We recently connected with Brittany Schroeder and have shared our conversation below.
Brittany, 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.
August 3, 2022 I opened my doors and began seeing Clients in my private clinical psychotherapy practice. I was awash with emotion when I opened my door that day, I BURST into tears of JOY and only moments later, tears of sadness. For the fist time in my life, everything I had survived, endured, learned, triumphed, and failed finally made sense. I had ARRIVED! I saw my dreams right before my eyes and I could not believe it. Daily, I find myself in shock and awe that I have arrived and I am here living out my dreams and values in this capacity, what a gift. What made me instantly sad, following my tears of joy, was the realization that some of us go to our deaths not ever exploring, experiencing, or feeling this feeling and sense of knowing.
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.
I am a military brat as both of my parents served active duty in the United States Army. I too am a United States Air Force veteran and I served as an intelligence analyst. I signed up for the military at age 17 when I graduated high school to pursue my dream of being the first in my family to graduate college. I have always dreamed of attending college after seeing the Vanderbilt University campus in fifth grade. I did not know what that campus was or what people did there but I knew I needed to be part of what ever was going on behind those doors. So, I enlisted in the United States Air Force and I completed 1 tour of service honorably. As soon as I discharged from the military in 2007, I was excepted into Angelo State University’s undergraduate program.
Additionally, I feel I should make mention about my childhood. My middle sister and I were born in Germany while my parents were serving on active duty. When I was 5 years of age, my parents my sister and I moved to Nashville Tennessee where I lived until my 16th birthday. When I turned 16, my father was granted custody of me and my middle sister and we moved and lived and graduated to Melbourne Florida. Not at all related to either parents military service, I attended 15 different schools from kindergarten until my senior year of high school. Countless elementary schools. 3 middle schools. 3 high schools. I am happy to report my mother is in recovery and has been sober for approximately 20 years and we have an amazing relationship. I have always had a fondness for people and further stories. I love very easily although not reckless also unconditionally. It was through my unconditional love and understanding of the human experience that I was able to heal from certain painful aspects of my childhood and develop healthy relationships with my parents. Both parents are happily remarried and my father and his wife produced a third daughter my baby sister who just turned 18 and graduated from high school along with her associates degree.
I knew from the age of 16 that I wanted to study psychology. With this, I declared psychology my major and began studying my course work as an undergraduate. I began to study premed and prepare my application for medical school where I hoped to study and become an emergency room physician. I completed my bachelor of science at Angelo State University with a major in psychology and a minor in biology in 2012, magna cum laude.
During my undergraduate degree, I served as a work study with the veterans affairs assisting other brother and sisters and arms and their application for veteran benefits. Following my undergraduate graduation, I got very cold feet and decided not to pursue med school and to work in the field for a bit. My first job out of undergrad was with a nonprofit through the Texas A&M Extension where I provided adults with education and local community based resources on how to eat healthfully and make their snap and WIC assistance last through the month. I thoroughly enjoyed my work in nonprofit and thus continued on a course of service from my community in a nonprofit capacity. I served at our local hospital in our Ryan White HIV and AIDS clinic. I taught undergraduate intro psychology courses to Angelo State University undergraduates, I have worked in engineering capacity in the oil and gas industry. I served for a local community mental health nonprofit in crisis response which was a 24 seven 365-day operation which served to provide payment resources for individuals of a variety of ages who met criteria for inpatient psychiatric stabilization and who could not pay.
Following this significant nonprofit exploration, I realized I now knew what I would go to graduate school for. A staff member of mine had attended the Angelo State University counseling psychology masters program and encouraged me to apply. I began the counseling psychology masters program at ASU in 2018. I graduated in May 2020 and the height of COVID quarantine and did not get to walk at my graduation and instead completed a zoom call in my robe and pajamas. I was unanimously selected and awarded the Angelo State University graduate student of the year award. That same year I was awarded the social work field instructor of the year award related to my field teaching role when I served in mental health crisis and help to graduate 5 social workers from the Angelo State University social work program. While at ASU, I served as a student senator of psychology and chair of the finances and budget committee, completed molecular biological research under world-renowned bat researcher Dr. Lauren Ammerman, member of tri beta biological honor Society as well as Psi Chi the International psychology honors program, served as a court appointed special advocate for children represented in the CPS system, served as a math tutor for at risk youth, served as a foster parent and multiple times a foster for local nonprofit animal rescue groups etc.
