We were lucky to catch up with Katrina Belmont recently and have shared our conversation below.
Katrina, appreciate you joining us today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.
I started my practice in 2019. I wanted to create a space that was authentic and welcoming. One of the biggest challenges no one prepared me for was finding and being able to afford a space to create that environment. I have been in 3 different buildings since I started. Another challenge that most therapist will agree is navigating the boring side of things; Taxes, filing, billing, notes, assessments, etc.
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
“I truly believe every person has a chance at success mentally, physically and emotionally. We all have to start somewhere.”
I was born in Boone, NC, where I later returned and completed my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Appalachian State University in 2009. I obtained a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Lenoir Rhyne University in 2013. I currently hold a LCAS (Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist) Licensure as well as LCMHC (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor) Licensure. I am also currently the President of the CVACT (Catawba Valley Association of Counselors and Therapist).
Ive worked in this field for over 15 years growing a passion for the helping profession and wanting to guide people to make a change in their lives. I specialize in helping women in transitional phases of their lives, helping the LGBTQIA+ population, helping ppl heal from religious trauma & helping people over come perfectionism.
For the past 5 years I have also began helping people achieve wellness through fitness. I am the owner of C7 Fitness studios which opened in 2022. The studio is located within the offices of Resilience Therapy where I hold a variety of classes & workshops for clients and the community. Classes such as spin, yoga, barre, Pilates, etc. and workshops on Mindfulness, healing, Food & mood & more.
I’ve been able to combine all of this into some amazing women retreats that we host multiple times a year.
I live in Hickory, NC with my husband, son, and our lovely dogs.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I have had a variety of experiences that I feel have helped contribute to my resilience. Growing up we did not have a lot of and once my parents divorced when I was 12 this put even more strain on financial stability. It put my 12 year old self in a position of having to help raise my younger brother due to how much my parents worked. Having food and financial insecurities pushed me into a place of survival mode and my resilience continued to grow while navigating these difficulties.
This is the time in which my anxiety became heightened and was hard to navigate normal day to day activities. Having to learn coping skills and manage my anxiety, mostly on my own, was another way my resilience grew. This was a lot of what also drove me to want to work in the mental health field.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I use the phrase “time to pivot” a lot in working with clients. I think life is a constant series of learning how to pivot, especially when owning a small business. I now have 6 therapist and 8 instructors that work for me as well as 1 full time director that helps me manage all the businesses I own. Every week we are finding new ways to pivot. In small business a lot of what you have to do is trial and error, especially as you try to create things that have not been done before.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.resiliencetherapy.org www.c7fit.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/resiliencetherapy?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= https://instagram.com/c7fitstudio?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/resiliencetherapywellness?mibextid=LQQJ4d https://www.facebook.com/c7fitstudio?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
furandlacephotography