We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kristi Godwin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kristi below.

Kristi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Is there a lesson you learned in school that’s stuck with you and has meaningfully impacted your journey?

In graduate school we were asked what was the one therapeutic issue, the one situation, that we could imagine presenting in the therapy room, that we would not be able to empathize with or understand. The one thing we felt we could not be therapeutic with. Right after we made that choice, my issue, my “other,” presented itself in my therapy room. This was not by design, but it is what happened nonetheless. The most important lesson I learned in graduate school was to always lean forward. What I mean by this is, when you encounter things that make you want to step back or pull away, instead take the position of curiosity and lean into it. Lean forward and ask questions, seeking to understand rather than to other or judge. While I felt nausea and resistance rise up in me, I forced my body to lean forward and to ask questions. I worked to understand how a person could get to that place, how they could justify actions I felt were unjustifiable. By the end of our work together, I got there. I came to empathize to a degree, and to understand a great deal. I no longer felt a physical response and was able to sit with them in a therapeutic way. This was not easy but because it was so extreme, it taught me that no matter the issue, no matter how hard it is to understand, there is always a reason behind it. Every person has a reason for their actions, we only have to ask to find out what it is. I learned then that no one has to be an “other,” we are all human regardless of our differences.

This lesson has taken me far in life and in my career. This is very pertinent in our current climate, where we other people with different opinions in anger. Instead of being angry at the individual with different political views, different religious beliefs, or different lifestyle choices, why not ask questions around why the belief or live the way they do. You just might learn something!

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 decided I wanted to become a therapist when I found myself, at age 12, counseling both the adults and children around me. I realized that my life experiences had shaped me to have a natural gift for it, and that I enjoyed the process. I also enjoy writing and creating art very much, as my mother and grandmother were both artists who had me painting before I started school. Art was always a big part of our lives–whether it was painting pottery, sketching, or painting on canvas, we were always creating something. Throughout my career as a therapist, I have found ways to weave creativity into my work. We depict our emotions in paint, we sculpt our traumas in clay, we write our stories on paper. These are very healing activities, and I provide a safe space for them. Clients come to me to learn how to regulate their emotions, to learn how to cope with overwhelming stress and trauma, and to process through difficult life experiences. Art can be so instrumental in every part of that process. I have created journals that clients (and others) can use to work on their healing from home, and I have created downloadable worksheets, workbooks, and books, as well. I want healing to be accessible to all and not to be limited to a therapy room. Healing and personal growth should be integrated into every facet of our lives, and it should be as messy and as beautiful as we want/need it to be. Throw the paint on the canvas and let it drip. Burn the paper you wrote your pain on and watch it vanish. Sculpt your emotion and let your hands get messy. The more visual, the more tactile it is, the deeper the result can be. I’m not afraid to get messy with my clients, and I think that is the thing I am most proud of. I walk the process with them, so they never have to do it alone. This helps them have the courage and the strength to move through places that have remained unlit and untouched for decades. I am honored to play a small part in the journeys I encounter.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I have had to pivot many times. I did not choose this profession because my life was full of rainbows, I can tell you. I have had to weather many storms. But one particular time that comes to mind is when I was working as a community-based therapist, a job I enjoyed for over a decade. I would see my clients in their settings, in their homes or schools, for example. One night in particular I was doing a home visit and a family member of the client entered the home inebriated and erratic and brandished a weapon toward me. I had to rethink my career in every way at that point. I realized that what I was doing was dangerous to an extent, and I decided that I wanted to continue doing therapy, but that I needed to do it in a safer, more controlled way. I did a 180 turn and went from doing outpatient, community-based work to working on a locked unit surrounded by trained mental-health techs in an inpatient unit. I went from very relaxed, stand-alone, to highly regulated and protected. It was what I needed at that time. I have since moved back into outpatient work and am working in private practice, but now I always work in an office setting and no longer in the community.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Although I no longer manage anyone, there was a time when I was a Director in a large Behavioral Health Hospital. I believe there are several important aspects to managing well and maintaining high morale. First of all, management sets the tone and mood of the whole organization. Things trickle down…including attitudes, moods, beliefs, and actions. A good manager will work hard to maintain a calm demeanor and positive attitude about the work and any changes that come about. There are things a manager can do to foster a team mentality and also keep spirits high. Some examples of this are open communication, daily encouragement (can be in the form of text or email if needed), group activities that involve fellowship and fun (not just business), and implementing reward and recognition systems. Managers should have an open-door policy, as well, so that employees are not afraid to let them know about issues that come up or struggles they are having. They need to stay connected to their team and monitor the pulse of every work area. Any issues that come up should be addressed directly and quickly. I would also recommend leading with questions rather than jumping to conclusions or making assumptions when an employee appears to decline in productivity or other areas. Show compassion and concern rather than anger. I believe these suggestions would go a long way to foster a strong, connected, and happy team.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kristigodwin.com
• Instagram: @betheauthorofyourlifebook
• Facebook: Kristi Godwin, LMFT at https://www.facebook.com/share/1EiJWhLFkA/
• Linkedin: Kristi B. Godwin, LMFT
• Twitter: @kbrynt
• Youtube: @KristiGodwinLMFT