Chelsea is the founder of Therapize and a dedicated therapist specializing in guiding individuals through life's transitions and challenges. With a background in teaching forgiveness and empowerment courses internationally, she brings a wealth of expertise to her practice. She offers personalized support tailored to each client's unique needs and aspirations. Celebrating successes and gently holding clients accountable, she is committed to helping them thrive. Chelsea shares her expertise in this exclusive interview with Sofia Health
What inspired you to pursue a career in mental health and become a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT)?
I always tell people that nobody ends up as a therapist by coincidence, and it is no different with me. I believe growing up I always had a knack for being observant and trying to understand others while simultaneously managing my mental health. I did not think I would become a therapist, but the more I learned about helping others in their healing journey the more fascinated I became with the human brain and its potential for resiliency.
How do you address issues related to parenting styles and co-parenting in therapy sessions?
Although every parenting issue and strategy in therapy can vary, I think it is very important to get parents on the same team to manage the stressors that come with raising a child. It is important to remind parents that they typically want the same things for their child (i.e. healthy, happy, well-adjusted, etc), and how we get there can vary from parent to parent. I believe practicing effective communication between parents can make or break the parenting relationship and it is where we see the most issues in parenting. When parents communicate effectively, whether co-parenting or as a couple, they can better understand what is going on in their child’s life as well as present a strong team for their child to lean on.
Sofia Health connects you to traditional, integrative, nutritional, holistic, and spiritual healing professionals to help you personalize your healing journey.
How do you address imposter syndrome and self-limiting beliefs among women in leadership roles? What strategies do you employ to empower and support women in overcoming these challenges?
I work with many young adults, especially women, suffering from imposter syndrome. It is important to identify the triggers in which we feel our imposter syndrome flare up. When we identify the trigger, we can begin to break down the self-limiting beliefs as well as where they came from. Self-limiting beliefs do not magically appear, they become instilled in us as a narrative from something we have heard over and over again until it becomes our thought. When we begin to break down the self-limiting belief, we understand typically that it does not belong to us but more so a message society or our upbringing has given us. As we create separation from our self-limiting beliefs, we hold empathy for ourselves for having believed them in the first place.
It is also important to recognize that although imposter syndrome may exist in these clients, there is also evidence to support that they have abilities that have presented opportunities for them. I love to ask clients about what they do well to bring awareness to their strengths. In identifying with your strengths, we begin to form our new narrative and have an appreciation for ourselves.
What key advice would you like to share with clients grappling with relationship challenges?
For people struggling with relationship challenges, it can be multifaceted. I think our initial reaction, typically, is to point the finger at the other person and blame them for what is not working in the relationship. However, it is crucial to look at our behaviors and emotions and see how this is also impacting the relationship.
By looking at our emotions and behaviors, we can better understand the relationship and its role in our lives. At times, we need to accept responsibility for what we have done in the relationship, and at other times we can recognize how the relationship is a trigger for certain mental health concerns.
If this is a relationship you would like to keep in your life, it is important to discover the “why.” Discovering the why means, why is this relationship important to me, and how this relationship continues to foster care, growth, support, and love in my life. Once we discover that, then we can work on what relationship boundaries or self-boundaries need to be put in place for the relationship to succeed. However, this takes all parties in the relationship to be involved and open-minded for change.
Can you share any fundamental principles or techniques that you frequently integrate into your therapy sessions?
Likely the most important fundamental principle I share in therapy is in regards to goal setting. Oftentimes we want things to progress faster, whether in therapy or our life, and good things take time. I tell my clients frequently that small changes over time are what make our goals manageable. If there is something you want to tackle in your life, it is important to start with the smallest step forward and keep at it every day. Consistency and progressing forward, it allow us to build confidence and continue with the larger goal.
However, when we do the opposite and take on larger goals all at once, we are easily burned out. Once this burnout hits, it becomes easy to drop the goal all together and become “stuck.” This strategy often leads to negative self-talk and analysis paralysis. Analysis paralysis is a fancy phrase for becoming so anxious over something that we end up doing nothing at all.
If you’re at a point in your life where you are feeling “stuck,” take it one tiny step at a time until you can take on the next tiny step. Allowing yourself to do this will improve mental health.
What advice do you find most beneficial for maintaining optimal mental health?
I love the Japanese concept of Ikigai. In this concept it is believed that happiness lies at the intersectionality of these four questions: What do you love? What are you good at? What does the world need? What can you be paid for?
It is important to find passion and happiness in your daily life outside of work. Although work is an important part of life, there is more to your identity than working. When we find purpose in our lives and make our behaviors align with that purpose, it can bring about positive mental health.
If you are having trouble with finding happiness or understanding your purpose, you can seek professional help. Therapy is a wonderful resource to take advantage of to access parts of yourself you have become numb to. Things can be going well in your life and therapy can still be a valuable asset to have an understanding of what you’d like from life.
More from Sofia Health
Explore more enlightening interviews with specialists at Sofia Health. Gain diverse insights, practical tips, and transformative advice on health and wellness topics. Whether it's nutrition, mental well-being, or holistic healing, these expert interviews provide valuable resources for your journey to holistic health. Please read on and help yourself with knowledge for a healthier life.
Whether you prefer a subscription over live classes or want to shop for individual services, classes, or products, we have you covered. We're here to help you meet your wellness goals for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. You can also take advantage of the services offered by one of the providers at the Sofia Marketplace.
Better yet, make a daily dose of wellness part of your routine. Sofia Prime offers both live classes and an extensive on-demand video library. Choose from high-quality offerings in wellness, nutrition, fitness, and meditation.
Start your two-week trial today and discover the difference that dedication and expert help can make.
Disclaimer: The Sofia Unfiltered Blog by Sofia Health is for general informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this article or materials linked from this article is at the user’s own risk. The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have. For any health concerns, users should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals.
