Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Hardwicke.
Hi Susan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I wanted to become an Art Therapist. I was 17, and the closest University to get a degree in this was Georgia. I was in SC- I went to UOf SC, got an Art Studio degree w a minor in Psychology. In the process, I went to Paris to go to cooking school. My love since I was about four I had to n Mc are a decision- an awesome man suggested Master of Social Work bc of my love different cultures and people in general. As that started, my brother passed. I didn’t handle it well- I went through a tough section of life. This was the second brother who had died. I ended up in alcohol rehab, so much over a lifetime, and I fell apart. I had been to therapy for years after my first brother’s death. I was 13, starting 9th grade.
I took my first psychology class, my life changed. A psychiatrist nearly ruined my life, putting me on a plethora of pills, thankful for my father saving me and finding a therapist who had my back throughout high school, college, and the start of my sobriety and practice. I heard the word biopsychosocial that was in 1993. I never looked back. I had been raised Catholic and began learning so much about spirituality Carolyn Myss, Edgar Cayce, anything. I started eating better looking into supplements and learning what change and throughout the years got my LCSW-S,as well as a Graduate Certificate in AlcoholDrug Studies. Another master’s, I became a hypnotherapist and certified in the NADA protocol- through AOMA -the acupuncture school in Austin- helps folks with addictions wonderful as well as a Daniel Amen affiliate he tries to use food, supplements, vitamins to help with anxiety, ADHD, etc.. I love learning and believe in learning from my clients. Social Work is a strengths-based approach using a client’s strengths to help them help themselves. I treat folks how I would like to be treated. I believe it’s difficult to “specialize” in a lot of areas as I see how life, issues, are so interconnected inherently learning we are responsible for learning to love ourselves, to care for others, a spiritual perspective can ramp up healing the more I learn the more I’m amazed learning love and forgiveness are the keys to this classroom on earth I still love what I do still learning, still walking through veils of what look like fear but are actually doors opening-life is a verb.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not, but these potholes are what make me a good therapist. Every time I have to raise my price when someone dies, or relapses or is hurting to the core. I jump into teaching mode. I do work too fast. Sometimes I forget I wasn’t ready for my therapist “trying to help” a lot of the time, I try not to forget. I’ve lost my family, either through death or realizing some folks like you not sober. I’ve had to grieve a lot of people. I think outside the box. It’s great for some folks, not the majority. It’s lonely sometimes. I chose to be committed to my work and animals and learning. I love to go for a walk and listen to the quiet I love nature; I’m saddened by how folks treat each other and animals and the earth mostly for money and selfishness; I’m so grateful the folks who walk in my office are wanting to offload shame and guilt that’s awesome to see who’s underneath I’ve been through a lot but feel, who hasn’t? I’ve been blessed to walk through it and lived to tell about it. I was sick in 1996 and was blessed to learn about a whole new type of spirituality and healing. Each time I’ve been through something. A teacher has appeared, but I had to trust.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I have been in practice for 25 years in SC and TX. I specialize in trauma, anxiety, depression- ADHD, living, relationships, addictions. I’m down to earth. I’ve been called an “Earth Mama “more than once. I will reach you to fish rather than spoon-feeding you. You learn to think for yourself in an assertive way. Learn to be you learn to forgive that plants, air, earth are all here to heal you. I have a natural and empathic approach to working with others.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I treat others how I want to be treated—honesty in all areas but not in a blabbing way.
Contact Info:
- Email: susan@austinpsychotherapeutics.com
- Website: www.austinpsychotherapeutics.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/austinpsychtherapeutics
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