We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Justin Mink a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Justin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The biggest risk I’ve ever taken is a bit of a double-edged sword: I got sober. Getting sober was risky, as I didn’t know what the future would hold for me, how my life would be different. However, not getting sober obviously presented its own massive risks. Getting sober also meant the risk of finding a new career, living in a new place, being around new people. Although risky, sobriety provided me the opportunity to follow a career path that I could be passionate about, one I never thought possible. How was I going to become a therapist when I couldn’t even help myself? Well, now that I was able to help myself, I made the decision to leave the New York City advertising industry behind and follow the path that I truly wanted to walk. Helping others has always been my greatest passion, even from a very young age. It is where I got the most gratification and also where I felt most valued. I went back to school at 32 and earned my Masters in Social Work from USC, subsequently becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, where I work as a therapist in my private practice (www.minkpsychotherapy.com). As a sober therapist, it has provided me the unique opportunity to not only help people with issues such as addiction and substance use from an educational standpoint, but also help guide clients from a first-hand perspective. At 12 years sober, I have been able to expand my private therapy practice to include work with individuals experiencing an array of issues (depression, anxiety, medical issues, relationships), as well as working with couples as a Gottman Trained Couple’s Therapist.

Justin, 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?

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I opened my private therapy practice about 6 years ago. I work to create a safe and secure environment where in each session, the world can slow down and together we can compassionately explore, understand, and transform behaviors, thoughts, and patterns that may be holding you back from ultimately living the life you want to live.

My style as a therapist is warm and challenging, direct and engaging. I know that no two clients are the same, and treat each client with a specific approach tailored to their wants and needs. You know yourself the best — I’m just here to help support and guide you through your own journey.

I work with individual clients experiencing self doubt or shame, life transitions, unhealthy coping mechanisms (substance use) or facing anxiety and depression. I help clients to rediscover themselves, identify their strengths , and get back to living a self-aware, fulfilled life.

For my couples’ work, many people have heard the name Gottman thrown around in the context of relationships and communication, but the actual Gottman Method is a very well research-based therapeutic and structured model to treat couples who are experiencing challenges in communication. The Gottman’s state that The Gottman Method model is utilized “to disarm conflicting verbal communication; increase intimacy, respect, and affection; remove barriers that create a feeling of stagnancy, and create a heightened sense of empathy and understanding within the context of the relationship.”.

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

Patience. As a fairly new father, I’ve gotten accustomed to reading (and re-reading) books to my son. So many great lessons can be learned from children’s books. One series of books stands out to me and has taught me tremendous lessons to use in both my personal and professional life. The series is “A Very Impatient Catterpillar,” by Ross Burach. The basic lesson behind each volume consists of the caterpillar/butterfly trying to change: his first attempt ends in failure, thus causing the impetus for an inner change, which brings about the outer one. This connects a lot to the work I do as a therapist. The individual inner-work must be done first in order to create long-lasting and meaningful change.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to learn that a job with a fancy title and a high salary was never going to make me happy on the inside. I worked in corporate advertising for 10 years before changing careers. I had the big paycheck, the unlimited expense account, the shoulder rubbing with celebrities. While all of those brought me moments of joy, happiness and fun, they were fleeting, momentary highs. The lesson I learned by giving all of that up, was that I would gain such a richer life; not necessarily financially but, a happier, more fulfilling and freer existence. I had to learn to follow my heart instead of my head and bank account.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.minkpsychotherapy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinminklcsw/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minkpsychotherapy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinminklcsw/