We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Lori Lundin-Fish a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Dr. Lori thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My parents are a huge inspiration. My parents, along with my grandparents and siblings, immigrated from Odessa, Ukraine in 1979. Their journey was long and hard; they lived in Italy for quite some time before establishing their life in Queens, New York. I often reflect back on what they must have gone through leaving behind everything they have known to start completely anew-with no home of their own, no knowledge of the culture or language, no support system. Their dream, their determination, and their grit have instilled an important work ethic in me and my sister.

As a child, my sister took care of me often and so I looked up to her very much. I remember her pursuing her doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy; I had been so inspired by the knowledge she had shared with me in my youth and was encouraged to follow a similar path.

As the first in my family to be born in the US, I do not want to take for granted their sacrifices and am truly humbled for the life they have given me. I believe their stories of strength and perseverance have also impacted my own lens and perspective of life. In my sessions with my clients I often apply a solution-oriented lens where I emphasize and reflect on the struggles they too have overcome-helping them to identify important coping skills which they may already possess.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Dr. Lori Lundin-Fish. I moved to Florida from Queens, NY approximately 16 years ago to pursue my dreams of obtaining a psychology degree and later a master’s and doctorate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Nova Southeastern University. I made the decision to take a risk, and open a private practice soon after obtaining my license to practice therapy. It has been an amazing and rewarding journey thus far.

Palm Beach Therapy Center is a family-owned and operated business. There are currently four therapists who work closely in helping clients reach their goals and desired outcomes. Our therapists have advanced training in treating various issues and have experience in working with individuals, couples, and families in Florida, as well as other states, such as New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Georgia, and Missouri. I am also a Florida Board Qualified Supervisor in the state of Florida, which allows me the ability to work with other therapists who are working towards obtaining licensure.

Our practice provides clients with the highest quality of private care and creates customized treatment plans based upon client needs and therapeutic desires. Palm Beach Therapy Center prides itself on creating an accepting, open-minded, and nurturing atmosphere for all clients to explore their emotions and lived experiences in a calming and safe space. In our practice, we recognize that even in times of struggle or exhaustion, moments of perseverance and strength may also exist.

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

I believe authenticity and true care has helped build our reputation within the community. I often encourage people to be genuine and true in all that they do; therefor I apply the same principles in the work that I do and in each of my sessions. When I work with clients, I am mindful and respectful of their unique process and their clinical goals. Each individual and each relationship is very different. Simply put, there is no one size fits all. When I work with my clients I offer a lens of empathy and compassion, while also exploring changes which may need to take place in order for them to obtain their goals. Each treatment plan is unique and very different-based on the clinical goals and needs of each client.

In my perspective, the therapeutic connection is one of the most important elements of success in therapy. I remain mindful, present, and truly value every single therapeutic discussion I am a part of. I appreciate vulnerability and believe that people can only feel vulnerable if they feel safe in their environment. Because of my heightened sense of awareness, clients have stated that they feel very “comfortable”, “supported” and “motivated” throughout their journey. I believe this encourages them to identify helpful skills and to invite the changes that they seek. In addition to this, my advanced level of training has provided me with the tools necessary to obtain positive results when working through many different challenges-such as anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions, perinatal/postpartum issues, relationship/marital issues, and more.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

There are many times where creating and building a private practice can seem hard. However, I am aware that anything worthwhile requires some level of risk and hardship. No matter the negative self-talk, insecurities, fears, and/or doubts which sometimes may appear, it is important to maintain focus on our goals and our intentions. As a full-time working parent, there are many times where life feels overwhelming and may resemble a very delicate balancing act. However, practicing gratitude daily and maintaining mindfulness has helped me in tremendous ways.

In managing any hardship or struggle, it is important to normalize our experiences and validate the emotions that may come up. When people feel overwhelmed or exhausted, we can sometimes become our own worst critics, however, in raising our awareness and recognizing these patterns we may then reorient our focus and utilize this information (information gathered from any struggle) as an opportunity to practice building strength and resilience. Overcoming doubts and fears has been a personal struggle for me in the past, and has directly contributed to the development of a healthier and more positive mindset. I recognize these thoughts as they occur, honor them, and reflect back on the lessons I have learned through my own experiences as well as the stories of resilience shared by my family.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.palmbeachtherapycenter.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/palmbeachtherapycenter
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palmbeachtherapycenterllc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorilundin
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/pbtherapycenter