Clinician Spotlight: An Interview with Julie Massi, LMHCLauren Chapin, LICSW
Welcome to Clinician Spotlight, a series where I sit down with some of our wonderful therapists for a cozy conversation about work, mental health, and many life tidbits in between. This month, I had the opportunity to get to know Castlebrook’s newest addition to the team, Julie Massi. She and I chatted over Zoom where she discussed her journey to Castlebrook, why she values the mental health profession, and how the recorder is not just the squeaky instrument you played in elementary school. ******** Lauren: Hi! Thanks for taking the time to sit down with me. It’s a pleasure to have you on board! Why did you originally get into the mental health field? Julie: This is actually a career change for me! I worked for a number of years in financial services jobs with some great people. I started to explore volunteer work in my off hours and one of those positions was as overnight staff at a women’s shelter. I noticed that I really looked forward to the part of my night when the guests would come home to talk about their days, goals, and plans. I enjoyed listening, having a conversation, and being supportive and encouraging. So I started thinking, “What if I had a job where this is what I could be doing all day? That sounds really great, I think I’d like to do that.” That’s what led me to consider getting into counseling professionally. Lauren: That’s a wonderful story. What ultimately brought you to Castlebrook? Julie: I always saw myself in a group practice setting because collaboration and teamwork are really important to me. I never wanted to be an island, so to speak. I appreciated how open and transparent Kerrie [the director] was throughout the hiring process and also appreciated the focus on making sure that clinicians are operating at our best so that we can do what’s best for our clients. Lauren: Absolutely. Do you see any crossover, or skill sharing, between the corporate world and counseling? Julie: Yes! Analytical skills definitely apply as well as communication skills. Taking in and processing lots of information to put together the story of where we are and where we want to go, understanding and factoring in the other person’s perspective when we need to work together, and having to face challenging results at times. That’s been helpful to take into therapy as I want both the client and myself to feel like it’s going in a good direction and that their needs are being met. Lauren: I can see the similarities for sure. Where did you end up doing an internship after graduate school? Julie: I did my internship in residential programs at a local community mental health agency. The setting was different from outpatient, but the work can be very similar. I had a lot of encouragement, freedom, and support to approach the meetings like counseling in their homes, and I often found us reinforcing skills that clients were working on and picking up threads that they might not have gotten to during their in-office therapy sessions. I enjoyed it so much. I returned there after graduation to get some experience in their crisis stabilization service for people transitioning out of hospitalization. I got to understand how hard it is to ask for help or to trust that the person sitting there asking you all these questions is there to help. Particularly in situations where you don’t know how this information might be used or what will happen next. It taught me to be transparent and open about why I’m doing what I’m doing–I want people to be informed about the process. Lauren: That’s a tough balance to strike between assessing risk and maintaining trust and transparency. Julie: Definitely. I always focused my questions on understanding where the person is at, what they are going through, and making sure that I`m not overreacting or underreacting to what I'm seeing and hearing. I also learned to focus on creating a comfortable environment and showing up as my genuine self, to try to set people at ease and let them know that I’m there for the right reasons. Lauren: Does that translate into your style of how you approach therapy? Julie: I definitely gravitate towards the modalities of therapy that are person-centered. I want to make sure as much as possible that the person's needs, preferences, and rights are being respected. Part of that means that people might make decisions that I would not have made for them, but sometimes people need to try something out and see how it goes, and if it doesn't go the way that they hoped, that’s the opportunity to try something different. There is a bit of risk and uncertainty associated with that, but it’s important for therapy to be a place where clients have a sense of agency. Lauren: That makes sense. What might you tell somebody who is nervous about beginning therapy? Julie: It might sound cliche, but it does take courage to take those first steps toward getting support, and I don’t think that's something that should be taken for granted. There is a whole process that could have happened before a person is sitting in front of me. Opening up comes at your own pace. The therapist has a responsibility to prove to you