Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Kipp-Wright.
Hi Emily, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I first experienced therapy when I was a teenager due to my Mom dying of cancer. It was a horrible experience for me as the therapist tried to assess me for depression and suicide ideation. I was just sad and missed my Mom, not depressed and not considering suicide. I met the guy twice and then didn’t try therapy again until I was in my 20s. When I was 20, I entered an old house and sat on a comfy couch. I was offered hot tea, and my therapist took her shoes off and sat with me as I cried and shared my life story. Afterwards, she didn’t judge, shame, or even attempt to diagnose me. Where was she when my Mom died? My life would’ve been so different had I had support like that. After my second marriage and four kids, I decided to return to college and pursue a career in counseling. I was the “Mom” on campus at Southwestern University and graduated after two years with my degree in Psychology, and I minored in art. My internship, also called Capstone, was at a Psychiatric Hospital. I shadowed an Art Therapist and worked with all ages. My interview didn’t go well as I confessed that I was terrified to work with crazy people, but the opportunity was the only one to incorporate psychology and art.
On my first day, I observed an art therapy group and found myself not making eye contact and sitting with one lady (patient) who felt safe. After the group was over and we gathered our art supplies, we got on the elevator, and my supervisor looked at me and said, “I wish you could see your face. Your eyes are wide with excitement, and you are smiling ear to ear. These are your people. You will work with this population one day and be good at it.” I laughed, but she was so right. I attended St. Edward’s University for my Master’s Degree, and I interned for a year at the Austin State Hospital. The first day I was there, I spoke up about the treatment of a deaf patient, and after being warned that he was “dangerous,” I requested an introduction, and he quickly became my first client. I just remembered that I took ASL at ACC, and when attending SU, they wouldn’t accept ASL as a language. I wrote an appeal, and they assured me that I wouldn’t graduate, but a year later, after lots of meetings, they approved my ASL and are now in the works of offering ASL!
I have supported the “most severe” clients (or so I have been told), and after graduating, I knew I needed to open a Wellness Center. The month I was licensed, I already had a space and a team of clinicians ready to open. That month happened to be March of 2020. Everyone who was going to join me decided to zoom in from their couches. I convinced the owner of the buildings and my family to move in and wait out COVID. We lived in the buildings for two months and then had to move out because I had brought on a massage therapist, other therapists, interns, and more. We were one of the only places in town to see clients in person. After three awesome years, expanding to Georgetown Square and winning Small Business of the Year, we moved everything to the Square. Anchored has therapy, meditation, hypnotherapy, EMDR, NET, Art, Yoga, and more! We have partnered with Balancing Self and offer red light, PEMF, Vibroacoustic Therapy, and a Sauna. Need prescriptions? We have a nurse practitioner on staff.
My newest adventure came to be after working at several psychiatric hospitals in town and then being recruited to revamp programming for one. After three months and getting pushback, I resigned and opened an Outpatient Program on the Square called Beacon Behavioral. My baby is a month old, and we have been supporting patients for four weeks! I am passionate about people and continue to be curious and help my community. I am honored to be asked to return to SU to teach a class every year. I speak at several events in the Austin area & always have interns at my office learning the craft of supporting others in rough times. I saw a need and wanted to give others what I didn’t receive in my time of need.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
HAHA! It’s a rough and rocky road, for sure. I had been a stay-at-home Mom for nearly 15 years. I am a wife, mom of four, daughter, and much more! My Nannie was diagnosed with dementia about twelve years ago, and she lived two and a half hours away. I would visit once a week. When my grandfather passed, I began to visit twice a week and sometimes stayed the night. I was not her primary caregiver, but I did this while getting my degrees. COVID was a huge obstacle, but I believed in my vision and dream. I got a lot of criticism for continuing to see clients when the rest of my profession stayed home and zoomed in. When working with a vulnerable population, I don’t see how it is doing “no harm” to have clients isolated and not have a connection with others. I also work with the deaf community, and masks made them feel even more isolated and disconnected, not being able to see facial expressions or read lips. Building two businesses has taken me away from my family and made me question if I am a good Mom and wife.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Anchored is a Wellness Center—a collaborative group of clinicians offering support to our community. I am the Founder/Owner and a LPC. I work with serve mental illness, individuals, couples, and families. My specialty is life transitions, communication, and grief and loss. I am known for meeting people where they are. I greet people with curiosity and present different perspectives. What sets me apart is that I don’t sit on a pedestal; I am authentic. I am human. I am most proud of all our collaborations and offering a more holistic approach instead of talk therapy. Beacon is an outpatient facility that offers Intensive Outpatient and Partial Hospitalization Programs. We use DBT, CBT, NET, yoga, art, music, equine, and red light with Vibroacoustic treatments.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
“Tell me I can’t” – I lost a client to suicide, and this was his motto. When I am passionate, I don’t take no for an answer, and I make things happen. My mom was a powerful and driven person, and when her life ended at 40 years old, I made a promise that I would pick up the reigns and continue her greatness. At 48 years old, I still have so much to do, and I don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.becomeanchored.com and BeaconBehavioralGTX.com
- Instagram: becomeanchored and beaconbehavioralgtx
- Facebook: becomeanchored and beaconbehavioralgtx
- Linkedin: Emily Kipp-Wright M.A., LPC
Image Credits
Felicia Reed
