Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandy Lerman (she/they).
Hi Brandy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up listening to stories of my father’s work as a psychologist. I have fond memories of spending days at my father’s office, watching movie after movie in his group therapy room before my school years began. I’ve always been fascinated by the wonder of human behavior, and I knew I wanted to help people from those tender wee years.
It’s an honor to have items from my father’s office, now in mine. His legacy lives on in the work I now get to do as a psychotherapist. I learned so much from him, and I’m awed by what I continue to learn from the courage and bravery of my clients.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Life is markedly harder for the neurodiverse in a neurotypical world. While I have come to love my neurospicy brain, it still presents its own challenges and obstacles. The coping skills and scaffolding I need to function are vast and constantly evolving.
As the only girl following three boys, I was taught, “P-H-D before M-R-S.” Since I’m content with a master’s degree, I hope C-E-O counts! Becoming a business owner is equal parts terrifying and exhilarating. It demands blindly following intuition off a cliff with no parachute, and trusting a soft landing will find you anyway. I’ve learned to celebrate growth moments when fear demands that courage level up.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My psychotherapy practice is known for specializing in neurodiverse clients of all ages (8 years old, through the lifespan), in all formats (individual, couples, families, groups). I love working with folx in the LGBT community, and those navigating life transitions.
I think the things that set me apart are also the things I am most proud of about my brand. I embrace colorful language and infuse laughter and lightheartedness into the depths of courageous and vulnerable work. I prioritize being relational and working collaboratively, insisting that no one will ever know you better than you know yourself. You are the expert of you. I am just a guide.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I have immense gratitude for parents who prioritized gifts of love, advocacy, and encouragement, over gifts with price tags. I’m also thankful for an incredible support network capable of meeting me in vulnerability, and loving fiercely.
I’ve had the benefit of some of the most incredible mentors, arguably the best in Houston. My humble thanks to Brittany Burch, LCSW-S, for allowing both of us to be human while guiding me through an eventful graduate practicum, and for her genuine friendship now as colleagues. To Bill Wade, PhD, LPC-S, for his warmth, wisdom, laughter, and stubborn refusal to let me quit after two hour-count restarts, to gain full licensure. And to Micki Grimland, LCSW, for masterfully moving me through the struggle of limiting beliefs to create the best practice I could have ever hoped for.
Most certainly, I’m grateful to the daring humans who have trusted me on their journeys to discover, love, and prioritize themselves. My clients are astounding humans.
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