Today we’d like to introduce you to Eden Hyder.
Eden, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I had a client ask me once, “Why did you become a therapist?” I told her, “I became what I needed, but didn’t have.” I grew up in Dallas, attending Hockaday. Having a sister with Down Syndrome, I lived with a keen sense of justice, inclusion and groundedness. Justice: from fighting off kids that would tease her. Inclusion: from spotting those on the “outside”, including those with special needs, and wanting them to feel like they belong, have value and are wanted. And groundedness: from a constant low-level embarrassment that any quiet kid experiences when they have an outgoing, fearless older sibling who sometimes does “weird” things in a culture that rewards homogeneity.
I went on to receive a BFA in Graphic Design at Washington University in St. Louis. As a college student and young adult, I experienced my own depression, spiritual crisis, body image and food issues. Coming out of high school, I was very involved in a local church and continued my involvement in faith communities into and through college. People use a lot of different things to escape pain, and I think, unconsciously, my focus on God became an escape for me. I didn’t like myself and I didn’t want to know the hurt and insecurities that had built up inside me. With God, I didn’t have to—or so I thought. I grew depressed and that lostness expressed itself in various ways, including body, food issues, and depression. My faith community at the time didn’t understand and/or couldn’t recognize the mental health issues I was experiencing. They genuinely cared but offered advice like praying more or confessing to sin in my life. Mostly I saw that what I was feeling was overwhelming to them and confusing. I was lost, and I had to find something.
But it wasn’t God. It was a self—that I could love, value and esteem. It was in my depression that I began writing music more seriously, realizing I had a voice—I had something to say and it was worth being heard. Standing on stage with a band behind me, demanding the attention of an audience was a terrifying and surprising practice of self-love and self-worth. Even though I did not continue pursuing music professionally, it helped me to know and love my self. It helped me to move in a direction personally and professionally that felt empowering and authentic to my life experiences. I reconstructed a spirituality that aligned with my experiences and values, which continues to evolve as life does.
As a therapist, coach, and friend, I now passionately support the “weird”—those who are in the midst of this process of identity development, self-exploration, spiritual crisis, from teens to adults. We move through so many life stages and changes that our identity is constantly shifting and evolving. That evolution can be an incredibly painful, isolating and confusing process and I want people to know they are not alone.
Has it been a smooth road?
This road has taken me all over the map. For a few years, I changed career paths every July—why the switch always came in July, I don’t know!
These were a few over-arching struggles that I continue to process through with every new challenge or life stage:
1. BELIEVING IN MYSELF. This does not come naturally, especially in a culture that makes money through convincing us we are not enough. Over the years, I’ve told my clients that I have a Boss Lady inner voice that I consult with when I am questioning a decision or direction. She knows what needs to be done, and sometimes my inner critic just gets in the way.
2. FACING THE RISK OF FAILURE. Failure is excruciating and can be humiliating in our culture. I would have dreams growing up of being exposed as a failure to the world in humiliating ways. I love the kid’s book, “Rosie Revere Engineer”, which addresses the usefulness of failure as a giant step towards success. Growing up, I began reassuring myself that I can only make the best decision I can base on the information I have right now. Failure is still painful, but I am quick to learn what I can from it and move on to the next thing.
3. HAVING A FAMILY & A JOB. When I had kids, I didn’t know if I would want to stay home or if I would want to work. We all respond differently to becoming a parent and find mysterious new desires in us that might not have been there before. I found that I wanted (and half needed) to work to be a better mom. I also found that there would never be that perfect balance of work and home life. It is something that changes as life stages and life events occur. When I’m at work, I will always feel a bit guilty, not being home with my kids and, at home, my passion for my work will always draw me outside of the home.
Please tell us more about your work. What do you do? What do you specialize in? What sets you apart from competition?
With a Masters in Counseling Psychology and Masters in Christian Studies, I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas who offers attachment-based therapy, interpersonal and relational therapy, as well as EMDR. After having worked in the eating disorder field for about ten years, I now co-own a group practice, Inside Out Collaborative, with my husband who is also a therapist. I offer therapy within the state of Texas, recovery and life coaching, and consulting services to people nationwide. I specialize in the areas of eating disorders, identity development, spiritual crises, and treating mental health issues in the LGBTQ population.
I also work with a lot of parents who find themselves lost in the flow of life after having kids and working or staying at home. I work with a lot of young adults who feel lost in a big world and don’t know who they are outside of their family system growing up. I work with clients on identity development—looking at who they were growing up, what it was like growing up in their family, and how that identity and the patterns of relating that come out of their background are or are not helping them as adults. I also work with young adults and adults with eating disorders, body image issues—male, female and non-binary.
I host an Instagram account @edenhyderpro that is focused on telling the story of life and supporting others through hardship with camaraderie and humor. As a mom of two kids, a partner to an incredible husband, and a professional, life is so full and crazy, and I want others to know I am in it with them. I speak on various topics related to my specialties listed above and will soon be offering e-courses online out of my coaching and consulting services.
What I’ve heard that sets me apart is that I am not “Dallas” per se, but I know Dallas. Having lived in Seattle for several years, I have a lot of transplants to Dallas who come to see me. Having grown up here, I also understand the experience of Dallas and will often see men and women who grew up here, but who feel disillusioned with the Dallas values as an adult. I’ve received the following nicknames from clients: Earth Mother, Yoda, Mind Ninja. I’ve been deemed a Gryffindor from Harry Potter and described as quirky and artsy with a gazelle as my spirit animal.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Two things that I immediately missed about Dallas when I moved to Seattle were (1) the sun and (2) the hospitality. Dallas is a city of people who are warm, engaging and approachable. They may be secretly struggling, but their hospitality outshines any other state. And a third thing I immediately missed was its Mexican food—how could I forget that!
Dallas, unfortunately, continues to perpetuate values that lead to silent struggles: perfectionism, money, ambition/achievement. Authenticity is too risky because of the imperfections it exposes. I guess that is why I am so passionate about giving a safe space for people to be authentic.
Pricing:
- Individual Therapy, $150/50min
- Recovery or Life Coaching, $175/60min
- EMDR Therapy, $250/80min
- Parent or Clinician Consultation, $100/30min
- Psycho-Educational or Inspirational Speaking, $300/60min
Contact Info:
- Address: Inside Out Collaborative, PLLC
6750 Hillcrest Plaza Drive, Suite 206
Dallas, Texas 75254 - Website: http://www.insideoutcollaborative.com
- Phone: 972-729-9136
- Email: eden@insideoutcollaborative.com
- Instagram: @edenhyderpro, @insideoutcollaborative
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insideoutcollaborative
- Twitter: @edenhyder
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