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

Alicia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

When I decided to relocate back to my home state, it was a big drive across the country, with two kitties who were not familiar with / trained for long trips. Driving through the middle of the country can be dangerous, scary, and uncertain with weather patterns in the winter, large trucks passing through the largest highway spans I’d driven through, all with two sensitive lady felines! Needless to say, I was nervous about many things involving this trip. One of my friends who is very well traveled and had driven that route with a cat before, offered to drive with me. Once on the other side, I was convinced he was my guardian angel. I would have had a very hard time maintaining the stamina to drive all that way alone, over the course of many days, while taking care of two wrecked animals. His gift to me, one of the mosts generous things anyone has ever done for me, will always stand out in my mind.

Alicia, 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 a licensed counselor and offer a variety of high intensity services, including trauma work, somatic counseling (highly sought these days now that the nervous system buzz has gotten out), couples work, discernment counseling (for couples on the brink of separation, different than couples therapy), Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, anxiety focused work, high performers & executives and their relationships. I also carry a specialty in women’s health work. I am very proud of the unique mix of trainings I have completed in my career and hope to keep adding to my repertoire.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

The field of mental healthcare is like any other, but with a lot of nuances and fine tuned needs. Professionalism, high caliber client care, boundary management, agreements, communication and high caliber relationship skills are required to succeed as a mental health professional. My opinion is that the relationship is what makes the results of therapy go far, and there is research to prove this stance. There are incredible treatments and modalities out there, but the gold standard in the therapy world says the therapeutic relationship is what allows for deep change to occur. Having the capacity to truly attach and form a bond with another human is a vital and priceless skill for a therapist to offer.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

Absolutely. After working in human services since a young age, as I enter mid-life I am more committed to my work than ever. I truly believe in the power, value, and beauty of human service work and being able to work in a career that allows for connection, creativity, humanity, and truth is one of the best gifts I have received in my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alicianpatterson.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliciapattersonthx/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-patterson-742b459/

Image Credits

Jessica Christie