Today we’d like to introduce you to Alicia Latraille
Hi Alicia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I knew from a young age I wanted to be a Mental Health Therapist when I grew up. There is truly nothing that has ever sounded more rewarding to me than creating a safe space for people to process their emotions, navigate their experiences, and be their authentic selves. My passion only became stronger after losing someone I cared about to suicide in the ninth grade. It shifted my passion into purpose. I wanted to move through this world making sure everyone knew they have a place in it and their existence matters. I wanted to help heal those who felt lost and create a space for them to find themselves again. I decided to pursue my bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Iowa State University then moved on to pursue my master’s degree in Counseling and Psychological Services from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. During my graduate program I worked at a residential facility for adolescents with eating disorders and later on interned at a private practice working with adults, couples, and children navigating anxiety and depression. I found so much value in the autonomy that came with my internship in private practice which sparked my idea of creating something of my own one day. I had no idea that dream of “one day” would soon become a reality. After growing up and going to school in the midwest all of my life, I chose to make the big move down to Austin, Texas. I became a Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate and began working for a group practice. I worked with children, adolescents, adults, and couples navigating anxiety, depression, and ADHD. I eventually made the difficult but exciting decision to leave the group practice and pursue the dream of opening up my own. I now have my own practice, Transform Therapy Co., where I specialize in working with young adults experiencing anxiety. I know first hand how debilitating anxiety can be and want to create a space for others to safely navigate their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. I look forward to curating my practice to help those who feel lost discover themselves and what they are looking for out of this life.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I think within this field for a lot of people including myself, it can be a road that presents many barriers. Between graduate school, working full time, unpaid internships, filling your caseload, all in the pursuit to become fully licensed it can be years and years before getting to where you want to be. It can be mentally, emotionally, and financially draining. I have so much respect for therapists within this field because I know how hard they are working to get to where they want to be. For those of you who don’t know, different states have different licensure requirements. When I moved from Minnesota to Texas, it took a full year for me to become an LPC-Associate whereas in MN I had already met the requirements to begin practicing. I felt like I was taking steps backward and questioned whether moving to Texas was the best decision. Nonetheless, I decided to persevere and stay. I am so happy I did, because I wouldn’t be where I am today. When I opened my private practice, I began posting on Instagram and TikTok to market myself. I didn’t realize how many other therapists utilized social media. I have been so lucky to have found such an amazing community! Whenever I have been struggling or find myself feeling stuck I know I always have the best support system between my fiancè, my family, and my amazing community of therapists. If you are a therapist, I highly suggest putting yourself out there no matter how uncomfortable it can be. I have truly met the most amazing people and it is absolutely worth awkwardly talking to my camera!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate in Austin, Texas that specializes in working with young adults experiencing anxiety. Anxiety can be debilitating for a lot of people. I aim to help my clients process their emotions, improve their self-worth, while finding tools that help them learn to cope with their anxiety and move through it. I work with those going through life transitions, experiencing relationship difficulties, and those that have a desire to gain a deeper awareness and understanding of themselves. I offer in person, virtual, and walk and talk therapy for adolescents and adults. Walk and talk therapy sets me a part from your typical office setting or virtual sessions. I have found walk and talk therapy to be a game changer for my clients. It allows my clients to connect with nature and move their bodies creating a sense of calmness and tranquility that isn’t always replicated in the typical office setting. It can create a lot less pressure and feel more natural which is why so many of my clients enjoy it! Brand wise, my practice is still pretty new. However, I hope to continue to create an environment and brand that de-stigmatizes mental health, promotes authenticity, and creates a space for people to become the best version of themselves.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
You are so much more capable than you give yourself credit for. Growth comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone, so it can be uncomfortable but it doesn’t mean you can’t do it. I think being in a helping profession it can be difficult to admit that we need help sometimes too. We are human and we don’t have all the answers or have it all together all of the time and that’s okay. Sometimes in life when we have a goal or a dream, it can be debilitating seeing all of the barriers we have to overcome to get there. I learned throughout this process to direct my focus on doing the next right thing and focus on the step in front of me rather than the whole staircase. It is truly never too late or too early to go after what makes you happy! If you are an associate wanting to open up your own private practice, finding a supervisor that can assist you in achieving your goals and dreams is a huge asset. My supervisor, Katelyn Williams LPC-S, has been the most incredible supervisor I could have ever asked for on this journey.
Pricing:
- Private Pay $130
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.transformtherapyco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformtherapyco
- Other: Email: alicia@transformtherapyco.com
Image Credits
MADEBYLEE PHOTOS LLC
