Meet Kate Willecke

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kate Willecke a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kate, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

It has been a journey to get to where I am today. While I am a therapist, I have my own history of mental health struggles. It feels weird to disclose struggles around what I am expected to be ‘an expert’ on, but part of what I am learning about myself is living authentically is the best way for me to show up for myself. I started out like many young, impressionable teenagers, who struggled with self-identity, not trusting myself, and not knowing my values. I experienced anxiety and depression, both of which made me feel disconnected to myself and instead, I leaned into what my peers were doing to cope (which resulted in more disconnection and loss of identity). During the last 10-15 years, I’ve gained clarity on how to manage panic attacks, how to be kind to my sad and nervous parts, and connect back to myself. One of the most influential experiences I’ve had around this has been completing my certification in Synergetic Play Therapy this last year. Synergetic Play Therapy is a kind of play therapy that incorporates neurobiology and nervous system regulation; the best way I can describe this training is it teaches you how to come home to yourself in the midst of a challenge. This directly relates to my confidence and self-esteem because I feel like I can trust myself, allow my humanness to shine through, and build an ongoing relationship with myself. The road to gaining confidence and self-esteem has been challenging and also beautiful because I’ve come into knowing my true self and through using a Synergetic Play Therapy lens, I give myself permission to be human and love myself through it all.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I opened my private practice in April 2024 after working in community mental health, schools, and hospitals for the last 8 years. I am a licensed clinical social worker and am certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist (yay, clinical jargon). In taking this leap into private practice, I feel as though I finally put myself (and my values) first – having time to be a wife and mom to 2 energetic little humans, while still doing what I love and working with therapy clients. Professionally, I am passionate about supporting clients find home within themselves and increase safety and joy within their lives. I feel very strongly about focusing on relationship and connection within the therapy space, while incorporating mind-body practices, creative expression, and clunky humanness during sessions. I offer a mix of in person and Telehealth services for clients because let’s be real, staying at home in your pajamas with your pet and a blanket might be the preferred way to do therapy. Personally, I enjoy spending time with my family, exploring new places, dance parties, reading, and painting.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Connection to self, empathy, and humor. All three of these have played a huge role in my life. I wouldn’t be able to move through challenges or the ups and downs of life without being able to connect back to myself. Empathy holds so much power to see what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes and to provide understanding to what they are going through. Empathy can break down walls that have been firmly placed for years, it can allow you to see and feel loved, it can empower you to take action to help another person, and it can provide healing. And lastly, humor has gotten me through some of the hardest moments in my personal life and my career. If all else fails, I’m going to try to see the brighter side of things and laugh through it.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, I first notice the body cues that tell me I feel this way- I check in on my jaw, my shoulders, my forehead, my hands, and my chest. Then, I look inward to part of me that feels overwhelmed and visualize giving it a hug or a blanket, telling it “I see you and it’s okay that you’re here.” Next, I try to ground myself in sensory details and affirmations – I notice 5 things I can see, 4 things I can hear, 3 things I can touch, 2 things I can smell, and 1 thing I can taste; I stretch or sit upright and take belly breaths; I tell myself it’s going to be okay. I turn on some calming music and write a to-do list or brain dump in a journal. I try my hardest to tune out the noise of the world, connect to my body and my senses, and be kind to the part of me that needs to feel heard and felt in that moment.

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