We recently connected with Crystal W Guth and have shared our conversation below.

Crystal W, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s go back in time to when you were an intern or apprentice – what’s an interesting story you can share from that stage of your career?

It was my second year as a Marriage and Family Therapist Intern and I was working towards gaining clinical hours to sit for my licensing exam when I began working in the counseling office of a local community college. It was an exciting opportunity for me to be in the energy of an academic setting and work with young adults. The variety of people that sat in my office came to me with complex and challenging problems, far beyond learning to time manage for homework or classes. I frequently found myself trying to regurgitate the information I had learned in my graduate studies and lectures, I was trying to parrot my previous supervisor and his style of therapy. The problem was that people don’t stick to scripts like they do in books or examples; it didn’t feel like I was being very helpful or making any real connections. I brought my concerns to my current supervisor and asked her how I might overcome my self-doubt, her feedback in that setting has sat with me ever since.
She reminded me that my job was not become a clone of my supervisors or the research I had studied, but instead to integrate all of my education and experience into my own voice. She encouraged me to trust my knowledge and ability, and to use my mentors as guides not molds.
From that point forward I made it a point to recognize when I was trying to do therapy from a book instead of being authentic. This allowed me to self-reflect on trusting my own judgment and continue to work on areas that I was not yet comfortable as the expert. Over time my voice became more prominent in the room and made space for better connections and therapeutic work.

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 began my career as a Marriage and Family Therapist 12 years ago and have been in private practice for the past 6 years. I found my way into the mental health community after serving in the U.S. Navy for six years. During my enlistment I was exposed to a cornucopia of personalities and culture, I found myself drawn to roles where I could be helpful to others and take on more leadership. It was a wonderful experience for learning about myself and others while growing into an adult. My path lead me to psychology and an immediate passion for understanding people, specifically in the context of family and profession. I recognized then, and have continued to examine, that the two are closely related and almost always affect one another.

This is where I currently focus my work with the people I see in my practice. I help people to work through the challenges of navigating professional goals and family values, and also to understand how they are related.

My background in Family therapy and Organizational Psychology lend me a unique perspective; I am able to work with people to understand how their roles within their families also translate to their roles in their career. Often this work allows for an awareness that facilitates change in reactivity and communication, both on the home front and in the office. People learn to find their own voice and use it by practicing assertive communication skills and setting appropriate boundaries. As a result relationships have room to improve and become healthier, individuals are able to align their goals with their values and find a healthier balance to their lives.

I work hard and exert a lot of mental energy to help people grow and meet their goals for therapy. It’s important to me that people leave my office with what they came for.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

My first career was being a member of the military, an organization built on procedures and directives. There is a manual for almost every situation and circumstance, which makes perfect sense in such a setting. I was accomplished at following rules and guidelines, and achieved recognition for my ability to follow orders. The environment was black and white, which made for easy interpretation of my job and responsibilities. However, I quickly learned that the practice of therapy is much more ambiguous and relies heavily on personal judgment. When I started seeing patients I had to “unlearn” the idea that there was a “right” way to practice therapy, and that I might find the answer in a book or manual. People and their lives are complex, thus the work is always grey, with laws and ethics being the exception.
There is plenty of theory and experience to learn from in the world of psychology, but when sitting across from a patient the encounter is unique and requires a combination of education, training, and personal creativity. The achievement lies in building a relationship with another person that assists with growing to embrace and thrive in the grey.

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

Being “successful” in this field is somewhat subjective, but here are a few things that I have learned and found helpful in the past few years:

The mental health field is a rewarding profession, but it does come with its challenges. Being emotionally present for others can become taxing and sometimes difficult to keep separate from personal life. To be successful in the field, it’s been important to continue to work on my personal growth by continuing to examine personal thoughts, feelings, and patterns. I spend time reflecting on my personal history and current life. I have found that the more self-aware I become the more I am able to be present and objective with my patients. This is something I think is important for all therapists and mental health professionals. I feel that it is the obligation of a therapist to be as objective and non-judgmental as possible, and to do this it is important to keep a pulse on personal biases, beliefs, and states of being.

Additionally, mental health is constantly being influenced by the cultural climate, the economic environment, technology trends, and various other external elements; thus, there is value to staying informed and aware of what people are dealing with in their personal and professional lives. 

Being a therapist is so much more than “just listening to people”; there is a vast amount of research and tools for therapist to stay acquainted with, understanding the business dynamics of running a private practice, and staying on pace other professionals in the field. 

Networking with other health professionals provides a wealth of knowledge and resources, and in an isolating field, having other “thought partners” is critical to maintaining a professional stance.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.crystalwguththerapy.com
• Instagram: @atxwaitingroom
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/crystal-guth