We were lucky to catch up with Katherine Scott recently and have shared our conversation below.
Katherine, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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?
Risks require a certain amount of whimsy. Whether it be pursuing a career that exists without firm parameters, or chasing the title of ‘author’ to accompany your identity, we have to be able to lean into our wildest dreams to a certain extent. One of those risky dreams for me was to become a published author. However, due to the limits that exist within our society, that dream got shoved into the ‘kicks and giggles’ category of my mind. Writing a book took a sacred space of whimsy that the world just didn’t allot enough time or security for. Yet, the Universe has a sense of humor. A handful of years ago, I lost an incredible soul in the shape of a horse. The loss was sudden and the grief was fierce. I was overtaken by waves of hollowed emptiness from her void. The only way for me to begin to tickle the leftovers of my humanness was through writing. Somehow, writing was able to unlock parts of myself that I swore were buried with her. One day, a cherished colleague and friend shared a heartwarming tale about her therapy dog and friendships she had cultivated with two neighbor dogs who had faced adversity within their lifetimes. I think that was the first time since my horse, Sadie, had died that I had felt the warm sensation of a smile brush across my soul, and I joked that the story could be a children’s book. My colleague gleefully triple dog-dared me to write it. The challenge was surprisingly refreshing, and within that afternoon I had completed the entire manuscript. “There!” I playfully retorted some time later. Whimsy had jump-started my grieving heart, and that whimsy was the fire that lit the path to taking the risk of submitting it to various publishers. To my delighted surprise, a few publishers took interest. The ‘kicks and giggles’ dream that enveloped a vulnerable risk of throwing my writing into the world created my most prized accomplishment, The ‘Tail’ of a Trio. Sometimes the greatest risks create the most vibrant moments.
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
The perplexities of the human mind have always been a source of curiosity. Growing up as an only child surrounded by a monotony of adults and different dynamics, I found myself a consistent observer of people’s patterns. I was raised by fierce nurturers, so I knew I wanted to do something that made a helpful impact. I jumped into college at UF with the dream of becoming a Physical Therapist, however the utter disaster that was Chemistry 1 dissolved that dream. Coincidentally, I had taken a developmental psychology course the same semester of the disaster, and as corny as it may seem, it was life-changing. From that moment I leapt into the major of Psychology, and a minor in Family, Youth, and Community Sciences, despite opinions that the degree would not lead anywhere. I soaked up the knowledge from those classes with too much gumption, and accidently graduated a year early, With no clue where this psychology degree could lead me, I took on a role as a Language Therapy Technician at a location coined ‘The Morris Center’. Here I helped those with dyslexia and learning difficulties learn to read and write, while also having delightful exposure to many different realms including Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Psychologists, and Neuropsychologists. This year granted me the gift of learning that I loved being a part of people’s journeys toward healing. Another leap geared me toward earning my Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Florida. Through some twists and turns, I joyfully found my landing place at a Private Practice lovingly known as Puzzle Peace Counseling in Jacksonville, FL. Here, I am the lead Marriage and Family Therapist and assistant clinical director. Our niche is offering mental health support to folks with Neurodiversity and their families. I am also a Level 1 Gottman Methods Couples certified therapist, and author of a social-emotional children’s book, The ‘Tail’ of a Trio.
Healing is an incredible phenomenon which is remarkably complex. I believe we as people are made up by the mind, the body, and the soul. Sometimes, experiences in our lives can affect one, two, or even all three of these means of vitality. Luckily, I also believe we can find healing and growth from these. Experiences are ways we can reconnect our mind, body, and soul while helping ourselves become ‘unstuck’.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Recognize the human behind the ‘mask’. Many times, people approach therapy nestled behind a ‘mask’ that has aided in their survival and functioning up until this point. People can present with many renditions of masks. Some arrive to therapy defensive and closed off. Others nervously chatter about anything but what’s really troubling them. The most common ‘mask’ is hyper-focusing on the part of the problem that feels the ‘safest’, but is not the root of the dysfunction, because focusing on that would be far too overwhelming. I work with clients of all ages, however my niche tends to be children and young adults with Neurodiversity. The humans behind these masks are typically bruised and banged up from society relentlessly trying to force them to fit within boxes. By the time they walk through my doors, they are very untrusting to any therapeutic process. However, what I’ve discovered is the magic of meeting someone exactly where they are at. Boxes are thrown out once someone enters my therapy room, and I will physically position myself so I am at the client’s level. I pause the pressures of treatment planning and goal setting, and simply align with my client. In order to achieve genuine, authentic healing requires a vulnerable part of ourselves to be present. The first step in accessing that space is the ability to lower our ‘masks’ and let our humanness peer out.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
My authenticity. I have a unique way of approaching healing within the therapy room. While I remain aligned to my theoretical orientation, I do not pressure my therapeutic approaches to fit within one line of intervention. Instead, I prioritize the needs and language of the client or family system. Every person and subsystem exists within a unique perspective and narrative. I mindfully take time to immerse myself within the inner workings of one’s inner dialogue to appropriately treatment plan. I also recognize that the client knows themselves best. I identify my role as the passenger seat rider, giving the client (the main driver) different perspectives or navigations to exercise to see if one feels better. Through this approach, empowerment blossoms as people of all ages explore granting themselves permission to hear their own voice without the distractions of the outside world. It’s pretty miraculous to witness. I am humbled by each journey I am able to be a part of.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.katthecounselor.com/
- Instagram: @katthecounselor
- Facebook: The ‘Tail’ of a Trio
Image Credits
Photo credit: Matt Moore