that they’re going to be helpful, and if it feels like it’s taking a while for that to become clear, it’s so helpful to bring that up with the therapist to talk through together, even if that seems easier said than done. Lauren: What’s your favorite thing about being a therapist? Julie: There are a bunch of things. Just the fact that people let me into their lives in this way is pretty amazing and meaningful to me. I really like getting to know so many different people, getting to see their strengths, and how they’ve already brought themselves through some really challenging, difficult situations. I love moments when a skill I suggest works out really well and I get to hear about it in the next session, or when a client lets me know that I have really understood where they are coming from on a deeper level. Lauren: So part of therapy and the mental health field is taking care of yourself. What do you do outside of work to recharge? Julie: One thing that I’m really glad I got to return to doing post-lockdown is my early music group. We play recorders, not the squeaky plastic ones from elementary school, but real wooden ones [laughs]. We perform music mostly from the Renaissance or early classical periods at museum events, holiday festivals, and things like that. Lauren: How cool! What’s one last thing you’d like to leave us with? Julie: A quote that I like, I can’t remember who said it, is that we grow in spirals. I think of it like stretching out a slinky. if you look at it from the side you can see the spiral traveling up, but if you look at it from the top, you just see a circle. A lot of times in life we’re going through situations that we feel like we’ve been through before and we can’t believe that, “Here I am, at the same point of the circle, just going around and around.” But if we’re growing, we’re actually moving up the spiral of the slinky. Even if you’re coming across a situation that feels familiar, if you have skills and insights you didn’t have before, it’s not the same situation. It’s a time to put all of that knowledge to use for a better outcome. DBT for Teen Athletes: An Interview with Group Clinician Kaitlyn Hall, LMHCLauren Chapin, LICSW Castlebrook Counseling Services is excited to announce a new DBT therapy group beginning at the end of February 2024. This group will cater specifically to teen athletes and their unique mental health and self-care needs. Lauren sat down with the group’s creator and facilitator, Kaitlyn Hall, LMHC, to get the scoop.
Lauren: Hi Kaitlyn! I’m so excited to hear about this group as I know it’s something you’ve been working on for a while now. Can we start with a little introduction to DBT itself? Kaitlyn: Of course! Basically, DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) is a proven, evidence-based therapeutic approach. I've taken skills from DBT and customized them to support teenage athletes. I will be guiding them in applying these skills on and off of the field to help them become the best version of themselves. Lauren: Were you an athlete in high school or college? If so, what sports did you play? Kaitlyn: I played field hockey and lacrosse in high school, and then I went on to play field hockey in college. I was also a goalie for both sports which came with its own challenges mentally. Three years ago, I actually went back to my alma mater as their assistant field hockey coach. Being back on a college campus has shown me more than ever how much of a struggle it is to be an athlete and how they probably don’t get enough services. I’m hoping this group can offset some support locally, and then maybe we can build upon it and it can become much bigger. Lauren: What have you noticed that suggests current services aren't really geared towards athletes, and what are some specific challenges you've noticed athletes dealing with? Kaitlyn: For athletes, every minute of every day is planned, and no human can sustain that type of rigidity. In high school, we’re looking at these 16-17 year olds and some of their schedules are worse than a college student. Between AP classes, or god forbid they want to be in a club or have friends or a job, there is no time. The rigidity can lead to a perfectionism that is then turning into full blown anxiety. I’m hearing from a lot of clients that with a sport they used to enjoy, they are now finding that participating in it is not as enjoyable because the anxiety is taking over. I think we could get that enjoyment back by relieving some of the, often self-imposed, pressure. Lauren: How do you envision a DBT group specifically addressing the gap you've identified? Kaitlyn: I think the group aspect is going to open the conversation up around the stigma of athletes having to be the toughest people on and off the field. I hope that it can allow them to be vulnerable with like-minded peers who are experiencing the same or similar things. Then with DBT, the concepts are adaptable to different niches. I hope it allows some of the teens in the group to get enough exposure to DBT that they could keep it going through individual therapy if they wanted. Lauren: Will this be a continuous group or time-limited? Kaitlyn: At this point, I