Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Catie Herst . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Catie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We love heartwarming stories – do you have a heartwarming story from your career to share?

I believe it to be very important as a therapist to (at least once in a while!) take your own clinical advice. One activity I often suggest for my clients is the creation of a ‘Feel Good File’, a place to store moments, compliments, accomplishments, & heartfelt treasures that simply make you feel good. A place where no matter how you’re feeling that day, by opening up the drawer, box or folder, you know a smile will grow across your face. A reminder that even on the hardest of days, there have been special, rewarding moments & there will be more to come.

As a therapist, the ‘Feel Good File’ can be extremely helpful on days when client’s are struggling, feedback is minimal, progress is halted or the inevitable, imposter syndrome creeps in. I’ve been fortunate in my career to have many experiences to put in my ‘Feel Good File’. One particular moment that will forever live in my file involved a client I had been working with for some time. She was approximately 10 years old & had already been through far more than any 10-year-old should endure. I sent her off one day with some homework to make a life timeline , complete with positive & negative influential life events and experiences. She was asked to try to narrow down to ten total events (both positive & negative) & to bring it back with her for the next session.

When she arrived for her next session, homework in hand, she was eager to share her life story. Amidst a series of important events (some known to me at the time & some new), she wrote “first talk with Catie” as a positive influential life event. She went on to explain how much our first meeting meant to her & how it has shaped & influenced her life for the better. She also shared that she now wants to be a child therapist when she grows up to help make children feel ‘as special as she did.’ Although she may never know the impact she had, this moment was influential in my life as well. To know that my clients feel seen, heard, valued & important in my office is all I’ve ever wanted. To know that I’m making a difference in the lives of my clients is very rewarding both personally & professionally & keeps me going in this often challenging field.

My wish is for everyone (of all ages) is to begin to cultivate their own ‘Feel Good File’… and inspire others to do it too! It is never too late to reflect on & document the way people made you feel or how you made someone else feel. Add your A+ math quiz or store a special letter someone wrote you. Jot down a compliment someone gave you that made you feel special. You never know when you just might need it.

Catie, 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?

I’m Catie Herst & I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) & the founder of Monarch Family Therapy, established in 2018.

The Monarch Mission is : To provide children, adolescents, adults & families with the steps & tools needed to succeed personally & professionally through personalized treatment with compassion, sensitivity, trust & support. We meet clients where they are & tailor our treatment modalities on an individualized basis. We recently added another clinician to our practice to allow us to better serve the needs of more individuals in the community. I chose the Monarch butterfly as the symbol of my practice because like humans, it has an arduous life journey, filled with a series of ups & downs. The Monarch survives its lengthy migration through the support of its pack, or support system, much like us. After completing its steady transformation over time, from caterpillar to butterfly, the Monarch is able to achieve its goals of living a healthy, vibrant & fulfilling life and to quite literally, soar. I share a similar goal for my clients that through various stages of life, ups & downs, continuation on the journey, & surrounding support, beautiful transformations may take place.

My practice is located in Prairie Village, KS where we provide mental health therapy services for children, teens, adults & families. I enjoy working with individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, life transitions, etc. I am also trained in a treatment technique called EMDR that works with individuals who have experienced trauma.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Success in a field like this is often not as ‘quantifiable’ with statistics & figures as many other businesses. I measure our success in less traditional ways including :internal referrals, long-standing clientele & feedback about how we make our clients feel. I consider nothing as important as the rapport established between myself & my clients, allowing each individual to feel secure in our space & I take great pride in my ability to make everyone who comes into my office, feel respected & heard.

I would argue that it is nearly impossible to succeed in the mental health field without empathy, self-care & healthy boundary setting.

Empathy: something which I believe has to be somewhat innate & can’t necessary be taught… Empathy is needed in order to meet your clients’ where they are, regardless of whether or not you have experienced the same thing as them. Empathy is being able to truly listen & hear someone’s story & believing their experiences & perceptions, even when they don’t match your own. I consider empathy to be the foundation of a therapeutic relationship.

Self-care : as the flight attendants always announce “Put your oxygen mask on before helping those with whom you are traveling.” In order to be a good clinician & show up for your clients, you must also show up for yourself. Creating a healthy, reliable & consistent self-care routine is critical for your own well-being & will make you a better clinician. Part of the journey in this field is learning what self-care truly looks like to you, personally. Being mindful of how you recharge is critical.

Boundaries : come in many forms & a need exists in diverse areas in this field. I think of boundaries in terms of establishing healthy boundaries with your time, as a business owner & a clinician, ‘leaving work at work’, & of course following ethical boundaries established by your licensing board. Boundaries can take time & confidence to establish but I consider them to be crucial to success.

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

I would not! I’ve been fortunate to grow in my career & to experience a wide array of client ages, demographics, diagnoses, etc. Through these experiences I have been able to determine the clientele & presenting concerns that I prefer working with, as well as those which feel further outside of my comfort zone. I believe the only way to truly learn what you like & don’t like is to have the opportunity & exposure to work with a wide array of clients. I’m fortunate to have chosen a profession wherein I continue to learn, grow & explore .

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.monarchfamilytherapy.net/
• Instagram: @monarchfamilytherapyks