Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori Alvarez.
Hi Lori, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As a kid, I was described as shy and sensitive. Sometimes stubborn and hyper-independent. I did well enough in school that no one caught my inattentive type ADHD. I wasn’t the stereotypical ADHD, as many girls aren’t, but I was definitely struggling and ended up just having to teach myself most things. Now I know that my symptoms made me feel like I was more of an outside observer of things other people just knew how to participate in. I just couldn’t keep up and I didn’t know why.
Over time, this manifested in anxiety and depression. I finally decided to talk to a doctor in college. It took many more years to get to a proper diagnosis and treatment, but every step of that process was what I needed at the time. Throughout that process, I finished my bachelor’s in psychology, got my master’s degree (after a little trial and error), and turned that “outside observer” feeling into my proudest and most fulfilling strength as a therapist.
My career has been through it’s own trial and error, but I can’t believe how much I love it. I feel like one of the lucky ones who ended up in the right places (and meeting the right people) at the right time to land in a place where I get to do my most favorite thing for work. And, of course, it has helped my mental health and my own relationships in ways I never could have imagined.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Has it been a smooth road? Nope. Do smooth roads exist? Aside from the collective traumas we’ve all been through, I have been through plenty of my own struggles and difficult times. My family has been through a lot of uncertainty and loss. I have been through bad relationships and loss of friendships that deeply impacted me. And even as I was seeking help for my mental health, it took everything that I had (and constant support from my family and friends) to get through my graduate degree. Shortly after graduation, I started to notice some health issues and was eventually diagnosed with a chronic illness that impacts me every day.
All of it makes me say cuss words, and ultimately it makes me who I am.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My business is a private practice offering therapy to individual adults, couples, and families/friend groups. I do this from my office in the historic West Bottoms and online across Missouri. I’m incredibly grateful and proud that I have been able to inject so much of myself into my brand and my practice as a therapist. I made it for myself and for everyone else who has felt like they have to hide or polish up some part of themselves in order to seek mental healthcare.
There are so many aspects of identity that have been excluded in our healthcare system. My brand is “Misfits” and it does not look like a traditional mental healthcare brand because it is not meant for those who feel most comfortable with the traditional. It is meant for those who have been excluded because of their race, disability, sexuality, gender, body size, etc. etc. My brand is a little spooky because that’s what I love and because I want people to immediately know that I’m not trying to blend in and appeal to the mainstream. I’m trying to show people that they can be their authentic selves when seeking mental healthcare.
I treat all kinds of things in my office ( trauma, grief, anxiety, relationship issues, work-related stress, etc.). My specialty is seeing people that have often gone unseen and helping them create a life they love and thrive in, regardless of what specific issue they bring in.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
That life is not about being prepared or smart enough to avoid trouble and accomplish the right things. It’s not meant to look the same for everyone and it’s not meant to feel easy or positive all the time. It’s about building something beautiful and full of a whole range of experiences, both individually and with community.
Pricing:
- $175 per 50 minute session
Contact Info:
- Website: https://misfitskc.com/
