Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lauren Hunter. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Lauren thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
Growing up, our mother Kate Hunter told my siblings and I that we could do anything we dreamed of. Her unwavering optimism and faith in our innate capabilities turned out to be infectious—we believed we could too.
Growing up, I watched my peers question if opportunities were right for them, or if they should bet on themselves and take the risk. I now recognize the healthy sense of self esteem/efficacy I enjoyed was a product of watching my mother- live this belief through her actions each and every day. She single-handedly saved us from doubt. As an adult and mother myself now. I recognize the love and gift this is.
My mom leads by example: earning national awards for exemplary innovations in education, chairing countless boards on diversity, equity inclusion, anti racism task forces, has countless newspaper articles and write ups focusing on her expertise on civics in the classroom… she’s organized hundreds of charity projects and volunteers constantly for her community. We can’t go to the supermarket or out to eat without at least three students/ parents running up to her smiling. Unsurprisingly, she is beloved. My mom modeled for us balance as well. Enjoying meaningful time with friends and family and in nature. She took her love for nature to new heights by working with National Geographic on wild and exciting projects. Her thirst for life and kindness and goodness inspired me to take risks in my own life and explore.
When it came time for me to consider how I wanted to spend my days and choose a career, social work felt natural. While researching programs, Columbia University’s esteemed program came up over and over in the research. Without my mother’s encouragement. I never would have applied thinking there would be no way I would get in.
Thank goodness for Kate.
Without my mother’s confidence in me, I never would have opened my own therapy practice to help as many people as I could.
Thank goodness for Kate.
Without my mother’s values that became my values, I would have struggled to make meaning from past grief. Now, I know I deserve a seat at the table, have much to offer and inspire others to find their innate power and goodness through therapeutic interventions.
Lauren, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m a Licensed Psychotherapist helping women in New York process and heal from their traumatic birth experiences. I have a specialization in complicated grief from Columbia University and earned my Perintal Mental Health certification (PMH-C ) from Postpartum Support International.
I write articles for PSI, guest lecture at NYU, am a media contributor for Thrive Global, and enjoy being interviewed both in print and as a podcast guests and have a successful therapy practice, North Star Wellness & Therapy PC.
I am passionate about creating relatable content on my business IG account to destigmatize postpartum mental health and the unique struggles of NICU moms. Be sure to follow @sessionswithlauren for more on grief, loss and all things birth trauma.
If you or someone you know deserves support in processing and healing please do not hesitate to reach out to the practice:
https://www.northstarpsychotherapy.com/contact
For speaking engagements or media contribution request:
[email protected]
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
For me, there is no deeper compliment as a therapist, than when clients refer a loved one, friend or neighbor. To know the trust built and the clinical experience was so cherished and helpful that they would send their people my way, is an honor I do not take lightly.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Without sharing too many details, when my own father broke my heart into pieces and I had no idea what life was going to look like next- I wish I knew at the time that it was in that pain that the meaning would grow.
I want people to know that not only are you so much more than what happens to you- but you’ll find a way with the love and support from your tribe to be more successful and ultimately happier because of the very experience that broke you at the time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.northstarpsychotherapy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sessionswithlauren?igsh=c3k5aXYza3BkcGE3&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-hunter-lcsw-pmh-c%F0%9F%A7%A0-375784106
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/lauren-hunter-port-jefferson-ny/776993
Image Credits
@drphotobiz