Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Schad.
Hi Kelsey, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Growing up, I received several marks on my report card disclosing to my parents that I talked WAY too much. I was dubbed a ‘chatty Kathy,’ and my parents were often told that it didn’t matter who the teachers sat me next to in class because I was going to talk to anyone and everyone. You’d think that with this natural desire to communicate and engage with others that counseling would have been my first career choice. However, I grew up wanting to be an astronaut. That dream died when I went to Disney World and rode Mission Space, where I quickly learned that I get severe motion sickness. Throughout high school, the question of ‘What do you want to be when you grow up’ was thrown around a lot more often. To answer this question, I reflected on how I spent a majority of my time and where my interests as well as passions reside. I was born and raised in a sports fanatic household (Go Broncos!) and dedicated a lot of time to playing soccer. Therefore, I figured I’d thrive in a similar career. I decided to pursue Kinesiology at Houston Baptist University with focus on being an athletic trainer. I knew going into this major that I would have a couple of barriers, but what I didn’t expect was my inability to hear the heartbeat when using a stethoscope. I was told by a professor that I should probably consider a different path, which brought me back to the drawing board.
I remember being home for the summer and having conversations with my parents about other majors. I had no clue what direction to head in, but I am so thankful for my parents. They always pushed the mentality of pursuing a field that brought out curiosity and excitement rather than focusing on the monetary value associated with certain careers. The turning point for me came when I was watching ‘Criminal Minds.’ I was fascinated with the way the mind worked and how the analysts were able to utilize pieces of someone’s story in order to understand them better. I immediately changed my major to Psychology and have never looked back.
Undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate versions of me have all wanted different things and been attracted to various parts of this field. I have worked with veterans, completed a fellowship with LEND (Leadership Education in Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities), worked at a psychiatric hospital and a residential treatment center for female adolescents in CPS (Child Protective Services). These experiences have helped me to define my ‘why’ as a professional. I know that I want to be someone that cultivates change, whether that comes through advocacy, policy change, or sitting with individuals who need that safe place, which is where I find myself currently.
Today, I am in private practice at Prosperity Counseling Services as a Licensed Professional Counselor. In private practice, I get to sit with clients and echo their fears, validate their story, and provide them with unconditional love as well as a place to be heard. I get to walk with them while they heal from trauma, move intentionally and challenge stigmas that have been handed down through generations. I would not be where I am today without my family and friends, my own therapist, and supervisors such as Jamie 🙂
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was 10000% not a smooth road! This road involved TONS of hurdles, from going back to school, life transitions, long hours, switching supervisors, job closures. Whew!
I graduated from Houston Baptist University with my Master’s in Psychology. Initially, I wanted to get my doctorate in neuroscience with focus on physiological effects of substances, both recreational and pharmaceutical. I was working at a psychiatric hospital while applying for doctoral programs in the hope of providing some oomph to my resume. When starting that job, I fully believed that I was made for research due to my love for reading, learning, and understanding. Each day at the hospital, I worked with individuals coming in at their absolute worst moment. I heard heartbreaking stories and witnessed raw emotion. This experience changed my perspective on counseling and what it means to walk alongside others. This change in perspective led me back to school in order to complete hours for a Master’s in Counseling.
While in the program for my Master’s in Counseling, I went through a significant life change that altered the trajectory of my life. I was trying to pick up those pieces while also going to school full time, working full time, and at one point also completing hours required for practicum. Some days involved working in the morning and going to school at night. Some days involved getting practicum hours from 8 AM until 3 PM then going to work from 3 PM to 11 PM. I have a very vivid memory of being in the McDonald’s drive-through, crying and feeling uncertain about whether I could do this. I can’t say enough for my mom, dad, and brother in this moment. My family provided unwavering support and encouragement. Whether it was through spoken word or babysitting my pup for the day. The emotional load that they would take off me at points was pivotal in my ability to keep going.
I would later complete all required hours and submit for licensure. Unfortunately, the board kicked my application out due to missing courses on my transcript. After reviewing things with my academic advisor, we found that there was an oversight, and I would need to return back to school (AGAIN) and complete additional courses. The amount of frustration and anger in that moment was unmatched. In trivial times I remember my dad always reminding us that the grass isn’t greener on the other side – It’s green where we water it. It was hard to not compare my journey to those of others in my program and even harder not to compare my journey to those in other fields. I had to focus on my own journey and water the area with lots of patience and kindness towards myself. The struggles made me the individual I am today and made the road towards this place in my life all the more beautiful!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor at Prosperity Counseling Services. My passion is rooted in trauma work and how attachment styles are impacted. I find significant value in understanding how we learn to love and how we integrate ourselves into relationships by exploring unmet childhood needs, lack of praise, emotional neglect, and high achievement expectations. I work with clients who struggle with anxiety, depression as well as PTSD and utilize a variety of modalities dependent on each individual’s needs. Lastly, I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).
A lot of us have never felt permission to take up space. In therapy, I invite clients to take up space in my office by simply existing, by being raw and messy, or by welcoming vulnerability. There is power in understanding that we don’t have to shrink in order to be more valued or loved. You are enough in your exact form.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
When starting out in the field, I would highly suggest building up a network of mentors outside of professors. There are a lot of options in psychology and counseling, which can feel overwhelming. Find individuals in private practice or other organizations with licensure or experience that interests you and pick their brain.
I also think it’s important to be curious. Being in practicum or internship is the perfect time to be open and gather all the experience. Don’t allow yourself to get pigeonholed into a population. I didn’t go the traditional route of private practice for practicum and internship. As such, I learned about psychotropic medications, crisis de-escalation, documentation, substance abuse, and various other tidbits that make me well-rounded.
Don’t be afraid!
Don’t be afraid to branch out. Don’t be afraid of failure. Don’t be afraid of sounding dumb. Don’t be afraid of being vulnerable. I think part of this field is understanding that our humanness, our errors, and our authenticity allows those around us to do the same.
Pricing:
- Individual – $150
- Couples – $175
Contact Info:
- Website: https://prosperitycounseling.org/staff/kelsey-schad-lpc/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kelseyschadlpc
- SoundCloud: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Ux56QhD9MGwYj53VEK7nJ?si=j3SrgJ3CQ8iH3cbl8TttwA
- Other: https://prosperitycounseling.org/an-open-letter-to-my-younger-self/
Image Credits
Lanza Manage Photography
