Meet Katie Christensen

We recently connected with Katie Christensen and have shared our conversation below.

Katie, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Overcoming imposter syndrome is an ongoing process for me. The short answer: I do the things I’m scared to do. The long answer: Honestly, this is something I’ve been working on in therapy for a long time, as I’ve struggled with recognizing my worth and value—which often shows up as self-doubt. One of the most helpful things I’ve learned—and continue to practice—is building trust with myself through consistent, intentional actions. If I want a bagel, I go get bagels. If I feel like taking a walk, I take a walk. These may seem like small things, but they’re meaningful ways I show up for myself. And the more I follow through on the small things, the more I learn to trust myself with the bigger things—like making confident decisions about my future or navigating moments of doubt. I’m learning to consistently honor who I am. So when self-doubt or imposter syndrome creeps in, I can meet it with compassion, talk myself through it, and trust that I’ll get through.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, and I opened my private mental health practice in December 2024. I’m passionate about working with individuals who have faced various life challenges and are seeking personal growth, healing, and a renewed relationship with themselves. My work often focuses on those dealing with anxiety, emotional neglect, and relational or developmental trauma. Lately, I’m especially excited about integrating trauma-informed approaches like Brainspotting and Internal Family Systems. These modalities help people move through the layers of trauma and emerge with greater health, clarity, and wholeness.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three qualities that have helped me the most are persistence, creativity, and hope. My biggest piece of advice for anyone just starting out—or starting over—is this: you’re allowed to take your time to figure out what you want to do, and then find a way you want to do it. Try your best to tune out the noise of what you think you “should” be doing, and instead give yourself the time and space to discover what truly matters to you. Once you find that clarity, don’t give up on yourself. Keep showing up, even when it’s hard—because it will pay off, and you’ll build the kind of trust that reminds you: you can do hard things.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

My husband has been my biggest supporter. He’s there for the pep talks, but also for the practical things—like filling out paperwork, submitting my business license, and making Diet Coke runs when I need a boost. Whenever I come up with a new idea, he meets it with excitement and encouragement, always reminding me that we’ll figure it out together. When things don’t go as planned, he’s the softest place to land. His support has helped me quiet my inner critic, especially in tough moments, and that’s had a big impact on how I speak to myself. Honorable mentions go to my past and current therapists, Laura and Connie—who’ve both played a meaningful role in this journey.

Contact Info:

• Other: email: Katie@rootcounselingservices.net