We recently had the chance to connect with Gina Behm, LCPC and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Gina, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I firmly believe most people are struggling to be honest with themselves. We have this tendency to equate being flawed with being bad, so when we acknowledge our mistakes, fears or shortcomings it can feel like we are validating that “bad” part of ourselves and become only that. Honesty with ourselves can be scary to face and even more difficult to achieve living in a society that rewards perfectly polished highlight reels. I have learned from years of sitting with others’ struggles that taking an honest look at our whole person, failures and all, is an essential part of accepting our authentic selves and ultimately achieving lasting peace and happiness.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Gina Behm, a mental health therapist specializing in eating disorders, anxiety, and the everyday stressors that come with simply being human.
I work with people who often feel like they’re doing all the right things but still feel stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed. My goal is to help my clients create meaningful and lasting change in their lives by taking a hard look at themselves to better understand the “why” behind their patterns, not just manage their symptoms.
What makes my work a little different is that I focus deeply on helping clients move from self-judgment to self-compassion. I believe that healing happens when we can be honest with ourselves and we can do so without shame. That means we talk about the hard things, but we do it in a space that feels safe, real, and supportive. My overall goal is to help people recognize their unhelpful behaviors and hold space for the belief that they can change, even when they’re struggling to believe it themselves. When you forget you’re lovable, worthy, and important, I’ll hold that truth for you.
I integrate evidence-based practices with a very human, relational approach. You’re not just a diagnosis or a behavior to “fix”, you’re a whole person, and you deserve to be treated that way.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I have been open on my socials about the grip that comparison, competitiveness, and perfectionism had on me in my younger years. I truly believed that being “better” than others was the only way to feel worthy – get all A’s, read faster, be funnier, wear cooler clothes, make the starting lineup. It felt like my value was always up for debate and every room I walked into I was silently being measured against everyone else. When I didn’t come out “on top,” I would internalize it as failure and I showed up as angry, petty and (hindsight 20/20), pretty unlikable.
What I didn’t realize at the time was that these patterns come at a cost. Comparison and competition often bring jealousy, self-doubt, and a harsh inner critic. Perfectionism, despite its appearance of control and excellence, is rooted in the fear of never being enough. Now, I know that I am the only one on my path – my only real competition is the version of me from yesterday, and even she was pretty damn worthy.
This mindset shift didn’t happen overnight and I have to remind myself of it often. Growth isn’t linear, but self-compassion makes the journey a whole lot more bearable. If you set a goal to be gentle with yourself and show up with your best for that day, you are already enough.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
For me, it’s the fear of what others might think. Going back to some of my earliest beliefs, I’ve always been deeply affected by the possibility of others’ judgments, assumptions, criticisms, and perceptions. Whenever I feel a spark of inspiration or come up with a new idea, it’s often followed by a wave of doubt: What if people think it’s stupid?
That fear has held me back more times than I can count and honestly still does! Lately, I’ve been toying with the idea of writing a fiction novel, but the moment I let myself dream about it, the fear kicks in – Will they hate it? Will they think I’m unqualified? The Goodreads reviewers will eat me alive! I could easily hide behind the excuse of being “too busy,” but the truth is I’m scared.
So yes, even now, I have to challenge my fears daily. I have to keep reminding myself that the version of me worth showing up as is the one that feels right to me, not the one shaped by other people’s expectations.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Okay, this isn’t necessarily a therapy lie (and honestly, I am cringing at the thought of calling therapy an “industry”), but when it comes to the broader world of wellness, self-help, and personal development, one of the biggest lies out there is this: That someone else can tell you exactly what you need to do to be happy.
The truth? Only you know that, because only you know the entirety of your desires, needs, fears, values, and goals.
The internet is overflowing with influencers, 10-step plans, coaching programs, and accountability groups all promising transformation if you just do what they did. But they aren’t you. The most powerful thing you can do for yourself is not to follow someone else’s path, but to create your own. That requires time, intention, and a willingness to turn inward. To ask hard questions, to listen, and then to go after the answers with clarity and courage.
Your life doesn’t need a template, it needs your own individual truth. And please don’t come to therapy excepting your therapist to tell you what to do, because we won’t – you can “find” that on the internet if you’d like 🙂
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Complaining. No long explanation needed. I’ve spent too much of my time focused on what’s wrong, what’s missing, or what isn’t fair. If I knew the clock was ticking in a more tangible way, I hope I would find a way to better validate my real struggles without letting them steal the joy from my day. Life is too short to spend it miserable.
p.s. this is an ongoing new years goal of mine I keep adapting… it’s hard out here to break a habit!!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ginabehmwellness.com
- Instagram: gina.behm_wellness
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginabehmwellness/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ginabehmwellness
Image Credits
Caitlin T Photo