In short, I realized very early on in my community service, as we are a large referral area in desperate need of local mental health providers, that I was needed. For the very first time in my life, I jumped both feet in and never looked back once. Historically, self-admittedly I am a bit of an over analyzer and logistics person. There was something about exploring and opening my own private practice that felt like it had to be done and it felt right. At the time, I was the first in my family to ever graduate from college, graduate school, or start a business. I am the first in this regard. I am the eldest of 3 daughters.
On June 17, 2022 I left corporate America and began Kindred counseling services. I provide in person and telehealth psychotherapy services to anyone aged 5 and beyond. I also offer individual, couples, marriage, family, Poly, and sex therapy. My theoretical orientation is based in existential psychotherapy. Existentialism is not solely the lens in which I view the therapeutic relationship it is also the lens in which I view the world and every living being who occupies it.
My bio from Psychology Today:
“As a therapist, my purpose is to meet you where you are in your journey of self discovery and healing. My approach to our therapeutic relationship is based on genuine mutual connection and is individually tailored to the unique needs of each Client(s). I do not see Clients as broken or a set of pathologies. Going to therapy is the most radically sane thing you can do-for you! Fundamentally, we are each connected by this unique shared human experience. Your ideal therapist is one you genuinely connect with and who provides a safe, unbiased, non-judgmental, and compassionate space for you to explore life’s many curiosities.
As therapists, we must earn the right to receive your story. Trust, rapport, and connection take time and we understand this. In sharing our story, we gain strength in perspective, insight, and compassion for ourselves and others. I will provide you with perspective, insight, and empathetic guidance.
You will learn who you are and how your life experiences have shaped your thoughts, emotions, and worldview. We will collaborate, practice, and adopt healthy adaptive coping strategies that will last you a lifetime. If you are struggling to find meaning, I will gladly walk alongside you and help you unveil a path to wellness and whole-hearted living.”
My website bio:
“Welcome Fellow Travelers
Brittany L. Schroeder, M.S., LPC, enjoys building relationships with her Clients. She is able to connect with Clients from diverse backgrounds by being empathetic, genuine, and authentic in each of her encounters. Brittany is well versed in tackling a variety of mental health concerns. She has an innate ability to see the Client from a global perspective and she uses this skillfully in her work with Clients. Brittany works with children, adolescents, adults, elders, and couples. She enjoys working with Clients with depression, anxiety, phase of life concerns, employment and professional concerns, and struggles of self-acceptance. If you are struggling to find meaning in your life, Brittany will walk alongside you and help you discover how to live authentically, and unveil a path to wellness and whole-hearted living.
Many therapists adopt a theoretical orientation – which provides the therapist with a conceptual framework for understanding a Client’s needs and for formulating a rationale for specific interventions. Brittany’s theoretical orientation is based in Existential Psychotherapy. However, she is trained in CBT, trauma work, Farm Response, and a variety of other treatment approaches. An Existential approach takes a philosophical and intellectual approach to therapy and sees humans as having the capacity for self-awareness, experiencing tension between freedom and responsibility, creating an identity and establishing meaningful relationships, searching for the meaning, purpose and values of life, accepting anxiety as a condition of living, and being aware of death and non-being.
Brittany began serving the Concho Valley in 2007. She is a United States Air Force Veteran and was stationed in San Angelo in 2005 for her training as an Intelligence Analyst. While in San Angelo for her training, Brittany fell in love with San Angelo, its university, and her people. Brittany attended Angelo State University for both her masters and her bachelor degrees in Psychology and Counseling Psychology, respectively.
