Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Sharp.
Hi Kristin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a psychotherapist for young adults and adolescents because I know these time periods in life can be difficult to navigate. I am adopted and had always been curious how this affected my sense of self. This is a precious topic to me as I have seen in my work that everyone’s experience of processing their adoption is radically different, and for me, I believe this played a large role in how I present myself today. I personally had a very challenging adolescent experience. It’s ironic because externally, my life appeared to be going well. I was a cheerleader, I had friends, and I was making good grades (until I wasn’t). My internal experience was incongruent with how things appeared; I was struggling with mental health issues and felt isolated, misunderstood, and sought unhealthy coping mechanisms to try and take the pain away. At one point, I was unsure if I was going to graduate from high school due to falling behind in attendance and schoolwork. I ended up graduating and shortly thereafter, I received mental health care I needed to learn new ways of living my life. I wanted to feel like myself again. It had been a long time. I felt that my friends and family did not understand the gravity of the experience I was having. They tried, but I think there is an element of wanting your loved ones to be okay and not struggle that can cloud the reality of someone’s emotional state. I had been in psychotherapy intermittently throughout high school but truly delved into the process while I was in undergraduate school at the University of Texas at Austin, through their Counseling and Mental Health Center. I began feeling understood, seen, and respected in how I detailed my experience. This was eye-opening for me. So, as I was graduating undergrad with a BA in Psychology, my next step was a given- to pursue a counseling degree so I could allow others this impactful experience also.
I was accepted into the Masters of Science in Social Work program at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work immediately following graduation. There began my journey and exploration of mental health and therapeutic modalities I most aligned with. I found myself mostly pulled to theories based on or formed from Attachment Theory- essentially, how our earliest relationships impact our relationships throughout our lives. This felt fundamental to me and I incorporate this into my practice mostly.
Today, I work with young adults, teens, and assist their families regarding a variety of mental health concerns. Particularly, I focus on traumatic experiences, relational difficulties, family of origin concerns, adoption, substance use, and depression.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I believe anything worthwhile comes with some challenges or obstacles. Ultimately, those are what present the most opportunity for growth. Coming out of graduate school, I felt this intense pressure to “know everything” and measure up to what others’ expectations were of me. However, I felt a bit lost. I wasn’t sure which avenue was right for me in this field, and it took some exploration to figure it out. I “job-hopped” (jobs I did NOT love) for a couple of years (and this is very okay!) until I settled into a Director position at a local non-profit. This was an exciting position and I was sad to leave when I started to grow my family and wanted to be present with my child and have more time at home. I began working at a group psychotherapy practice and this is truly where I felt the most at home in all of my experiences thus far. This led to my latest venture and one I foresee being my permanent place- my own psychotherapy practice, Blue Psychotherapy.
Being a working mom can be challenging in itself. While owning my own practice comes with benefits related to creating my own schedule, deciding how/where/when I wish to work, it can also come with burdens. Time away from your baby, time working on tasks when your baby is with you, scheduling external meetings, etc. If you’re a parent also, you understand! Juggling this while opening my business has required time management and intentionality with how I spend the time in my day. I am tired, and I am figuring it out!
As you know, we’re big fans of Blue Psychotherapy. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am a psychotherapist for young adults, college students, and adolescents. I specialize in trauma, adoption, substance use issues, depression, self-harming behaviors, self-esteem, life transitions, and relationships.
I would say I am “known for” my work with teens. I love them. While most people give me a look of, “Are you crazy?” when I tell them that, it’s because I see teens with a lens that I wish someone had seen me with when I was in their shoes. I embrace their truest self, whatever and whoever that may be. I advocate for them with their family members, schools, and for their self. I trust that their experience is real and feel it is imperative for them to have a space to openly process it. I have seen I am able to deeply connect with teens and navigate severe issues they may be faced with. My experience working with teens who are struggling with Substance Use Disorders is unique to the area and helpful for the families who do not know what to do or where to go.
I enjoy working with high-conflict cases, as well as individuals who simply need someone to talk to. I believe no problem is too big or too small to bring to therapy. I see young adults who are navigating the demands of their independence, job stress, relationships, gender and sexuality, and beyond.
I am personally adopted so I have lived experience of this. I am also a therapist in therapy and have worked with my personal therapist for 5+ years and know the value of developing a secure attachment with someone outside of my day-to-day life.
I am most proud of the office space I have created as I know this is an important factor in choosing a therapist. You want to walk in and feel comfortable. Walk in and feel cozy. My office is essentially a small living room and I designed it that way. It’s a place to relax, laugh, cry, and feel.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
COVID-19 had a huge impact on the therapy community. Many therapists were shifting to virtual-only services to remain cautious. We are now seeing an influx of individuals seeking only in-person sessions. There is something very powerful about sitting across from your therapist and a lot is happening interpersonally and neurobiologically within that space. With the versatility of in-person versus virtual sessions, this opens the door for more people to attend therapy!
Pricing:
- Individual session for adults: $155
- Individual session for teens: $165
- Family sessions: $180
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bluepsychotherapy.com
- Instagram: @bluepsychotherapy
