We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Whitney Bradley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Whitney, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I am a military brat. My mother retired from the army after 20 years, but during her career, we moved around a lot. Majority of my family stayed in our hometown of Newport News/Hampton Virginia but relocated a few times. I noticed in adulthood, many of my family members never left home. The accomplishments I’ve made in my career (s) and the goals and dreams I continue to pursue; I don’t think I would be where I am if I stayed home. My mom, in her actions, pushed me to step outside of what’s comfortable and even normal for someone in my predicament. My mom doesn’t let fear stop her from doing anything. She continues to be an example in my life of going after what it is that you want and being okay if it doesn’t work out. Not living near my family can be hard sometimes but it’s in this uncomfortableness that I continue to find myself and grow into the woman I want to be.

Whitney, 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 am Whitney Bradley, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist – Associate. I’m the owner of, Whitney B. Therapy, PLLC, which is a private practice that provides individual, couples, and family therapy. I help individuals improve the relationship they have with themselves. I help them accept who they are, heal from their past, and grow from a healed and whole place. I also love working with couples. I support them building a secure connection between each other, and help them to get the tools, trust and resources to deal with anything that comes their way.

I started out in this field because I hated to see people hurt. Now, I get to help people not be fearful of their strong and varied emotions. One of the main things I want people to know is that therapy is a safe place. It’s an emotional safe place where you get to bring all parts of you to session. You don’t have to mask, isolate, or repress your emotions to not overwhelm someone else. You get to be, “not okay” in sessions and get the support and help you need to heal at your own pace.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

I think what’s most helpful in succeeding in the mental health field is an individual doing their own work. All of us have internal issues that we must work on. We have hurts, traumas, and wounds that’s important to process through and heal from. If they’re not addressed, I believe they can be a hindrance to the work you do in the field.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

Yes, but I would have obtained a Bachelor of Science in nursing for undergrad and double majored in theatre. My BS was in psychology, which does not prepare you for anything specific. It took me nearly a year to find my first job after I graduated, and I needed a job because student loan payments kicked in. I’m grateful for the path I chose because I met people along the way that are still important people in my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://whitneybtherapy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitneybtherapy/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-bradley-1648144b/

Image Credits
Faith F.