Exploring Life & Business with Kate Jennings of The Bug and Bee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Jennings.

Hi Kate, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. 
In high school, many of my friends’ moms sought advice and answers from me, even though I was not a day older than their own daughters. When one of my best friends, Katherine, died at 16 from complications of her eating disorders, in addition to my heartbreak, I also felt a huge tug on my heart. While I always knew I wanted to help support children in some way, Katherine’s death left me knowing for sure that I was destined to be a counselor. 

In 2008, I graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Education. I moved back home to Fort Worth, where I continued my education at Texas Christian University, and I graduated in 2010 with my Masters of Education with an emphasis in school counseling. 

The Monday after my graduate school graduation, I started working on the inpatient psychiatry unit at Cook Children’s Medical Center. I began accruing the 3,000 hours needed for my LPC, serving in various roles throughout the psychiatry clinic. I was a Program Specialist, Family Therapist, and Intake Therapist- all in an effort to both cross-train and gain as much experience as possible. 

In 2014, I moved into the role of Clinical Therapist for the Gastroenterology Clinic where I helped children who had both a primary medical and a secondary mental health diagnosis. I helped with adjustment to medical diagnoses like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis while also helping children cope with stomach pain. 

Most recently, in 2021, after 8 years in the GI Clinic, I left Cook and opened the doors to my private practice, The Bug & Bee, PLLC. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
“Smooth” is debatable- I didn’t stop, if that’s what you mean! Thinking back, I basically was in school from August 1991 until December 2010 with zero stops along the way. So, it was “smooth” in that I just kept chugging along. 

Private practice is a different beast, though. In addition to seeing clients throughout the day, you have bills to pay, AC filters to change, and plumbers to schedule. You have to be able to manage your time very efficiently. I always say that graduate school ought to include classes on business management because I have had to learn a LOT along the way. In 2021, I didn’t want to learn how to use Quickbooks- I just wanted to talk about feelings! 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
The Bug and Bee, PLLC, offers child, adolescent, and teen counseling both in-person and virtually. We have seven clinicians and one intern who is starting in January, and we each specialize in different areas. 

We are known for our ability to build quick rapport with clients and families. Personally, I specialize in anxiety and chronic illness. I do a lot of psychoeducation, helping clients understand better the brain/gut relationship or parenting techniques. In fact, my Instagram page really became popular over my “one-liners” or ways parents can flip the script to be more effective with their children. 

In the chronic illness vein, I continue to be the only private practice therapist who specializes in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. I serve as the President of the North Texas/Oklahoma Chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, and I am actively involved in the Foundation’s efforts in research, education, support groups, and pediatric summer camp. 

The Bug and Bee is a partner at The LAKE Center, which also houses pediatric PT, OT, speech, tutoring, and private pilates. I am the proudest of our group for expanding while also developing a stellar reputation in the Fort Worth community. 

We’d love to hear about what you think about risk-taking.
I think it was in Summer Catch that Jessica Biel said, “If you want big rewards, you’ve gotta take big risks.” The absolute biggest risk I have taken is when I left the comforts of working for the hospital and adventured out on my own, but the rewards are truly immeasurable. I have incredible flexibility every day, I can pick my daughter up from Kindergarten, I can meet friends for lunch, and I can pace myself according to my needs. 

Pricing:

• $75-$150/50 min session, depending on clinician

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thebugandbee.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/thebugandbee
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/thebugandbee

Image Credits
Nikki Caviness Photography