We recently connected with Rachelle Robinson and have shared our conversation below.

Rachelle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

Let’s put it this way, I was not the best student growing up. To have my doctorate is pretty amazing given some of the stunts I pulled in high school. I once changed a F to a B in Math on my report card and totally got busted by my brother. My parents were SO mad and disappointed but it
led me to see reality if I didn’t start caring more about the future.

One thing is for sure, my parents cared about education and always supported me during the ups and downs and shifts made on the road to becoming a Psychologist. The one thing we all want, a child or adolescent wants from their parents is to be listened to. My mom listened A lOT. There were a lot of tears and also triumphs. One important lesson they taught me was to keep advocating for myself. If I wanted something, wanted to work with someone in the field, I should go after it. It’s not going to be handed to me. I wanted to train with this particular therapist in Brief Strategic Therapy and after being told no, I asked if he’d consider me paying him as a consultant. This was my parent’s advice. It worked, and changed the trajectory of my career and helped shape my philosophy in working with people.

I later trained in Strategic Therapy in Italy and it was a major growth experience. I met some truly inspiring people. A huge part of those amazing moments are due to the support of my parents. To this day, my dad still answers my phone calls in his Persian accent saying, “Dr. Rachelle!” They are proud.

Rachelle, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi, I’m Dr. Rachelle!
I am a licensed Clinical Psychologist with a doctoral degree in Marital & Family Therapy from Alliant International University. I also hold a Master’s degree in Social Work from St. Louis University. I built my professional practice with the single-minded goal of providing every client who walks through my door the tools, strategies, and skills they need to overcome their anxieties and live life to the fullest. My approach to therapy is designed to provide people with specific strategies that they can use in moments of uncertainty and discomfort. I wish I had these tools when I was just getting started in the field.

I didn’t know right away that I wanted to become a therapist. I always connected with kids, was the person you talked to and listened, and was pretty good at figuring out how to get what I wanted – where is the solution and what is the best way to communicate it to get what I want? I met a Child Psychologist as a teen growing up in Oklahoma and she was just so kind and real. She was the one who opened up the possibility of me studying Psychology. I learned the power of connection from her and how skill building moved you forward. Different professors in my Master’s program pushed me to go after a doctorate and focus my attention on Systemic Therapy and working with families – creating change within the system even if it’s just one small change. The power of this idea led to my interest in Strategic Therapy. Over time, working with major figures in the field of Strategic Therapy and my training in Clinical Hypnosis led me to specializing in anxiety and eating disorders.

Here is where I’ve landed in my philosophical approach:
Brief Strategic Cognitive Therapy—the problem solving and solutions-driven approach to therapy that I prefer—doesn’t stop at helping people understand WHY they are feeling WHAT they are feeling. Instead, this approach to therapy helps people figure out HOW to best respond to the situation—especially in the moments when they are most vulnerable to negative thoughts and unwanted emotions.

With all the amazing research on brain science and the knowledge that we can lay down new tracks in our brain by the actions we take has made me the most proud about the work I do. My work is rooted in the small and manageable steps that helps clients get closer to the positive changes they want to see in their life—to the hopeful and happy outcome they want and deserve.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The biggest lesson I had to unlearn (twice) was not trusting my instincts with supervisors or managers in power. Whether it was really wanting a certain job or training, or working with someone in a different country with double standards, I have learned that none of it is worth it if it means sacrificing self-worth or mental health.

I have worked with a few people in the field who had their own mental health issues and it was a struggle as a younger therapist to know how to navigate it, maintain a voice, and also continue to thrive. I just know now, especially after working with mentors who are healthy and have solid boundaries how important it is to surround yourself with the best people. If I assess someone is untrustworthy then I don’t need anymore information to move on.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

An effective strategy is working with seasoned colleagues in the field and understanding their philosophy. The best referrals and usually my favorite clients come from colleagues who refer to me because they know my work and approach with clients. Often, those clients refer their friends and family, too.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rachellerobinson.com