required by the state of Texas to achieve independent licensure. I work with couples, adolescents, and individual adults.
I especially enjoy working with young adults who are learning how to live autonomously from their parents. So much growth occurs during this stage of life, and I am honored to be trusted to walk alongside them in that process.
I also love working with relationships in all their forms: parent–child, sibling, marital, and premarital. I believe many relational challenges stem from communication difficulties and a lack of emotional security.
I cannot say definitively what sets me apart from other qualified and compassionate mental health professionals in this community. I have met many therapists and counselors who are kind, skilled, and deeply trustworthy. What I do believe is that I have a gift for helping clients feel seen, safe, and comfortable. My clients know that I genuinely want the best for them and am committed to helping them achieve their goals.
What were you like growing up?
I was the youngest of three, with two older brothers, which made me the baby princess. I like to think I didn’t abuse that privilege too much, though my brothers might offer a different perspective.
I was a high achiever in school, played the saxophone in the band, and swam on the high school swim team. I spent my summers at the pool and later working at a grocery store.
Band was so fundamental to my youth that I chose to attend a college eight hours from home in order to be part of the collegiate marching band. That decision served me well — I met my husband there.
I was what you would call a rule follower. I never broke curfew, was pulled over only once (my teary 16-year-old self was shown grace), and generally did what my parents expected of me.
My friends would describe me as funny but nerdy, and I was known for my smile.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cairntherapytexas.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573955403407
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynda-kersh-9a002814/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cairn-therapy-granbury
Image Credits
These are all photos taken by family and friends. Im not really a “selfie” girl.
