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

Aloe, appreciate you joining us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

One of my yearlong internships while studying in graduate school was to be a junior level virtual therapist at a wonderful practice in the Tampa Bay of Florida. I studied dialectical behavior therapy, a highly structured comprehensive talk therapy that includes one-on-one clinical sessions, group skills classes, and the ability for clients to speak to their provider in between appointments when necessary. DBT is highly effective for individuals that struggle with effective behavior in their lives due to intense emotionality and difficulty managing interpersonal relationships, mindfulness, distress tolerance and emotional management. Throughout my time learning from the licensed supervisors and other clinicians, a phrase I heard almost daily was “you gotta feel it to heal it.” Although I certainly use this phrase constantly with my own clients, these words remind me to label my emotions, process my feelings and do both without judgement of myself, the environment and of others.

Aloe, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

The phrase ‘bread and roses’ comes from a 1912 textile strike in which Rose Schneiderman yelled that “the worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too.” This phrase has been used for over a century by feminists and activists, meaning that we want our sustenance but we also want beauty, and we want both without compromise. Therapy is the fight for autonomy over our decisions and connection in the aftermath. The universal social work tradition is to build practice based on reciprocity, continuity of care, consent, and affirmation. Therapists build supportive networks through community-based knowledge, connection and love. We labor for access to self determination over our own identities and communities at large. We take a holistic view of the self through a social context, and work to create open and dynamic spaces and roles for ourselves and each other. This must include confronting stigma, isolation and disconnection. This is the struggle of mental health. “Yes, it is bread we fight for, but we fight for roses too.”

I am ecstatic to provide mental health support through authentic, affirming, and aware relationships that embody connection, safety, and warmth. I strive to build genuine connections with my clients by understanding their personal motivators for acceptance and change, and building trust by reinforcing their goals rather than my own agenda.

I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree from University of Missouri- St. Louis in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies and a Minor in Political Science. I then attended Maternidad La Luz Midwifery School to receive a Certificate in Midwifery. I received my Master’s in Social Work through the University of Denver. I additionally completed a Post-Master’s Certificate in Sex Therapy from the Council for Relationships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I am currently working through a Queer and Trans Internal Family Systems Level 1 training.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Word of mouth from my clients has helped me develop and maintain a strong reputation from my client base. Additionally, networking with other therapists, continuing my education in multiple modalities and maintaining membership in group supervision has offered my colleagues insight into my perspective and competency in working with clients which has also supported my practice to build trust and accountability with possible referral sources.

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

Other than trainings to build competency, the most helpful tool for succeeding in keeping a practice healthy is to specialize! Specialize in a modality, specialize in a marketing strategy, specialize in everything. The more a client can see themselves in how you present yourself, the more likely it is that they will contact you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://breadandrosestherapypa.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breadandrosestherapy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breadandrosestherapy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahrosemichelson/

Image Credits

Dove Fleetwood