We were lucky to catch up with Kasey Barret recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kasey , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I think to be successful you have to get really comfortable with failure. Failing is often part of the process of success. How can you know what will work and won’t work until you’ve tried it? Failing gives us useful information about the way we are operating in the world. When I’ve tried something and it doesn’t work out I like to think of it as a positive; I’ve just gained some really valuable information!

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

I am a psychotherapist, Karuna Reiki Master and yoga teacher. I always knew that my purpose in life was to help others. I believe that the best way we can help others it to create as much peace and compassion as we can for ourselves and as a result that radiates out. As a young child I found myself tuned in to the needs of the least fortunate. I would make non-perishable bag lunches for homeless people and keep them in my mom’s car in case we saw someone in need while we were out. I’ve always found showing compassion to others to be deeply rewarding. I think that my mind/body/spirit approach helps me to guide others to enhanced states of wellness on multiple levels. .

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I started out in my therapy career it was in the prison system. I completed a 2 year internship within the prison and was hired soon after graduating with my MSW. My intention was always to work within that system for 20 years; “20 and out” with a full pension and retirement benefits. Due to my own health concerns, family obligations and the unrealistic scheduling demands of upper management I had to choose what was most important to me: my health and family or keeping my prison career. I chose my health and my family and decided to leave the prison system, I quickly found a job with a large national organization that values employee wellness, work-life balance and was patient centered. I really enjoyed my work there and found great meaning in working with the nursing home residents. Unfortunately I was only able to stay for 2 years after having to take multiple medical leaves of absence for surgeries and then having to stay home with my young children when the pandemic hit. During the pandemic I was able to think deeply about the best way to use my gifts in helping others. There came a time I realized that in order to get the real meaningful work done and also have that work-life balance I needed to open my own practice. I started my practice virtually in March 2022 and when more and more people contacted me about in-person appointments I took a chance and reached out to a fellow small business owner in town to see if I could sublet her office space one day a week. The one day a week turned into two and then the demand became so high for my services that turned into me renting an office space of my own. So here I am, one year later I have my own thriving private practice and it feels right.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source of new clients for me has been through Psychology Today and through an organization I partner with to provide billing and marketing services called Alma. I also receive word of mouth referrals.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @barret_wellness
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/reikibykasey