Today we’d like to introduce you to Caitlin Payne.
Hi Caitlin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Of course. I don’t know that there was a specific moment that I decided to become a therapist. It was many things falling into place over time. I had a psychology teacher in high school that was insane and hilarious and just absolutely wonderful. This led to my pursuing psychology in college; however, when I was in college, I was convinced I was going to drop out, attend culinary school, and become a pastry chef. At different times in my life, I’ve wanted to become a coffee barista, hair stylist, special effects movie make up artist, neuroscientist, teacher, and tour guide. This isn’t to say I’m not extremely dedicated to my career and that I don’t love what I do. Being a therapist feels like who I am. It is a part of my personality and so when I found it as a career, it just fit. My childhood and the experiences I had growing up–good, bad, painful, empowering–all played a role in shaping me and my path here. After I graduated college, I worked researching substance use treatment facilities for my university and while I was visiting these facilities, I found that I wanted to be the clinicians I was interviewing, not the interviewer. A coworker of mine at the time was applying to graduate school for social work, so I figured now was the time. Internships, personal therapy, graduation, a cross-country move, a few jobs, the pandemic, and many, many trainings later and here I am with my own private practice, settled in Houston.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been plenty of challenges. Despite what my perfectionistic parts would have me believe and much to my embarrassment at times, I am human first and highly fallible. I’ve also struggled as everyone has with loss, mental health, family upset, health issues, and burnout. And then there is the pandemic. I was working to open my private practice in 2020 and then the pandemic hit and the nature of my work changed drastically. The therapy world went from being face-to-face to solely online, almost overnight. The office I had just rented sat empty for nearly a year. Overall, I feel really lucky to have the support system I do, personally and professionally. They made opening a private practice feel possible and helped me navigate the transition when the world was turned on its head. I wouldn’t be here without all of the truly amazing therapists I get to call colleagues and friends.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and I do individual therapy with adults, specializing in trauma, addiction, anxiety & mood disorders, and low self-esteem. I really enjoy working with family of origin concerns and am passionate about helping clients to build insight into themselves. I primarily utilize Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness-based interventions, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). My personal mission statement is to “foster the light within, share the light with others, and help others to do the same.” This is how I live my life personally and professionally. I try to live what I do and I put a lot of emphasis on the relationship with my clients. It is my hope that all of my clients not only find relief, but also greater acceptance and connectedness with themselves and those they care about.
What does success mean to you?
Success is honoring my commitment to myself. It is making the choice to return and look within. It is creating my own definition, time and time again.
I think the answer to this question is different for every person and changes in every situation.
This is a lot of the work I do–helping others to understand how they feel about things and tap into their values. What leads me to feel successful changes as my insight grows and so I make the commitment to return to introspection and in this, I return to myself. I am always on a journey to understand myself better and to lead with authenticity. For me, this is success. If we look within and find the light, it’s impossible to fail, regardless of circumstance.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.caitlinpaynelcsw.com
