Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve Cheney
Hi Steve, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Growing up, I first wanted to be a school bus driver, then a surgeon, a baseball player, then an artist. I never once imagined being a counselor, especially one that specializes in couples therapy. Sometime around 2013, a few years after I graduated with my bachelors, my best friend and roommate started seeing a counselor and recommended I see him. I am not sure why I even scheduled the appointment, but I must have recognized on some level I needed to talk to someone. Things had hit a dead end for me and I was really struggling with a lot of different things in my life. I think I had a few sessions with him and on the way back from an appointment, I realized “hey, I’d love to do something like that!” It really felt so good to talk to someone who was interested in my feelings. It was one of those moments where I really felt “pulled” by something and had no choice but to follow my instinct. So many things came out of that decision that were so good for me. i met my wife, found the best dog ever at the shelter, was introduced to some of the smartest and most intuitive people who helped me, who I feel like I owe an incredible amount of gratitude towards. It’s so scary to think that if my friend had never suggested seeing that counselor, none of the good things that have happened in my life would be here.
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?
It’s been a rough road with some patches of smooth sailing! Establishing yourself as a counselor is pretty difficult. There’s not a very clear path on what to do after you graduate, you really have to forge your own way. But that’s also the fun! The uncertainty and feast or famine nature of the career can definitely be incredibly frustrating at times, but eventually you get the hang of it. The biggest bumps in the road are all the things that happen behind the curtain that no one really sees. For example, the barriers to entry are intense, especially if you’re wanting to start your own private practice. There’s a TON of time, energy, and money that gets spent on what us counselors call “doing our own work,” meaning being in therapy ourselves, and paying for trainings, and being a part of ongoing supervision groups and mentorship. Definitely all worth the effort, but there were moments where I questioned it all and fantasized about a career change. Without the encouragement and support of mentors and community, though, I don’t know how I would have made it. Mentors and good community are life savers, which is probably the case for any career, but especially this one!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in couples therapy and absolutely love it! A lot of my colleagues in town know me as the guy who will take the most “challenging” couples, and it feels good to have established that reputation. I think what helps set me apart is my ability to help couples “slow down” enough to where they feel safer being vulnerable, which actually enables them to see beyond the surface issues and truly understand and empathize with the underlying pain each partner is experiencing. This is the most rewarding aspect of my work. I’m so proud of myself for continuing to hone this skill and it really could not be done without doing the hard work myself. My wife and I are in couples therapy and we do a lot of our own individual development, so I think all that work carries over into making me a better therapist, and I’m very proud of that. I’m also extremely proud of the close friends and mentors I have in the therapist community, notably the Imago Relationships of North America community and the Austin Group Psychotherapy Society. I would say these two organizations have some of the best therapists in the world and I feel incredibly blessed to be surrounded by such a great community here.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along the way is to remember to slow down and listen to my intuition, especially when it comes to life decisions. There’s been so many times in my life where I’ve ignored my intuition and acted out of fear instead, and that has almost never worked out. Another lesson is being kind to myself, which helps me be more empathic and kind to others. Being more forgiving of myself and not beating myself up for mistakes is incredibly empowering, and it honestly has helped me show up as a better spouse, parent, friend, and therapist.
Pricing:
- $180 – 45-min session
- $799 – couples weekend workshop
- $75 – group therapy
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stevecheneytherapy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intuitivesoulpsychotherapy/profilecard/?igsh=cmJucjQ3NWZ0OXlo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SteveCheneyTherapy/
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/steve-cheney-austin-tx/334150
Image Credits
Alicia Leigh Rios
