We recently connected with Lydia Sparling and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Lydia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Is there a heartwarming story from your career that you look back on?
One of the most rewarding aspects of my career is witnessing the difference a supportive adult can make in the lives of children and teens. I love getting to see my students’ and clients’ attain positive growth in a multitude of areas from handling anxiety and life stressors to learning how to navigate social relationships in a positive way. There have been numerous heartwarming stories that I have come across in my work with children and adolescents.
As I was deciding on a particular story to share, a variety of success stories from different clients and students over the years kept coming to mind. Each success or meaningful moment looked a little different. Whether it was a pre-teen finding resilience from a background of trauma, a child being able to reflect upon choosing better choices in the future, a teenager learning how to manage the stressors of academics and extracurricular activities, a high school student figuring out their career path, a middle school student learning how to set healthy boundaries in social relationships, or a client achieving their therapy goal and graduating from therapy. Each heartwarming story is unique just like how our backgrounds and experiences are unique. Consequently, each supportive relationship I build with one of my students or clients is distinctive and special to me.
I absolutely love what I do and am grateful for the opportunity to support children and teens in a counseling capacity. I would love to support the struggling child or teen in your life become their best self and overcome the difficulties and stressors life can bring.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hello! My name is Lydia Sparling. I am a musical loving, avid coffee drinking, cat mom of one. I have dedicated over a decade to working with children and teens, and I am deeply passionate about making a positive impact on the youth in the Saint Louis area. When not supporting students at school or counseling children and teens in a clinical setting, I enjoy spending time with family and my partner, binging Netflix with Hercules, and cheering on the Blues and Chiefs.
What sets me a part is my background in education and my passion for mental health and resilience in children and teens. I believe I am a life-long learner and will soon begin the final year of obtaining my Educational Specialist degree in Mental Health in Schools from the University of Missouri. With this degree, I am looking forward to implementing new ideas and interventions to support students and clients. I have also become passionate about educating professionals of the meaning and importance of mental health, as well as how to successfully implement positive interventions in day-to-day activities.
It’s ironic how my career interests have really come full circle, yet were connected the entire time. While in high school (Eureka, if you’re a Saint Louis native and waiting to ask), I was debating between pursuing a bachelor’s degree in music education or a path of psychology. I confidently chose a career in music because I desired to inspire students like my high school choir director inspired me (shout out to Donna B.!). I also couldn’t imagine a life without music and singing; my parents claim I was singing before I could talk. I enjoyed refining my art during undergrad at Murray State University and soon began creating a positive impact in the lives of my middle school students through the power of music for five years across the Saint Louis area. After debating between pursuing a master’s in music or counseling, I ultimately chose to attain my master’s in School Counseling with Clinical Mental Counseling from Missouri Baptist University and am so glad that I did! As a choir teacher, one of my favorite aspects of the job was the relationships I built with my students. I loved getting to know them and helping them through the stressors that would take place from week to week. As a counselor, the relationship we have with our students and clients is at the core of what we do. I love making a positive difference in the lives of children and teens!
As a clinical therapist, I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Person-Centered Therapy, Narrative Techniques, as well as play-based and art-based therapy in my work with children and adolescents. I work with clients as young as age 5 all the way up through 18. However, I am interested in expanding my practice into including college-aged students as well. I specialize in anxiety, but also support children and adolescents in the areas of self-esteem, stress reduction, depression, social and family relationships, emotional regulation, career exploration, social skills, anger management, and grit. I help youth challenge their negative thought patterns while validating their emotions and experiences.
Building trust and creating a safe, welcoming environment is at the heart of what I do. I love connecting with young people and helping them navigate the challenges they face. It’s important to me that my clients feel truly heard and know that I genuinely care about their experiences. Knowing that someone cares – especially for a struggling child or teen – can make all the difference! Having spent much of my life in school myself, I can empathize with how overwhelming the experience can sometimes feel. It would be an honor to connect with the young person in your life, offering support, encouragement, and a guiding light in their life as they navigate their journey. Together, we can create a lasting, positive impact that empowers them to thrive. I look forward to partnering with you to help your child or adolescent become their best self!
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Besides training and knowledge, I think it is most helpful to remember your “why”, but to also ask why. In the world of education and being a helping professional, it is important to remember the reasons why you went into the career that you did. Some days are long and exhausting. As therapists and educators, we sometimes can carry the burdens of our clients and students. It is heartbreaking to hear some of the experiences that individuals have endured at such a young age. However, when we remember why we went into a caring profession and how we are the light in that individual’s life, it can feel empowering. I also think it is imperative to ask why. When a child or teenager is dysregulated or lashing out with words or actions, it is crucial to ask why instead of become dysregulated ourselves. Every behavior is a form of communication. When we look at a child who is experiencing an outburst in that light, we are better able to help them regulate and communicate what they are needing and experiencing.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
Absolutely! I truly feel called to the counseling profession. When I originally pivoted away from my role of being a choir teacher, I was nervous that I would feel lost; like I let myself or my peers down. I was anxious that I would miss participating in music every day. At times I miss leading a choir, however, I have been a vocal music director of a local community theater organization for the past 6 years which has helped me to remain connected to the music world. I am also looking forward to joining a choir once I complete my next degree, so I can continue regularly singing again. Through my career pivot, I learned that many of the reasons why I loved teaching choir are why I love being a therapist and school counselor: the joy, the shared moments of humor, the rewarding nature of helping others, as well as knowing that I make a positive impact in the lives of children and teens every day. I am grateful for the path that has led me to where I am now. I will note for entertainment sake that If I wasn’t a teacher, school counselor, or therapist, I would be a forensic psychologist as I love a good crime documentary; The show Lie to Me from the late 2000’s is what sparked my interest in psychology in the first place!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://westcountybehavioral.com/lydia-sparling-ma-plpc-ncc/
- Other: My email: [email protected]