am going to do 10 weeks for this first round. Based on experience and feedback, this can be adjusted for future groups. We will see where it goes! Lauren: Can we get a little sneak peek into some of the modules or what group members can expect? Kaitlyn: There will be your usual introduction session and termination session, but in between I’m hoping to do two weeks of mindfulness, two weeks of emotional regulation, two weeks of emotional effectiveness, and two weeks of distress tolerance, give or take. For each module, we will target skills and concepts that specifically apply to athletes. For example, in emotional regulation, there is a whole section about trying to reduce our vulnerability to emotions and how we can trim the areas of our lives that make us more emotional. I think we spend a lot of time on that as an athlete, like taking care of our bodies so that we can take care of our mind. Lauren: I'm so excited to see where this group goes, it sounds so promising! Kaitlyn: Yes! I’d love to eventually expand the group to college students as well. Lauren: What else is important for prospective group members to know? Kaitlyn: One thing that I’m hoping we can cover in my group is what do we do when we’re done? What do we do when we’re retired? I was reading a statistic this morning that said that only about 7% of high school athletes go on to play in college. So what do we do about the other 93% that just gave everything they had to sports for 4+ years and their life just drastically changes? You go from practices and games every day and then one day you wake up and it’s over. I don’t know that we do enough to prepare young people, or anybody, for that change. Lauren: I can see the value in hearing not only from peers but also from someone like you who shares a similar background and can relate in that way. Kaitlyn: Absolutely, I’m hoping I can use not only my clinical experience, but the shared lived experience to have a dual process with them. Lauren: Any last comments before we wrap up? Kaitlyn: Group therapy can sound really scary, but we’re just gonna be a bunch of athletes sitting in a room figuring out how to take care of ourselves better. And if we learn some things, have a good time, and maybe we start to build more confidence in ourselves as an athlete and as a human, I would say that would be a success. Clinician Spotlight: An Interview with Niamh Smithers, M.A.Lauren Chapin, LICSW
Welcome to Castlebrook’s Clinician Spotlight series where I sit down with some of our wonderful therapists for a cozy conversation about work, mental health, and many life tidbits in between! Most recently, I got to know Castlebrook’s newest clinician, Niamh Smithers. Niamh and I explored what it’s like to be a newer therapist (she is a pre-licensed therapist working under the supervision of Castlebrook’s Dr. Valarie Clemente-Crain), her love for art and animals, and her passion for embracing all emotions, not just the “good” ones. Lauren: Hi, Niamh! As one of our newest clinicians, welcome to Castlebrook! What brought you here? Niamh: Although I had other interviews lined up, Castlebrook was the first place I visited in person. I immediately felt drawn to the physical space and the positive energy here. It made me hesitate, thinking I shouldn't just accept the first option I saw. However, as I explored other places, I just loved Castlebrook! The people here are more energized, the space itself is brighter and inviting, and when it came time to make a decision, choosing Castlebrook was a no-brainer. It had everything I was looking for to continue my growth. Lauren: You say that Castlebrook has what you’re looking for, what are you excited about while delving into this field? Niamh: I prioritized supervision and support when considering any job offer. No matter my confidence, knowing that I have a team to back me up with ideas and questions is invaluable compared to everything else that comes with a job. Interestingly, I had my own personal experiences with DBT four or five years ago, and I loved it. When I applied to Castlebrook and saw their focus on DBT, I was super fascinated and interested in becoming a clinician who incorporates DBT principles. While I have a lot of personal, niche area goals that I want to learn about, DBT is among them, and this team is packed with DBT gurus. Lauren: I love hearing about niche areas. What are some of those other pieces that you’ll be bringing to the table? Niamh: When I started in the field, I pigeonholed myself into working with certain diagnoses and age groups. However, when I found myself in an internship working with adults dealing with occurring disorders, I discovered that I had a lot of excitement and confidence about the recovery process, the ins and outs of relapse and recovery, and what that signifies in therapy. My ultimate goal is actually to offer art and animal-assisted therapy. No matter how deeply I’m struggling or what I’m going through, art and animals have always been my anchor down to the ground. I want to be able to bring that to people. The idea of art therapy to me, while there are many ways to interpret it, is that if someone is uncomfortable just sitting