We recently connected with Julie Burke and have shared our conversation below.
Julie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?
When I think about what kind things people have done for me, I’m grateful to have access to many instances where people I know, love, and trust have been kind (which feels like an understatement…more than generous, in fact, to help me out). I think about my best friend lending me money when I was in need or another friend letting me show up just to cry or another friend driving from Houston (3 hours away) because I texted her saying “I really need a hug right now”. I have many examples and am so incredibly grateful for that.
It’s hard to say whether any of those have been the kindest things, though, or what the actual kindest thing has truly been. So, I think when I think about kind things that people have done for me, I’m honestly thinking about instances where strangers have been kind to me. I have 3 interactions to share…rather than placing value on one being the absolute kindest (or not), I want to share all of them to see what resonates with (and potentially even inspires) you.
In 2010, my cousin (who is in the Army) was deployed to Kuwait and came back to America for his 2-week r&r. Part of his time here was to attend my brother’s wedding and while at the wedding, he made a decision (admittedly, while inebriated) to fly me to his home (Massachusetts) because he said just a few days together (we’re best friends) just wasn’t enough. So, we spend the better half of a week together in Massachusetts and it’s just so much fun–a good friend of mine and the person I was dating at the time were all there together. It was pure debauchery and chaos and truly, so. much. fun. Anyway, when we were parting ways at the airport, it became painfully clear to me that this could be the last time I saw my cousin (he was going back into active combat) and (to be frank), I was sad and scared and anxious. My friend and partner at the time proceeded through security (the right choice) and my cousin and I hugged and I cried (sobbed, really). When I got to security, the tears hadn’t stopped (and probably wouldn’t for a while) and a couple (or so I assume) looked at me and literally held me in their arms. They didn’t ask me what was wrong. They didn’t tell me it was going to be okay. They just held me and let me be and let me cry (until it was our time to part ways after our TSA interactions).
Fast forward to 2015. Long story long: I was at a festival with some friends in a more remote part of Austin. For transparency sake, it was a craft beer festival, so the 4 of us decided to uber to the festival (to be responsible). The weather had been beautiful all day, the beer was great, the vibes were good. Darker clouds started to come in (fine) and we decided (collectively) that it was probably going to be a good time to mosey on out of there soon (after buying a few keepsakes) and it started sprinkling (again…fine & also validating that, maybe, it’s time to get outta there). Well, sprinkling turned into HIGH winds and torrential downpour (to the point where the wind gusts were so fast, the stage where people had been performing on was literally blown over). At this point in time, the whole festival felt like a movie scene–people started scattering EVERYWHERE and ultimately everyone there (probably hundreds of people) were crowded under tents for shelter from the rain). Given the location of the festival, getting an uber (or having people come get us) would have probably taken hours (and that’s a big ask in a big rain storm). Given there were 4 of us, we decided to split up in pairs (boy-girl/boy-girl) and try to find a ride from strangers in the parking lot to an agreed upon location (likely a gas station) so we could all get a rideshare together after the chaos of everything. Well, some VERY kind stranger (a college student from Texas State) noticed us in the parking lot knocking on people’s windows and doors asked us if we needed a ride and he happen to have 4 open spots in his car. He offered to bring us wherever we needed to go (no transactions, no ulterior motives) and literally helped bring us to safety.
Fast forward again to 2025. My partner and I were in Hong Kong visiting his sister for a little over a week. We are big karaoke fans (let me clarify: he’s a big fan of karaoke, I’m a big fan of supporting him & people watching). Anyway, we went to a karaoke bar we found (shoutout to Junels if you’re ever in HK) and we stayed later than the busses or trains run (unbeknown to us) and were in the streets of Hong Kong (probably around 1 in the morning) trying to figure out a plan. We could walk to his sisters apartment…we could see if a bus comes? Will they come? We can’t take a taxi because we don’t have cash (and don’t speak Cantonese)…but we’re trying to figure out a logical plan (while not being totally of sound mind–and also being sound mind enough to logically think through things). Anyway, a local of Hong Kong happened to be around us and asked if we needed help and then proceeded to offer us money (about the equivalent of $50 in America) and wanted to make sure we made it to our destination safely. We ultimately declined and were lucky enough to have a bus driver drive past us and offer to bring us to the bus stop we needed to go to.
