Today we’d like to introduce you to Catrina Labrie.
Hi Catrina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey to becoming a therapist is deeply personal. I grew up in Oklahoma and experienced childhood trauma that shaped many of my early life experiences. As I got older, I found myself drawn to understanding people, relationships, and especially how family systems influence a person’s development, identity, and well-being. Even as a young person, I wanted to understand why families function the way they do and how painful experiences can impact us long after childhood.
My own healing journey became a turning point. Through my faith, personal growth, and counseling, I experienced firsthand the power of healing and restoration. As God continued to heal areas of my life and I engaged in therapy myself, I began to recognize that my experiences had purpose. What once felt like pain and brokenness became the foundation for a calling to help others find hope, healing, and transformation.
I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Family Studies and Child Development with a minor in Youth Ministry from Oklahoma Christian University, followed by a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling from Liberty University. Throughout my career, I have worked with youth, individuals, and families in a variety of settings, gaining experience that has strengthened my passion for helping people overcome challenges and thrive.
Today, I am the Founder and Owner of Renew Restoration, LLC, a counseling practice based in McKinney, Texas. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Trauma Professional, Certified Coach and Trainer, and published author, I help individuals navigate the effects of trauma, build healthier relationships, and discover their worth and purpose. My approach is rooted in trauma-informed care and a belief that healing is possible regardless of one’s past experiences.
Writing has also become an extension of my mission. As a published author, I have had the opportunity to share lessons from my personal and professional journey, encouraging others to pursue healing, growth, and restoration in their own lives.
Looking back, I never could have imagined where this journey would lead. The experiences that once caused pain became the very experiences that equipped me to serve others. What started as a desire to understand my own story evolved into a calling to help others rewrite theirs. It has been a journey marked by faith, resilience, healing, and purpose, and I am grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside others as they discover hope and restoration for themselves. One of my mentors taught me long ago, “It’s not how you start, It’s how you finish”.
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 definitely has not been a smooth road, and in many ways, the challenges have continued throughout every stage of my journey.
One of my earliest struggles was overcoming the effects of childhood trauma. Healing was not a one-time event but an ongoing process that required faith, counseling, self-reflection, and a willingness to confront difficult experiences. Those challenges shaped me, but they also gave me a deeper understanding of the healing process and the courage it takes to do the work.
Professionally, becoming a therapist required years of education, training, supervision, and personal growth. There were seasons when I questioned myself, faced imposter syndrome, and wondered if I was truly equipped for the calling God had placed on my life. Learning to trust both my training and my purpose was a significant part of the journey.
As an entrepreneur and private practice owner, I’ve faced a different set of challenges. Building a business from the ground up has required me to wear many hats, therapist, business owner, marketer, leader, author, and trainer. There have been financial uncertainties, difficult decisions, and moments when growth seemed slower than I had hoped. Like many small business owners, I’ve had to learn how to balance my professional responsibilities while also caring for myself, my family, and my own personal growth.
Even today, there are challenges. Healing and growth are lifelong journeys, and I continue to learn more about myself with each season of life. There have been moments of disappointment, loss, self-doubt, and situations that forced me to confront fears I thought I had already overcome. As someone who grew up with childhood trauma, there are times when old narratives try to resurface, and I have to intentionally choose faith, truth, and growth over fear.
I’ve also learned that success doesn’t eliminate struggles; it simply presents new opportunities to grow. One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is that healing is not about becoming perfect, it’s about becoming whole. Every challenge I’ve faced has taught me something about resilience, purpose, and perseverance.
What has sustained me through it all is my faith in God and the belief that our stories can be transformed. Looking back, I can see how the very things that once felt like obstacles became part of the foundation for who I am today. The struggles I’ve faced have strengthened my resilience, deepened my compassion, and reinforced my passion for helping others discover hope, healing, and restoration. While the road has not been easy, I wouldn’t change the lessons it has taught me or the person it has helped me become.
As you know, we’re big fans of Renew Restoration, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Renew Restoration, LLC is a trauma-informed counseling practice built on the belief that people are not broken; they are shaped by their experiences. We serve individuals who may be functioning well on the outside but feel stuck, disconnected, or misaligned beneath the surface.
We specialize in helping individuals understand the deeper patterns, relationships, and systems that influence how they cope, relate, and make meaning of their lives. Rather than focusing only on symptoms, our work emphasizes awareness, insight, and understanding the “why” behind behaviors and emotional responses. This approach allows for more meaningful and lasting change.
What sets Renew Restoration apart is our focus on the whole person and the full story. We believe healing happens when people are given space to explore their experiences with honesty, compassion, and curiosity rather than judgment. Our goal is to help individuals move from survival-based functioning toward greater awareness, alignment, and intentional living.
Renew Restoration offers counseling services for adolescents and adults navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship challenges, and personal growth. We provide a safe and supportive space where individuals can process their experiences and begin to reconnect with themselves in healthier ways.
What I am most proud of is the heart behind the brand. Renew Restoration was created out of a deep belief that healing is possible and that people are capable of transformation, no matter what their past looks like. The name itself reflects the mission, to renew what has been worn down, restore what has been impacted, and help individuals rebuild their lives with clarity and purpose.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Over the next 5–10 years, I see the mental health field continuing to shift toward greater accessibility, integration, and awareness of trauma. More people are beginning to recognize the importance of mental and emotional well-being, which is helping reduce stigma and increase willingness to seek support earlier rather than waiting until a crisis point.
I also believe we will continue to see a growing emphasis on trauma-informed care across all areas of healthcare, education, and organizational systems. There is a deeper understanding emerging that many of the challenges people face are connected to unresolved experiences, attachment patterns, and relational dynamics rather than isolated symptoms.
Another significant shift is the expansion of telehealth and flexible service delivery models. Virtual care has made therapy more accessible for many individuals, and I expect hybrid models of care to continue evolving in ways that better meet people where they are.
At the same time, I think the industry will continue to wrestle with the balance between accessibility and depth. As demand for services grows, there will be an ongoing need to protect quality of care, ethical practice, and meaningful therapeutic relationships.
Overall, I believe the future of the field is moving toward a more holistic understanding of people, one that recognizes the connection between mind, body, relationships, and lived experience. My hope is that this continued shift leads to more compassionate, individualized, and effective care for those seeking healing and growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.renewrestorationllc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_renewrestorationllc/
