We recently connected with Krystal Gurule and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Krystal, thanks for joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

I grew up in a family that deeply valued education, even though my parents never had the opportunity to finish high school, let alone attend college. They always emphasized the importance of learning and pushed me to pursue higher education because they wanted a different life for me—one with more stability and opportunity than they had.

Becoming a first-generation college graduate was an incredible honor. My parents taught me to work hard, stay strong, and never give up on my dreams. For generations, my family—of mestizo descent, with Spanish and Native American roots—had to prioritize survival and work over education. Access to learning wasn’t a privilege they had. I carry immense gratitude for the chance to pursue what they couldn’t. It’s a privilege I don’t take for granted.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

This isn’t my first career, but helping others has always been at the heart of everything I do—it’s just looked different over the years. As a child, I dreamed of becoming a pediatrician, but when I realized how long that path would take, I decided to pursue nursing instead. Life, however, had other plans, and I had to step away from nursing school.

From there, my journey took several turns. I earned a dental assisting certificate, followed by an associate degree in paralegal studies. Years later, I went back to school and completed a bachelor’s degree in human services with a concentration in trauma, and most recently, a master’s degree in clinical behavioral health with an emphasis in addiction counseling.

Becoming a therapist feels like my true calling—like I’m finally where I’m meant to be. Having faced my own adversities and gone through my own therapy and trauma recovery, I wanted to offer others the same compassion and guidance that helped me heal. With a long family history of substance use, I also felt drawn to support those struggling with addiction, using both my lived experience and professional training.

Now that I’ve completed my master’s program, I’ve opened my own private practice specializing in trauma and substance use. I’m currently completing EMDR training and continue to pursue advanced trauma education to provide the highest level of care for my clients. Lifelong learning is deeply important to me.

Although I didn’t take a traditional college path, I believe my life experience and diverse career background give me a unique perspective as a therapist. I lead with compassion, empathy, and authenticity, following the philosophy of the late Carl Rogers—offering unconditional positive regard and a safe, supportive space for every client I meet.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Networking and cultivating genuine relationships with other therapists has been essential for building a steady stream of client referrals. I’ve also found that investing time in creating thoughtful, well-rounded profiles across various therapist directories has significantly expanded my reach and connection with potential clients.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

I first met my supervisor and now business partner, Joni, while I was completing my bachelor’s degree. At the time, I was part of a scholarship program, and my peer leader introduced us knowing I was eager to learn more about trauma. Joni had been my peer leader’s professor during her master’s program in social work, and our introduction turned out to be pivotal for me. I credit Joni with helping ignite my passion for trauma treatment—she was the first person to introduce me to the transformative work of Dr. Gabor Maté. Later, when I entered graduate school, Joni became my mentor once again through another scholarship program. As fate would have it, she was also seeking to supervise pre-licensed therapists interested in developing their own private practices. She has now supported me through my undergraduate and graduate studies, and continues to guide me on my path toward becoming a licensed clinician in private practice.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lotus-within-counseling.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystal-gurulé