Today we’d like to introduce you to Torie Wiksell

Hi Torie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

Absolutely! I began my journey in therapy in 2013 as a grad student, and it’s incredible to reflect on more than a decade of experience now. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work in diverse settings, including hospitals, community mental health programs, and schools. In 2018, I took a significant step and opened my therapy private practice.

A substantial part of my clinical background involves working with clients in crisis, including those dealing with severe depression, psychosis, and personality disorders. However, in recent years, I’ve honed my focus to specialize in helping adult children of parents with borderline and narcissistic personality disorders.

I noticed a significant gap in the availability of therapists who truly understand the complex layers of these family dynamics. As someone who grew up with a parent with unmanaged borderline personality disorder, I am deeply passionate about helping others navigate these intricate and often challenging relationships.

Earlier this year, I expanded my services by launching Confident Boundaries, LLC, a coaching company that supports adults globally who are struggling with a parent with BPD or NPD. Additionally, I’m thrilled to share the launch of my podcast, “You’re Not Crazy: A Podcast for the Adult Children of Parents with Borderline and Narcissistic Personality Disorders.” This platform allows me to reach and support even more people dealing with these complicated family dynamics.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

My journey has been anything but smooth, filled with challenges and learning experiences. I’ve been fortunate to train under and work alongside many talented and passionate therapists, whose support has been invaluable in shaping my career.

Starting my private practice was a significant milestone, and I owe much of that to my husband, who encouraged me to take the leap. As the first business owner in my family, I initially didn’t believe owning my own business was possible. His push to believe in myself was crucial, and now I proudly own two successful businesses, allowing me to wake up every day and help others in a meaningful way.

Reflecting on my career, I can divide my struggles into two phases: before and after opening my private practice.

Before opening my practice, I was working towards licensure. The requirements meant working for other licensed therapists, often in toxic environments where therapists were overworked and underpaid—barely earning above minimum wage despite having substantial student loans. This was a soul-crushing period, and it took a toll on my mental health.

Opening my private practice marked a turning point. It allowed me to create a work environment tailored to my strengths, focusing on what I do best—helping clients. However, this new phase brought its own set of challenges. I had to learn how to run a business, navigate non-salesy marketing strategies (a journey in itself), and balance offering low-fee therapy while charging enough to support myself and my family.

Throughout it all, my passion for this field and my belief in the importance of my work, along with the encouragement from my inner circle, have kept me going. Now, I specialize in working with the adult children of parents with borderline and narcissistic personality disorders. Additionally, I launched Confident Boundaries, LLC, providing coaching services globally, and my podcast, “You’re Not Crazy,” to reach and support even more people dealing with these complex family dynamics.

We’ve been impressed with Torie Wiksell Therapy and Confident Boundaries, LLC, 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?

In my private practice, Torie Wiksell Therapy, I provide online therapy to adults in Washington, Oregon, and California. My specialization lies in working with the adult children of parents with borderline and narcissistic personality disorders, as well as clients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). These specializations are deeply personal to me. I grew up with a parent with unmanaged borderline personality disorder, and I also personally struggle with OCD.

OCD is a particularly complex disorder to diagnose and treat. I didn’t receive a correct diagnosis until several years into my career, despite having symptoms since childhood. Unfortunately, this is a common experience, with many people going 17 years from the onset of symptoms to receiving a correct diagnosis. OCD is incredibly challenging, but it is also highly treatable with the right approach. The two research-backed treatments are anti-depressant medications (at a higher dose specific to OCD) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy. Accurate diagnosis is crucial, as other forms of therapy can actually worsen OCD symptoms.

Prior to receiving a diagnosis of OCD, I just concerned myself someone with an extremely anxious personality. But, the reality was, I was constantly managing obsessive thoughts and spending hours a day attending to mental compulsions and physical rituals to reduce my anxiety. OCD is an extremely debilitating, life-interfering, and shameful disorder as the obsessions in OCD attach to the things we care most about. Because the obsessions in OCD are so scary and shameful, people don’t talk about them, which makes OCD even harder to treat.

Given the challenges in obtaining accurate treatment for OCD, I expanded my practice a few years ago to include OCD treatment. Now, about a third of my caseload consists of clients with OCD. And, I decided to start talking about my OCD publicly to help people understand how OCD actually looks instead of how it is portrayed in the media. OCD is incredibly treatable, and I want other people who are struggling with it that they are not alone and life can get so much better.

In early 2024, I founded Confident Boundaries, LLC, my coaching company designed to help adults dealing with a parent with borderline or narcissistic personality disorder. Through Confident Boundaries, I work globally to assist adults in understanding these complicated relationships and learning how to set effective boundaries or safely go no-contact. Additionally, I recently launched my podcast, “You’re Not Crazy: A Podcast for the Adult Children of Parents with Borderline and Narcissistic Personality Disorders,” where I share tips, guidance, and validation for those on this healing journey.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?

I have to give immense credit to one of my best friends, Michelle Johnson. She owns STAK Marketing, a woman-founded, owned, and led company that specializes in helping small businesses enhance their organic (non-paid) marketing. Michelle is incredibly inspiring, knowledgeable, and one of the hardest-working people I know. Her impressive marketing background has been invaluable to the growth of both of my businesses.

In a landscape crowded with self-proclaimed marketing “experts,” Michelle stands out with her genuine expertise and honesty about what can be achieved and what it takes to get there. She has been one of my biggest cheerleaders over the years, and her support has been crucial.

I also want to give a shoutout to Laura Brown at STAK Marketing. Laura and I work closely together on improving the organic SEO for both of my companies, and she is incredible! I wish my brain worked like hers, but since it doesn’t, I’m so grateful to have her on my team. She’s brilliant and the most knowledgeable person I’ve ever spoken with regarding SEO.

Their combined efforts have significantly contributed to the success of my private practice, Torie Wiksell Therapy, and my coaching company, Confident Boundaries, LLC. With their expertise, I can focus on what I do best—helping my clients—while they ensure my businesses reach and support as many people as possible.

Pricing:

• Online Therapy: $225 per 45-minute session
• Online Coaching: $275 per 60-minute session (packages available)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.confidentboundaries.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/toriewiksell
• Other: https://www.toriewikselltherapy.com