We were lucky to catch up with Bethany Morgan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Bethany, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

In the field of mental health, there’s a saying that goes, “If you ever wonder what a mental health professional struggles with, look at what they specialize in.” And I, too, am not an exception to this rule, as I specialize in complex trauma – a topic that I have personally struggled with.

When I first started my career in this field, I had my own share of challenges. I had been going to counseling on and off since I was 19 years old, trying to figure out what was wrong with me so that I could fix it. However, I always seemed to hit a wall or reach a stalling point in therapy, despite gaining important skills and tools from my therapists. I felt like I could only go so far in therapy.

But then, about five years ago, everything changed. I was participating in a training about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) during my student counseling internship. It was during this training that I had a defining moment – I finally acknowledged that I had trauma. Until that point, I had believed that I had just been through some tough experiences, and that my anxiety was my own fault. However, by the end of the 6-week training, I came to the realization that I had experienced trauma, particularly complex trauma. I also realized that the reason previous therapists could only help me to a certain extent was that they were not properly trained to treat trauma, especially complex trauma. Additionally, I lacked the self-awareness and education to understand that I was dealing with trauma.

This realization was a turning point for me. It empowered me to seek out a therapist who specialized in treating complex trauma so that I could begin my own healing journey and, in turn, help others heal from their trauma. Today, I no longer meet the criteria for PTSD, but I am still a therapist who sees a therapist.

This personal journey has been immensely valuable for my work as a therapist. It has helped me improve my daily functioning, prevented me from experiencing burnout, and allowed me to keep my unresolved personal issues out of my clients’ therapy sessions. I am committed to continually growing both personally and professionally because I genuinely believe that personal growth is at the core of becoming a great therapist.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

During my time as a case manager for unaccompanied children at the Mexico border under the Office of Refugee and Resettlement, I realized that my natural inclination to connect with and help these kids heal from their trauma didn’t align with the role of a case manager. This realization led me to pursue a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Houston – Clear Lake in Galveston, TX.

About a year and a half ago, I had a conversation with my best friend Heather, who is a trauma therapist specializing in children and parent work, about the lack of counseling resources for post-crisis clients. While crisis centers and child advocacy centers provide care, there are limitations on the number of sessions clients can receive, which may not be sufficient for those with dissociative disorders and complex trauma. Additionally, connecting clients, especially Spanish-speaking clients, with trauma-informed counselors for continued healing was challenging.

Motivated by this gap in services, Heather and I embarked on establishing Counseling Nook for Trauma and Dissociation, LLC in the Tyler, TX area. We recognized the need for LGBTQIA+ affirming counseling and the lack of therapists equipped to work with individuals with dissociative identity disorder, a population we both enjoy working with due to its complexity.

At Counseling Nook for Trauma and Dissociation, we provide quality trauma-informed counseling to individuals of all ages, genders, and identities. As a fluent Spanish speaker, I am able to serve the Latin community, expanding access to our services. Our therapeutic modalities include EMDR, ego states work or IFS, trauma-focused CBT, and creative approaches.

While we offer in-person services in Tyler, TX, we also provide virtual therapy to clients across Texas. Our experience includes working with survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse, incest, bullying, emotional neglect, religious abuse, systemic abuse, generational trauma, military trauma, and medical trauma, among others.

What I am most proud of in my counseling work is my clients. They demonstrate incredible courage and resilience by showing up for themselves in both their therapy sessions and their lives. I am honored to be invited into their healing journey and view our work as a partnership, with clients setting their own goals for counseling while I bring my training and expertise to support them. Heather and I strive to create a cozy, trauma-informed space where clients can heal from the impacts of the worst things that have happened to them.

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

I focused on cultivating confidence and authenticity, striving to be my true self. In my interactions within the community, I actively foster friendships and build networks with fellow therapists, mental health-related business owners, and nonprofits. This entails being mindful of my own boundaries and limitations, while also discerning what knowledge and support I can generously offer to the community. I actively engage in volunteer work at the local crisis center, serve on advisory committees for multiple nonprofits, and participate in community events aimed at promoting mental health and trauma awareness.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Thirteen years ago, in a bustling university dorm, I met Heather – a fellow student with big dreams. Back then, I was pursuing a degree in education, aspiring to become an elementary school teacher, while Heather was studying psychology with the goal of obtaining a master’s degree in HR. However, as fate would have it, our paths took unexpected turns.

As I delved deeper into my career exploration, I realized that education wasn’t my true calling. I found myself drawn toward helping professions like Applied Behavioral Therapy and occupational therapy, so I made the bold decision to switch my major to psychology. It was during this time that Heather and I grew closer, bonding over our shared passion for psychology. After graduating from university, I got married and moved to Galveston, TX, while Heather returned to her hometown of Tyler, TX.

In Galveston, I worked as a case manager for unaccompanied children detained at the Mexico border, under the Office of Refugee and Resettlement. My role was to identify and connect these vulnerable kids with safe people within the USA as refugees. However, I soon realized that my natural inclination to connect with these children and help them heal from their trauma didn’t align with the responsibilities of a case manager. This realization led me to explore further and pursue a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Houston – Clear Lake. I then secured an internship at a local crisis center in Conroe, TX, where I discovered my passion for working with teens, young adults, and adults who have experienced trauma.

Meanwhile, Heather also realized her calling to be a therapist and secured an internship at a local Child Advocacy Center, honing her skills in working with children, adolescents, and parents.

Eventually, I made the decision to move closer to Tyler, TX to be closer to my dear friend, Heather. It was during one of our heartfelt conversations that we both realized there was a lack of counseling resources for post-crisis clients. While crisis centers and child advocacy centers provided invaluable care, there were limitations on the number of sessions clients could receive. Clients with dissociative disorders and complex trauma needed more than the standard 16-20 sessions. Additionally, connecting these clients, especially Spanish-speaking clients, with trauma-informed counselors for their ongoing healing journey was challenging.

That’s when Heather Sudduth and I embarked on a journey to establish Counseling Nook for Trauma and Dissolution, LLC. We recognized the need for our specialized skills in the Tyler, TX area, with a focus on LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy. Furthermore, we realized that there were limited therapists equipped and open to working with individuals who have dissociative identity disorder, a population that I am particularly passionate about due to its complexity.

Heather and I make a dynamic duo, complementing each other’s strengths. I bring creativity and a free-spirited approach, while Heather grounds us with her practicality and sociability. I love dreaming up big ideas, and Heather helps me flesh out the details. We share the same goals and appreciate each other’s uniqueness, which makes our partnership truly special.

Contact Info:

• Website: counselingntd.com
• Instagram: @counselingntd
• Facebook: @counselingntd
• Youtube: @counselingnookfortraumadis2645

Image Credits
Image credits belong to Counseling Nook for Trauma and Dissociation, LLC