Daily Inspiration: Meet Christin Trott

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christin Trott.

Hi Christin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have worked in mental health for about 15 years now and feel that I have helped a lot of people through my counseling and case management work. However, I found myself stuck in community mental health where I didn’t have much freedom to do my work in a way that felt fulfilling to me. I have always felt that I could be a more effective provider with more freedom in my schedule and with the freedom to devote myself to those who specific populations. I specifically wanted to work with those who struggle with intense emotions (anxiety, grief, complex trauma, high sensitivity), relationship problems, and finding balance in their lives. In 2017, I went back to school to complete the necessary coursework to apply for my full LPC license and in 2023 I opened my private practice. In the last two years I have been learning the ropes to advertise and reach the clients I feel I can best help while finding the freedom in my schedule to care for myself in the ways that I know make me the most effective provider.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest struggles have been going back to school and working on my license as a single mom. I won’t get into the gruesome relationship details about my children’s father but that was not a very supportive relationship and has finally ended for good. During the course of our difficult relationship, I often found myself learning to cope with my own intense emotions and need for balance. These situations have greatly informed my work as a professional. The skills I teach in therapy are backed up by research but also by my own lived experience using them since I’ve had to use many of these skills to move myself through my own difficulties.

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?
I am a mental health counselor/therapist. I work with folks with intense emotions, relationship problems, and addiction, This can look like many different things such as anxiety or panic attacks, borderline personality disorder, complex trauma, relationship trauma, betrayal or religious trauma, difficulties with attachment style, family trauma, and various kinds of difficulties participating in extreme or addictive behavior. My primary therapeutic approach is trauma-informed, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy which means I like to help my clients make sense of their past traumas and difficult experiences through narrative building and then I help them learn to manage difficult emotions and thoughts through mindfulness, emotion skills, and some thought examination skills. I also help them learn interpersonal and communication skills where needed. I am probably most proud of my work in mindfulness as I think that our society today is so out of touch with what makes us truly happy and fulfilled. I see my work in mindfulness as a way to get back in touch with the body and the senses, which is a route to a more deeply fulfilling life.

What are your plans for the future?
My goal as a therapist has always been to achieve private practice status. Maybe I will expand from there, but I’m not really sure that I will want to. I think that there is something very idiosyncratic about therapists – that we operate best when we have the freedom to care for ourselves throughout the way in exactly the way that we need to, whether this means doing a meditation, going for a walk, grabbing a coffee, or hitting up a favorite thrift store. I do my best work with clients when I feel deeply fulfilled in my own life. A small business is a perfect place for me to do this without having to worry about employees or the bigger vision for my business. This isn’t to say I wont’ expand, this is simply to say that I think I will be able to continue to reach the people who need me if I don’t lose sight of my self care.

Pricing:

• $110 per session individual counseling
• $110 per session for mindfulness/relaxation therapy
• $130 per session for couples counseling

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etrecounselingkc.com
• Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1117611