We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Benita DeLuca a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Benita, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
If you were to ask me this question years ago I would say my sole purpose in life is to help others find their purpose. I realize that this response is primarily “other” focused, which I must digress; there is more to me than how capable and/or effective I am of being of service to others.
I’m currently contemplating the idea of shifting my focus from finding meaning, to finding things to invest myself in. For me, at this moment, that is having healthy relationships with people, seeing to my personal health, showing myself and others loving-kindness, and developing hobbies and interests I enjoy. This can of course shift and change as we are always evolving.
I live life in accordance with what matters and draw meaning from that. In my opinion, this can lead one to a purposeful life that nourishes and sustains you and the world around you.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My journey to becoming a therapist began way before I even had the desire to become a therapist. As a child it became a natural default of mine to counsel other adults about adult issues in a home environment that was oftentimes very dysfunctional. In my late-teen years I struggled with an eating disorder known as anorexia nervosa which led me to being hospitalized at the age of 17. It wasn’t until where I was connected with some life-changing resources, one of which was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker that held space for me in ways that nobody had ever have in my life. She played such a significant role in my mental health journey to that of which inspired me to want to assist others as they are healing from various traumas.
I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from University of Kentucky and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Arizona State University. After completing graduate school in 2019 I spent my first two years of my career working in community mental health and then later was offered an opportunity to branch off to working in a private practice setting.
In January 2023 I started my private practice, “Brave Heart Therapy”, which is located in Mesa, Arizona. I provide psychotherapy to individual adults (18+) and specialize in trauma, PTSD, C-PTSD, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, mood disorders, and life transitions. As of March 2024, Brave Heart Therapy has now grown to be a group private practice, as I have brought on an associate therapist to work alongside me.
As a therapist, my goal is to not just do something for others but rather be something for others. I would consider myself to be down-to-earth, compassionate, however I will also be straightforward and hold my clients accountable for their actions and behaviors for their own best interest. I’m not a blank-slate, and what I mean by that is that I will allow my personality to be a part of the therapeutic process. I believe there is so much value in someone’s healing to be seen by another human who is grounded in their own authenticity. My aim is to create a space where others can just be, feel secure, experience absolute acceptance, and rewrite any self-defeating narratives of themselves.
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?
The number one thing that has been the most impactful in my journey is my investment in my own self-development. Whether that be your own personal psycho-therapy, self-help books, personal reflection, journaling, etc. I firmly believe that we can only meet others as deeply as we meet ourselves.
Secondly, dropping the ego can open up your mind to grow and learn. Admit when you don’t know something, don’t be afraid to ask for help, if you miss the mark with someone/something seek for understanding. No one is expecting you to be perfect or all-knowing, therefore you don’t have to try to show up this way.
Lastly, I would credit self-acceptance. Acceptance isn’t agreeing, condoning, or endorsing. Instead it is about acknowledging reality in the present moment, without judgment or resistance. When we practice acceptance with ourselves it aids in decreasing our own pain/suffering and also being able to show up authentically and non-judgmentally in the world around us.
How would you describe your ideal client?
Someone who endlessly wonders what is wrong with them, why they feel the way they do, or why they are the way they are. They try to talk themselves out of the emotional responses that they have and get so frustrated with themselves that it doesn’t work. They feel like no matter what they just aren’t enough and everything is their fault. They feel abandoned or fear being abandoned. They feel like they’re too much for anyone. They feel lost and don’t know if they will ever truly know or trust themselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bravehearttherapyaz.com/
- Instagram: bravehearttherapy
- Facebook: Brave Heart Therapy
- Other: email: [email protected]
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