Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Wedel.
Hi Olivia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My story begins years ago when I was a child in Virginia. My mom went through several different things as she navigated life as a single, working parent. To this day, I remember those who helped her in various capacities. I always knew I wanted to do something in a helping profession. Fast forward to adulthood and moving to Texas where I completed my master’s degree and Ph.D. in Counseling at TCU, and I’ve been in the counseling field since 2007. I’ve always had a heart for helping and supporting women, and my dream was to have my own private practice where I could focus on that goal. I opened my private practice in 2020, and three years later, my work is continuing to grow and evolve in ways I only imagined. I see women across the state via telehealth and in person at my office in Grapevine.
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 hasn’t been smooth! Between having a baby at the onset of the pandemic and delaying the opening of my practice multiple times, my journey to opening my private practice was quite bumpy. Some of the struggles included not being able to use the practice names I’d chosen because some variation was already taken (yes, definitely search the Secretary of State website when naming your business!); finding office space that fit my budget as a new small business owner, and getting HIPAA-compliant systems in place for my practice forms and electronic health records. These are all things we have to know but we don’t learn in graduate school!
We’ve been impressed with Olivia Wedel Counseling & Consulting, PLLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I help women feel hopeful again with a renewed sense of purpose and joy. I believe in the healing power of hope and possibility even in the midst of the messiness of life. I work solely with women, and a lot of my clients are moms. I specialize in perinatal and maternal mental health, and I am certified in perinatal mental health through Postpartum Support International. I’m known in our community as a specialist in that area, and I help moms navigate the various challenges that come with physical and mental adjustment to parenthood. My office is housed inside Grapevine Birthing Center, but my practice is a separate entity.
What sets me apart from others is I tailor my work to the individual client’s needs, and I include quite a bit of education and information in my sessions when the need is indicated. I create a safe, supportive space for honest conversations and healing for my clients. There is so much stigma around perinatal and maternal mental health, and because we have no standards for universal screening measures from birth through the first year of life, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are really misunderstood. The information I provide in sessions and through community events and workshops brings awareness and normalizes the fact many women struggle (often silently) after giving birth. I really promote the fact perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are treatable, and recovery is possible.
Brand-wise, I am most proud of the fact I help women, in various capacities, navigate the unique terrain of our mental health. That’s why I have the mountains as part of my logo. As women, we have mountains in our lives, figuratively speaking, but how we ‘climb’ and navigate the terrain is different for each one. Our needs and our journeys are unique, and I don’t use ‘cookie-cutter’ approaches to treat individuals.
In addition to offering therapy in the private practice setting, I’ve started offering free, community-based workshops to educate the public on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, recognizing signs and symptoms, knowing when to reach out for help, and how to access care when it’s needed. The goal for these workshops is to normalize having conversations around maternal mental health needs – and reducing stigma – and help families be informed around options for support. I also offer community care workshops on similar topics for area businesses and corporations.
I will also have a series of classes available, beginning in April 2023, in an online format where parents can access content, work at their own pace through pre-recorded modules, and have lifetime access to the information. Some of the classes will also be offered in person, such as my Circle of Security parenting intervention program. I became a certified facilitator for Circle of Security in 2022. Stay tuned on my website, my blog, and my business Instagram for more details coming soon!
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
If you had met me as a child, you would’ve described me as imaginative, curious, a big dreamer, and an avid reader. You would also describe me as someone who loves the outdoors, playing baseball and badminton in my grandparents’ yard, spending time with my family and friends, and playing board games. I still love all of these things. I think dreaming and imagination are just as important in adulthood!
Pricing:
- $165/hr session
- $200/90-minute session
- $250/2-hour intensive for specific parenting/maternal mental health needs
- Prices for Classes, Online & In Person, Vary
Contact Info:
- Website: www.oliviawedelcounseling.com
- Instagram: @oliviawedelcounseling
- Facebook: Olivia Wedel Counseling & Consulting, PLLC (private group)
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-oiivia-scalf-wedel-lpc-ncc-lcdc-pmh-c-507a99219?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com
Image Credits
Olivia Wedel
Faith Green
