We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sydney Weed a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Sydney thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I know it sounds like the classic “biggest-risk” story, but the boldest move I’ve ever made—personally and professionally—was walking away from my corporate gig as lead counselor in a residential substance-use facility and betting on myself by launching my own private practice.

I loved guiding those clients, but the burnout was next-level. After an hour-long commute home, I had zero energy left for my husband or my two little girls. When my second daughter was born, the lightbulb finally flicked on: something had to change.

Flash back ten years to baby-counselor me, a single mom hustling through every undesirable shift just to prove myself. That grind meant missing far too many milestones with my first kiddo. This time around, I had the freedom (and the motivation) to say, “Nope—my mental health and my family come first.”

With a whole cheer squad behind me—husband, family, friends, and colleagues—I built Fill Your Cup Counseling. I spent months crafting a brand that reflects what I’d been missing: filling my own cup so I can pour into others. Eventually, every spare moment outside of my day job was booked with my own clients. Cue the leap of faith: I quit, trusting I could do this full-time.

Since going all-in on my private practice in October 2024, my cup has never been fuller. No more missed school programs; I handle the daily drop-off and pick-ups, sneak in spontaneous lunches with my husband, and soak up unlimited puppy cuddles. Betting on myself—as terrifying as it was—let me become a better version of me, and that’s who shows up for my clients every single day. Because my family deserves my best, and so do my clients.

Sydney, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Woooo, this is a fun one! I get this question a lot—especially since one of my main focuses is working with people navigating substance use disorders: “Have you always wanted to do what you do?” And honestly, the answer is a big, resounding yes.

Since high school, I knew I wanted to be a counselor—specifically working with substance use. Every research paper, every elective I could choose, somehow circled back to this field. I was (and still am) completely fascinated by why some people struggle with addiction while others seem to be able to stop whenever they want. So when it came time to choose a college major… well, that’s where things took a short detour.

My mom—love her dearly—encouraged me toward a more “realistic” career, like radiology. So I tried it. For all of about 0.5 seconds. The moment I sat down in Biology for Science Majors, I thought, “Yeah… absolutely not.” I switched back to where I knew my heart had been all along.

Over the past 10-ish years, I’ve worked across the continuum of care—residential treatment, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization—to grow into a counselor who meets people exactly where they are. Today, I run a fully virtual practice, offering individual counseling to folks all across Texas (yep, the entire state!).

Substance use disorders will always be a huge passion of mine, but I also have a soft spot for teens. Funny enough, those two groups are often seen as the most “difficult” to work with—but for me, they spark something special. That said, my client caseload isn’t limited to those populations. I also work with people experiencing anxiety, depression, major life transitions, self-esteem issues, and the classic existential “what am I doing with my life?” questions.

If you ask my clients what it’s like to work with me, they’ll probably say I’m a little crazy—but in the best way. I laugh, I cry, I celebrate with them. I’m not afraid to crack a joke or let my hair down (literally—messy bun is a frequent flyer around here). The way I see it: if I’m helping you connect with your truest, most authentic self, then you deserve to see the real me, too.

I think that authenticity is what keeps clients coming back week after week. What you see is what you get: oversized t-shirts, dog cameos, and all. And with that trust, we’re able to do some really powerful work together.

If there’s one thing I want readers to take away, it’s this: I may not be the right counselor for everyone—and that’s okay! If I’m not your person, I will absolutely help you find someone who is. But for those who do choose to work with me? Just know, I’m going to ask a lot of you. I’ll hold you accountable. I’ll call you out (with love). I’ll challenge the way you think, and gently nudge you out of your comfort zone, one step at a time. Because real growth doesn’t happen when we stay comfortable or keep doing the same old thing. Even the tiniest step forward gets you closer to where you want to be. As I always tell my clients: we’re all about progress, not perfection.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

During undergrad (a B.S. in Rehabilitation Studies) and both of my master’s programs (Addictions and Clinical Mental Health Counseling), professors drilled the same mantra into us: never show emotion. Keep your face neutral. Have zero opinions. In other words—be a counseling robot. Get real! Who wants to spill their soul to someone who seems barely human?

I genuinely gave it a whirl because if every professor preaches it, there must be a reason, right? Wrong. My clients and I could feel the wall between us, and rapport was nowhere to be found. That blank-slate routine just wasn’t me. I’m a people person—I feel the weight of what you’re sharing and want you to know you’re not alone.

So I set about unlearning the “no-expression” rule, and it was the most natural, impactful pivot I’ve ever made. The moment I let my humanity show, clients connected, felt heard, and flourished. And trust me: if my mouth doesn’t say it, my face absolutely will. Research consistently shows that the strongest predictor of positive therapy outcomes is the quality of the therapeutic relationship—and by showing up as my real, emotionally-present self, I’m able to foster the kind of trust and connection that truly supports healing.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

If I could go back and choose all over again, I’d 100% still choose counseling—without a doubt. Don’t get me wrong, this work isn’t all rainbows and warm fuzzies. It can be really emotionally heavy. There are days where the heartbreak is real—clients relapsing, losing people to addiction, watching someone struggle when you know their potential. It can feel like carrying the weight of the world on your heart some weeks.

But here’s the thing: I truly believe there are very few, if any, professions that are as deeply fulfilling as this one. Being trusted to walk alongside someone during their darkest, most vulnerable moments—and then getting to witness even the tiniest spark of hope start to grow? That’s powerful. Seeing someone reclaim their life, reconnect with their kids, or take pride in a win they never thought they’d have… there’s just nothing like it.

So yeah, it’s hard. It can be gut-wrenching. But it’s also beautiful and life-giving in a way that makes every tough day worth it. I really do believe I was made for this work, and even on the hardest days, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fillyourcupcounseling.org
• Instagram: @fillyourcup_counseling
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fillyourcupcounseling

Image Credits

Capri Gaston Photography