Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Curry
Hi Heather, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I never planned to become a therapist but I have always been a helper. I grew up in Austin and I mentored kids at Austin High School and throughout college. I taught high school for eleven years and loved it. Teenagers are hilarious, innovative, and justice-oriented if you have a good relationship with them and catch them on the right day. Then I went to graduate school and earned my Master’s in Professional Counseling from Texas State, along with a school counseling certification. I wanted to focus more on individual work, helping teens navigate the social-emotional aspects of their lives. I worked as a school counselor for seven years and I also worked with adolescent and adult clients part-time as a therapist. During the pandemic I had a lot of time to think about purpose and where I wanted to grow personally and professionally. I wanted to work with people who manage chronic conditions—something that was woven throughout my adulthood.
I had a history of painful periods but I developed chronic pain and bloating in my thirties. I didn’t know that I had endometriosis and this had a profound impact on my health and my quality of life. In 2017 I had surgery for endometriosis and, combined with physical therapy, I began to get better. I kept thinking about how hard it was to navigate an invisible illness. I decided to combine my passion for helping others, my therapeutic knowledge, and my experience with chronic pain to start my practice, Full Bloom Counseling. I work with many people who struggle with chronic conditions and chronic pain. It’s my jam.
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?
The culprit behind a lot of challenges in my life was chronic pain and my chronic condition. I navigated the symptoms of endometriosis for many years. I didn’t have a diagnosis but I did have pain and bloating. I went from doctor to doctor without an answer. At times, I felt betrayed by my body. I also felt like I didn’t have power over my body— the very body I was living in day-to-day! I continued to live my life as though everything was fine— I just had some major, unexplained symptoms, but, don’t worry about me! When I think back to that difficult period— the appointments, the physical therapy, and the unknowns— I would have loved emotional support from someone who’d navigated the world with an invisible illness.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I work with many people who have chronic pelvic health issues— ranging from endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, PCOS to pelvic pain. These conditions can be accompanied by feelings of shame, grief, anger, and fear. Additionally, many people struggle for years to get an accurate diagnosis. These illnesses can also cause identity shifts, especially when experiencing issues around fertility and changes in your lifestyle or quality of life.
I have a relational approach, meaning that I believe connections and relationships are crucial to our healing and empowerment. I like to discuss the mind-body connection— that stress and trauma are stored in the body. I’m also trauma-informed and use evidence-based techniques in my practice. I am certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) and I use EMDR, along with other methods, to address chronic pain and work through trauma. I support my client’s grief around the changes their chronic condition has brought and help them move forward in their life.
I also think clients choose to work with me because I share a lived experience with them. Don’t get me wrong– our session is about the client, not me!– but many clients have told me they feel comforted by getting support from someone “who gets it.” I’m an interactive therapist, meaning I will listen but also ask questions, provide feedback, and share a laugh in our sessions together.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I’ve learned two things from this journey: don’t stop fighting for yourself and that healing is a process. Always continue advocating for yourself and your health even if you don’t have immediate answers. You are worth it! Also, I learned that healing is not a straight line— which is annoying when you have chronic conditions. This concept also applies to therapy. Sometimes we want therapy to be almost formulaic: A + B = C. But healing is not a straight line– it’s a process. And I want to help my clients navigate this process. My passion is to empower my clients so that they aren’t overwhelmed by their conditions and can have a better quality of life.
Pricing:
- Individual Adult Sessions: $160 per 55 min
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.heathercurrycounseling.com
- Instagram: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/326403
