Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Wilie.
Hi Natalie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always wanted to be a counselor. My passion for helping people started back in high school. I was always that friend that people would gravitate to when they had some sort of struggle. I went to Texas State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Shortly after that, I was married to an amazing man, and we began to start our sweet little family. Having a family and raising my children became my number one priority, therefore my quest to become a counselor was put on hold. After several years of marriage and three beautiful children, we began our 7 years stay as ex-pats overseas. With three kids in tow, we moved to Aberdeen, Scotland – Lagos, Nigeria – and then Muscat, Oman. During this time, I worked in the schools my children attended and I really enjoyed it. Once moving back to the US, I obtained my alternative teaching certificate and taught second grade for 4 years. It was very fulfilling as well as a fantastic job to have while raising children. After six years of living in Cypress, Tx, we moved to Denver, Colorado. While in Denver, when my youngest child was a senior in high school, I found an online program to start my journey toward getting my master’s degree in counseling. Back then, online master’s programs were limited. But I knew we would eventually be moving again, therefore I could not commit to an in-person program in Colorado.
And, yes, after four years of living in Denver, we moved back to the Houston area. This time we moved to Spring, Tx. I finished my program and started work in a private practice setting. I absolutely loved working directly with clients and knew that I was on the right path to becoming exactly what I wanted to do as a career when I was just 16 years old, only now I was much older (and hopefully wiser.) I opened Tx Harmony Counseling Center in July of 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic. COVID pushed everyone to online counseling services, which was still a very valuable and effective avenue for counseling. Tx Harmony Counseling Center started back then with me and alone. I am very proud to say that today, we are a group of 8 amazing people, including 5 kind and compassionate counselors that are making a difference in The Woodlands and the surrounding area, one client at a time.
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?
When I started my graduate program, I had been out of the school/homework mindset for a VERY long time. I had to learn how to navigate the software we used, remember how to write a paper in the proper format, find time to do the reading and homework, etc. Also, working full-time and going to graduate school was definitely difficult for me.
There were many evenings that I was exhausted but still had several hours of homework to complete before the midnight deadline. Getting my Master’s degree was tough but certainly, the hard work is what led me down the path of having a job that I absolutely love and still love, every day!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At Tx Harmony Counseling Center, we see children, teens, young adults, adults, couples, and families. My client load currently consists of about half individuals and half couples. I am a certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapist as well as trained in Gottman Relationship Therapy. I am also a Brainspotting practitioner. I am 52 years old, therefore, along with my education, I like to think that I have quite a bit of life experience as well. I think that the combination of life experience, education, and my passion and desire to help people gives me the ability to connect and truly empathize with my clients.
I build rapport rather quickly, which aids in the therapeutic process. As the owner of Tx Harmony Counseling, I have worked hard to put together a team of amazing counselors that share my passion for helping others. I am very proud of the counselors that work at our center. Each of them has a kind, gentle demeanor that helps clients feel comfortable enough to share their story… to explore, to learn, and to grow into the best possible versions of themselves. I could not ask for a better team.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
One of the most important lessons that I have learned on this journey is that clients need to be ready and willing to make changes. I do not have the ability to create that desire in them.
My strong passion to see clients improve and grow is not enough for it to actually happen. They have to want it as well. They are the ones that have to put in the work outside of sessions in order to reach their goals and feel the successes of their hard work.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.txharmonycounseling.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/txharmonycounseling
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/txharmonycounseling
- TikTok: @txharmonycounseling
