Today we’d like to introduce you to Karrie Hilliard.
Hi Karrie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I first came to Houston after college through a program called Teach For America. I had never been to Texas before! I taught bilingual kindergarten for two years at Clemente Martinez Elementary in HISD. After that, I worked for Teach For America supporting new teachers in Houston, and then continued my work supporting teachers through the Human Resources department in HISD. I came to deeply understand the challenging and important work of students, teachers, and schools through these roles. When I decided to build on my undergraduate training in psychology, it made sense to focus on school psychology with its emphasis on the science of learning and the systems that support it. In 2013, I enrolled in a full-time PhD program in school psychology at the University of Houston. My graduate training and subsequent experiences allowed me to continue to hone my expertise in understanding and supporting the learning process in all sorts of individuals.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No! It has been far from smooth. A lot of the foundational training opportunities I wanted for myself were not accessible to me the first time I sought them out. This was mostly due to my being a non-traditional student who was balancing commitments to not only my professional path but also my marriage and my small children. Between the time that I began my graduate training and the time that I became fully licensed as a psychologist, I had my three boys. They have turned out to be an integral part of my training because nothing keeps you humbler or teaches you more about yourself than raising children! Ultimately, I was able to secure those training opportunities that I knew I would need through persistence and networking. I learned from my grandmother that the first “no” is not a real barrier – sometimes you just have to ask again.
As you know, we’re big fans of Sprouting Psychology. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am in private practice as a psychologist in the heart of West University. Each morning, I walk my children to school and then cross the street to my office. As I climb the stairs, I thank my lucky stars I get to do a job I love in the middle of a wonderful neighborhood and so close to my boys! I specialize in psychoeducational assessment of school-age children and do some therapy with children as well as parent coaching. I am proud of the level of service I provide to my clients. I put a lot of energy into being responsive to their needs and ensuring that my practices reflect the current standard of care backed by research. My background in schools, working as a teacher, counselor, and psychologist, gives me special knowledge about how best to support individuals to do their best learning. Often people come to me when they suspect that their performance (or that of their child) is impeded by a learning disorder, ADHD, autism, anxiety, or something else entirely. When appropriate, I diagnose, provide recommendations, and offer treatment options. Overall, I want my clients to feel understood and also confident about how to tackle their challenges.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was always a hard worker and ambitious. I was highly conscientious – probably too conscientious. I try to be more go-with-the-flow now and give myself a little grace.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sproutingpsychology.com
- Other: hello@sproutingpsychology.com
Image Credits
The headshot and office photos are by Tracy Eason Photography, and the family photo is by Megan Simpson Photography.
