Today we’d like to introduce you to Haleigh Fisher.
Hi Haleigh, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My dream in becoming a counselor was always to work with runners struggling with mental health. As a former Division I cross country and track runner, I witnessed first-hand the gap between mental health and athletics particularly in eating disorder treatment and recovery. As an athlete struggling, I often felt helpless and stuck in the gap. I decided in college that I wanted to be the person to fill the gap so I began the process of becoming a counselor. As a new clinician with the dream of working with runners, I realized I didn’t fit neatly into one of the boxes of typical clinical mental health counseling, traditional eating disorder treatment, or sports psychology. I spent many years trying to make my dream of working with runners happen in one of these more traditional ways while receiving feedback that my dream of working with runners wasn’t realistic; that it was too specific, that I had to choose between research or clinical practice, that runners with eating disorders couldn’t run anymore and heal…etc. But my passion for runners and their mental health outweighed the doubts. Thus, Trailhead Counseling DFW was created to bridge the gap between mental health and running. At Trailhead Counseling DFW I blend my passion for running with my experience as a clinician to help runners manage and overcome mental health struggles. I offer a variety of services uniquely crafted to meet the needs of runners and to bring awareness to mental health struggles within the running community
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?
There is a large gap between mental health professionals, particularly those specializing in eating disorders, and sport. A large part of growing my business has focused on education of both practitioners and the running community about the intersection of sport and mental health. At times I have received push-back from both sides but have continued to work hard to help facilitate dialogue and education that bridge the gap between mental health and running.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Trailhead Counseling DFW?
At Trailhead Counseling DFW we specialize in providing mental health and eating disorder counseling for runners who desire to have a therapist that understands their running goals while also recognizing some of the common mental health struggles of runners. We offer a unique set of services ranging from traditional one-on-one sessions, running therapy sessions, pre-race prep packages, race day support, coaching consults, and workshops. Our services are all specially designed to help runners thrive both in sport and in life. We want to replace the common phrase “running is my therapy” with the knowledge that while running can be therapeutic it is not therapy. That’s not to say we don’t love running, just that we think running is better as your second therapist, not your primary.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Leaving my traditional therapy practice to start a very specialized practice was a risk. I wasn’t sure what it would be like to have to build a new practice from the ground up focusing on a very niche population. I chose to take the risk because it was that dream that brought me to counseling in the first place and I was experiencing burnout working in traditional therapy. Risks are scary and uncertain but in order to reach your goals you have to be willing to step into the unknown and shoot your shot.
Contact Info:
- Website: trailheadcounselingdfw.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trailheadcounselingdfw/