For various reasons, I can confidently say these are the kindest things that people have ever done for me. These interactions have come from strangers who expected nothing in return and wanted to provide comfort, safety, and/or support (or a ride) simply because they could and there was no transaction/expectation in doing so. We live in a wildly transactional world and when you run into people who help out (and are kind) for the sake of just being kind, it’s something that really sticks with you.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor – Supervisor (LPC-S) and am the owner + therapist of Violet Crown Therapy, a private practice in Austin, Texas. I am able to provide therapy to clients (ages 12ish+) to individuals, families, and relationships. I have had a private practice for just over 5 years, have been a therapist for just shy of 10 years, and have been a supervisor for almost 2 years.
At the core of my work, I support clients with navigating authenticity and vulnerability. What sets me apart isn’t necessarily the work that I do (there are SO many great therapists), but it’s how I show up. I have done years of work with my own therapist (when I say years…I mean YEARS) with the same therapist on vulnerability and authenticity and relationships and life and a lot of really hard (and also really beautiful) things. And I think that shows up in the work with the clients…I show up honestly & authentically. Sometimes that looks like laughing with (or sometimes playfully at) clients or crying with them or feeling protective of them (and naming it). I love being a therapist and am certain this is work I was meant to do.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
Yes! 1000X over, yes.
I work with people of all ages (mostly). The youngest I’ve worked with professional is probably 7? I will be the first to admit, I realized quickly that I am not equipped to work with younger children (major shoutout to RPTs (registered play therapists) who thrive at that work and who are equipped to do that work (AND are good at it). Anyway, I am comfortable working with people 12ish (sometimes younger) and up and the oldest client I worked with was in their late 80s (and at the time, was older than my grandmother). What a cool and beautiful experience. Anyway–I say all of that because when I was in graduate school, I was ADAMANTLY opposed to working with minors (regardless of the age). That is…until my last semester of school where I took “Child & Adolescent Counseling” and realized how much work, support, and (quite frankly) love so many adolescents (and younger kids) were needing and how formative years make a huge impact on someone’s life trajectory. I mean, duh. I often wonder if I had a therapist when I was a teenager how things in my life would have changed (but that’s neither here nor there…and I promise that’s something I have worked through with my therapist). Anyway, I say all of that to share that I absolutely freaking love what I do. I love it in my bones and am so grateful to be doing what I’m doing.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
My first love, professionally, was working with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). At the delightfully young and uncertain-about-life age of 22, I started working at a government funded facility with special needs adults. At that time in my life, I had minimal interactions with people with IDD (which is slightly shameful and also unsurprising in a neurotypical society) and it was something I learned to love (and fast). I worked at this particular facility for just shy of 5 years (I cried when I left the job and also knew it was something that wasn’t right for me) and then dove deep into work with people who are autistic (so, I focused mostly on the developmental disability side of things).
In the IDD world (at least in my experience–I’m not saying this is the absolute truth and I’m not saying this happens 100% of the time) much of the support and client interactions are focused on behavioral interventions and support…which is something I was good at (and was fine with) until I wasn’t. I realized (both quickly & slowly–somehow at the same time) that while I understand and respect behaviorally-based professions, it felt like only a part of the story and I needed more (ahem, the emotional side of things) to understand and connect with clients (and outcomes of their needs).
There are easily 1000+ details of this realization I’m leaving out…and I’m doing so intentionally, The crux of this story (and realization) is knowing and trusting myself enough to know I needed to switch careers and the way I was trained to support people (which is not easy to do…and also can be scary for a variety of reasons). I still work with and support individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, which I’m proud to do and grateful for the experiences when I get to do it…I just do it in a different way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.violetcrowntherapy,com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/violetcrowntherapy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/violetcrowntherapy
Image Credits
Annie Ray Photography