During her time in the Concho Valley, Brittany has served in the following areas: United States Veteran Administration, Mental Health Crisis, HIV/AIDS Ryan White Clinic, Children’s Advocacy Center-CASA, local animal rescue and fostering, ASU Counseling Center, NAMI, and a variety of other local volunteer activities to include Rust Street Ministries. After graduating from the ASU Counseling Psychology Program, Brittany recognized the need for local mental health practitioners and felt called to act. Thus, Brittany made the decision to begin her own private psychotherapy practice.
In her spare time, Brittany enjoys her family, including her partner of 16 years and five rescue pups, music, dreaded cardio/weight training, thrift shopping, enriching her friendships, and enjoying life’s simple pleasures.”
More information about my perspective and a solid source for extra bits of info is on my FB and IG professional profiles. I am trying to figure out the algorithm to reach more Texans, I am finding I have les and less free time as I am a one woman show and I do EVERYTHING!
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
HEALING!
Healers Be Healed! Every good clinician has a solid care team – PCP, OB/GYN, Dentist, Optometrist, Psychotherapist, Spiritual Support, and mentorship. Maintain your health care team. Do not have 1? Go find one! Ask around word of mouth is powerful. You are your own best advocate and you know your body and mind and spirit better than anyone else and do not allow any other clinician to tell you about yourself something that you know is untrue.
As helpers, we must first acknowledge and develop an awareness and understanding that we are no good to anyone if we do not firstly take care of and attend to ourselves. Take care of you first! Self-care is not selfish. Self prioritization is self-love. Self-love is self compassion. Self compassion lends itself to genuine empathy and connection with others. We cannot pour from an empty cup. Self-care does not cost anything. Self-care can look like getting up from your goddamn desk and stretching and taking a drink of water a deep breath and circling the block for 5 minutes. GET UP AND MOVE!
Schedule something every single day that you look forward to. Bookend your week with something you look forward to and something to keep me motivated and hopeful for i.e. have something on Sunday/Monday you look forward to as well as Friday and Saturday. Stop hating Monday. Call Monday happy mundane Monday. Call your Friday fuck off Friday and make a plan to do so in whatever capacity it looks like for you. Tell Sunday that Monday is going to be awesome. No more Sunday scaries or Sunday so-sads because Monday is mellow and mediocre as hell.
Schedule something every day, every week, every month every 6 months every year and every 5 years to keep you motivated to keep you hopeful to keep you well to keep you sharp and to keep you rested.
Find a mentor and do not be afraid to ask them to be your mentor! I have had the honor and privilege to have had and to have lost 2 incredible mentors in my lifetime. Find someone who you know can be objective with you, provide constructive feedback that will be well received, and who knows your heart your dreams and your spirit.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Showing up! First and foremost, showing up. I show up as myself. I show up as my most genuine, authentic, and transparent self to the best of my ability each occasion. Do the work on yourself as it relates to living in good faith and not simply being a passive onlooker in life but rather an active participant. Do not put very much stake into how other people perceive you. What other people think of you is none of your damn business! So long as you are showing up as your most authentic and genuine self, being intentional with your words, avoiding cruelty at all cost, and not coming from an intensely emotionally laden place, than you have done your part. Any attempt to control the narrative that goes on in between other people’s ears is an exercise in futility. We can only control ourselves and our emotions. When we show up as us, our people will find us. We cannot control what other people think about us and we can absolutely work on how we are received by others i.e. how we show up and occupy space and how we make others feel when we are around. If you are rejected, see your rejection as redirection to where you are positive light and energy is being welcomed and reciprocated. I chose San Angelo Texas purposely because I knew I did not know anyone here and I wanted a fresh start and I wanted to establish roots and make a name for myself. All I had to do… Was show up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kindredcounselorcv.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kindredcounselingservicespllc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KindredCounselingServicesSanAngelo
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/brittany-l-schroeder-san-angelo-tx/1011352
Image Credits
Yellow Chair Headshot – Credit: Pro Bono Head Shot by Haley Goodwiler All other photos were taken by myself