The Ever-Learning Therapist with Natalie
Natalie's expertise in therapy spans over two decades, driven by her belief in continuous learning. Departing from traditional talk therapy, she embraces a spectrum of techniques showcased in her acclaimed book, "Hello Anxiety My Old Friend," honored with the 2023 Book Fest award in Psychology.
In this episode of Starting a Counseling Practice Success Stories, Natalie takes us through her dynamic career. She shares her early experiences juggling an intensive master’s program while working full-time and raising children. After completing her degree, she secured an internship at what is now the Atlanta Anxiety Institute, where she worked in a highly collaborative setting alongside psychiatrists, therapists, and nurse practitioners. This formative experience deepened her understanding of anxiety treatment and reinforced the importance of mentorship in her journey.
Determined to create a supportive professional environment, Natalie later co-founded a group practice with her colleagues. Rather than a traditional business partnership, they structured it as an umbrella collective—each therapist maintaining independence while benefiting from shared resources and collaboration. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to this model, fostering communities of support in therapy spaces.
Beyond her private practice, Natalie is deeply passionate about mentorship. She invites students into her sessions to observe real therapy in action, gradually involving them in the process until they are ready to take on clients independently. She sees hands-on learning as essential, urging new therapists to move beyond theoretical knowledge and actively engage in the nuances of real-world therapy.
Natalie’s ever-expanding toolkit includes certifications in clinical hypnotherapy and brainspotting, techniques she integrates into her work to enhance client outcomes. Now a trainer for hypnosis, she finds fulfillment in teaching and mentoring, passing on knowledge just as her early mentors did for her. As she transitions further into a leadership role, she embraces the opportunity to guide the next generation of therapists.
Her dedication to understanding anxiety culminated in her book, Hello Anxiety, My Old Friend, an award-winning resource that blends personal narrative with actionable strategies for managing anxiety. The book was born from a deeply personal experience—surviving a life-threatening medical event that left her questioning her purpose. In the aftermath, she committed to sharing her expertise with a wider audience, ensuring that more people could access practical tools for navigating anxiety.
For Natalie, the key to success as a therapist lies in perpetual growth. She advises new practitioners to keep learning, seek out additional training, and, most importantly, listen to their clients. Therapy is not a static profession—it thrives on curiosity, adaptation, and the willingness to expand one’s skill set. Her story is a testament to the power of persistence, collaboration, and the lifelong pursuit of knowledge in the field of mental health.
