Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Brittany McGeehan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dr. Brittany, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Growing up I was told I was too much and needed to tone down who I was. Whether I was too loud, my clothes weren’t the right style, or more often than not, my opinion wasn’t what it “should” be, I internalized the message that I needed to fix who I was. That other people’s opinions of who I was mattered more than what I actually thought. This led me to paying attention to what others wanted from me rather and using that to inform who I was rather than getting curious about who I was, what I enjoyed, and what I wanted out of life.
As I got older and got into therapy I worked to make sense out of this pattern of behavior and slowly learned to not only explore who I was but also what I wanted in life. Over time this slowly correlated to bringing these preferences, wants, needs, and ideas into my life. As a result, my relationships shifted and got healthier and my career blossomed into the vision that it is now. The thing that I imagined would drive people away from me (and in some cases it did) actually drew a deeply aligned community and village into my life that reflected and appreciated me for who I am. For me, this is the definition of self-esteem/confidence. It’s not a trait that you have or don’t have, it’s a daily practice and decision that we have the opportunity to make over and over. The more often you are honest with yourself and others about who you are and what you want, the more this is positively reinforced and the stronger that muscle becomes.
Over time, this muscle becomes second nature to use. Similar to riding a bike or swimming if those are skills you have. They’re relatively easy to tap into when you need them. Even though a life led in self-esteem may not always result in the life you imagined, it does lead to a life that is deeply aligned and authentic. And that’s why I get so excited teaching others to do so in my work.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Oh gosh, I love my work. I own two businesses. One where I serve clients clinically via therapy and another coaching business where I work with therapists and executives looking to build more profitable and aligned businesses while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
The first business I run is for my clinical work. I’m a Licensed Psychologist with a private practice in Frisco, Texas where I serve C-Suite women who have experienced childhood trauma and are looking to build healthier marriages. I provide individual and group therapy, family of origin intensives, consultation for therapists looking to hone their skills within family of origin trauma, as well as workshops. I get so excited for this work because I’ve lived it first hand. My husband and I got married way too young (for us, I would never say there’s a certain age when someone is “ready” for marriage, but for us we were too young) and because of our childhood experiences and lack of knowing any better we had developed unhealthy relationship dynamics. Over time we ended up separating until we both leaned into our own personal work and built what we now call our second marriage. One built on respect, self-accountability, and hope. It’s a story I’m so incredibly honored to have experienced and one that I deeply believe is possible for every client walking in my door. I always say that I’m not sure what their story will entail, it’s not always a traditional ending with the saving of a marriage, but it always ends with the client feeling more secure with themselves, more aligned with their life choices, and a deep sense of renewal and hope. My clinical work has an emphasis on active and direct work. My clients come in ready to lean into the hard work so we can get them in and out and on with their lives. I’m a big believer that quality therapy doesn’t take 20 years.
The second prong of my business is coaching for therapists and executives looking to level up their businesses. The work I do with business owners is so rewarding because I teach them that they don’t have to abandon themselves in order to be more profitable and that often their own family of origin trauma is actually what is getting in the way of their next strategic step toward success. This facet of my business has evolved from my love of building my own business and continuing to share it with those around me. I absolutely love watching business owners light up as they realize that their creativity, unique perspective, and self-accountability is actually the key to their success. And that yes, you can totally have a quality family life and a profitable business. We really can have it all.
Most recently I’ve also started an organization for therapists which is providing business skills and knowledge to anyone in private practice. I’m excited to watch this organization grow and better serve those who are working so hard to on the front lines regarding mental health. Because when we take care of the provider we are ultimately serving everyone.
Lastly, I have several workshops lined up for the fall when I get back from maternity leave as well as a family of origin retreat as well. They will focus on business skills as well as building healthy marriages through boundaries. So if any of this is of interest let’s chat.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
3 qualities: 1. resiliency 2. grit 3. ability to embrace failure
I think the top 3 qualities that have been most impactful for me are probably my resiliency, creativity, and the ability to embrace failure. Without the ability to bounce back from any challenge, see things in a unique light, challenge the status quo, and not be afraid to fail, building a life and business will be incredibly challenging. Having all three qualities has allowed me to try new things over and over and not be afraid to keep trying even when I got knocked down.
My advice for folks who are early in their journey and are looking to embrace and improve these qualities is to find someone who does it well. You are who you keep company with and our journey is so largely energetic that if you bring people into your life who you admire certain qualities about, they will inevitably rub off on you. I also recommend making decisions based off what future you would appreciate. For example, future me loves when I take walks, even if current me would rather watch tv. Future me loves when I put myself out there for podcast appearances even if current me is nervous. You get it.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
Ok so if I’m being really honest and vulnerable here my biggest obstacle right now is allowing myself to be present in the season of life that I’m in. I’ve spent the last 5 years building my business, marriage, relationships, and life so that it could simultaneously support a lifestyle that I enjoy and be present for the children I wanted to bring into this world. Fast forward to now and I have 2 beautiful children, a phenomenal relationship with my businesses, a marriage that is human and wonderful, and the ability to show up for myself. And sometimes it can be a lot to take in and I can be tempted to create unnecessary busyness out of old habits. There is nothing more vulnerable in this life than joy. I work on this by doing a lot of body work (myofascial release is an important part of my regiment) and surrounding myself with an incredible community that grounds me. I also practice a lot of mindfulness to stay in the present moment rather than jumping ahead or getting caught up in the past. It’s not a perfect practice but it’s one that tends to my nervous system and my heart during such a vulnerable season that has brought so much sunshine into my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brittanymcgeehanphd.com
- Instagram: @brittanymcgeehanphd
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drbrittanymcgeehan
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-brittany-m-a81ab0145/
Image Credits
LaJune King
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