and having a conversation, using their hands to create art can actually promote deeper thinking. Personally, I was always more focused in school when I was doodling or keeping my hands busy. For many, traditional talk therapy can be really scary, so having something in between the talking can ease a lot of anxiety for people. Lauren: Absolutely, how else do you create these safe spaces for your clients? Niamh: Starting with the physical aspects, it can be challenging as a therapist to enter a space that doesn’t feel like yours with a client who is also nervous because that energy feeds off of each other. So, I brought in throw blankets, a sign that reads “you can do hard things,” and other personal touches to add to my office. I also plan to bring plants in (I worked at a garden center for 12 years). In terms of verbally creating a space, I’ve grappled with defining my style, but I’ve come to recognize that my style is very relational and conversational. I meet the person where they’re at. With my experience in community mental health, hotlines, and peer support, it gave me a lot of tools to immediately hold space for a person. I think I can be really authentic when I’m with a client, and that’s how I’m going to grow that space into the one I want to create the most. By consistently showing up as myself, a relational therapist, and as someone who is new and always learning, I will keep that space really sacred and open. Lauren: I’d love to hear more about the hotline work and some of your other background. Niamh: I actually started my undergraduate schooling in animal science before finding my way back to psychology. During my undergrad years, I worked at an art studio where I analyzed the work of an artist who struggled with severe mental illness and tried to understand what was being said through her art. I also practiced art therapy with adults with developmental disabilities. I was also able to bring my emotional support animal, helping clients focus by playing with my dog if they were feeling stuck. These experiences emphasized that everyone has unique needs, perspectives, and interpretations of the world. When I entered my master’s program, I was providing peer support through phone, in-person, and Zoom group sessions, sometimes handling up to six groups per day. It was a lot to manage people struggling while you were also cooped up in your house. That taught me a lot of patience and understanding. If people are still coming back and calling, there is something that they’re getting out of it. It taught me that my interpretation of progress might be different to how a client sees progress within themselves. A lot of this work was in crisis management and crisis stabilization, so I think my next step is focusing on deeper work and I see a lot of value in that. Lauren: Outside of work, what are your interests? How do you make sure you’re showing up as your best self? Niamh: Art has always been a big part of that. I’ve been an artist my whole life. My mom tells stories about me drawing before I could walk. I think the process of creating has always brought me comfort. I actually ended up taking my art, something that gives me a lot of support and solace, and started raising money with it for suicide prevention. Art can be very scary sometimes, especially a blank canvas. Being okay with creating and not worrying about the end result, the idea of progress not perfection, process not product, really helped me. I also love to sing, I am a very mediocre ukulele player to supplement my singing, and animals. I love animals. If I could adopt every animal I see outside, I would. Lauren: Is there anything else that you'd want a potential client to know? Niamh: Based on my previous professional experiences, I've had the most exposure to anxiety and depression, but my real jam is emotional regulation and emotional processing. Emotions are really hard and scary a lot of the time, especially because we’re told from a young age that certain emotions are “bad” and that we should only be happy. Everything is very black and white when you’re learning the basics of emotions, and then when you get to adulthood, everything is gray. My favorite thing is becoming friends with the “bad” emotions because emotions aren’t facts, they’re just directions on a road map. Just because you’re feeling mad, it doesn’t mean you’re an angry person. It only means something going on within or around you is not sitting well with your goals or authentic self. Giving room to pause and really sit with those difficult emotions is my favorite thing to do. Anyone willing to explore emotions is already doing half of the work. ****** At the time of this blog post, Niamh is accepting new clients. She is a pre-licensed clinician working under the supervision of Dr. Valarie Clemente-Crain here at Castlebrook. Please fill out the intake form to be contacted. |
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Castlebrook Counseling Services, Inc. is a group of private practice clinicians with a shared goal of strengthening our community by providing therapy and clinical support designed for children, adults, and families to successfully meet life’s challenges.