We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Leah Hoffman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Leah below.
Leah , we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?
To me, the best self-care revolves around connection, connection to ourselves, nature, and the positive people we surround ourselves with. As we increase compassion for ourselves, it becomes easier to identify and attune to our needs and emotions. Building a secure and consistent base of positive support also provides us space to gain support, vent, and unwind within a community. Being our own best friend, truly loving ourselves, and being surrounded by a supportive community allows us to be effective, grounded, and secure as we navigate our daily lives and the challenges of the world. Self-care is not meant to be squeezed into our schedule but rather a framework of how we attune to and take care of ourselves each day.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a mental health therapist, life and relationship coach, and couple’s counselor. Throughout my life, I have enjoyed working with people one-on-one, learning their stories, and understanding their dreams of forging deep and meaningful connections with others. I used to say I “fell” into the world of therapy, but reflecting back (and with the guidance of my own therapists and teachers), I can now see that becoming a therapist was no coincidence. Like many in a helping profession, I was seeking a deeper understanding of myself, my relationships, and how to navigate the world with a greater sense of safety. My own healing journey built the foundation of compassion and care I hold for every client who steps into my office.
I enjoy supporting clients looking to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and strengthen their connection to their own self and the people they love in their lives. I do not view clients based on the medical model approach of mental illness or diagnosis but, instead, listen to their stories of pain, resilience, and healing to gain an understanding of each person in front of me. I developed my business, Growing Together Counseling & Healing, to provide my community with a safe space to explore the curiosities about ourselves and relationships and dive into the messy work of healing.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The most impactful quality is my dedication and commitment to my personal healing journey. This includes practicing what I preach in my office, acknowledging my own shadows and flaws, and being willing to participate in the activities I ask my clients to do. All therapists and healers should be committed to ongoing personal growth. I highly recommend new therapists find a trusted therapist of their own and carve out time each day for self-reflection to practice the skills they are teaching clients.
Finding meaningful mentors to lean on and look up to has been another important factor in my career success. I have been lucky to find excellent mentors among my supervisors, colleagues, and hired coaches. Maintaining a framework that being a therapist is an ongoing learning journey is helpful in being open and curious to learn new perspectives, modalities, and theories in the industry.
Practicing a work-life balance is another skill that supports myself and my business and reduces the risk of burnout. Taking care of both clients and yourself requires balance; we must ensure the world of psychology doesn’t consume the entirety of our brain’s capacity and leave ourselves plenty of space for fun and play. The therapy industry experiences high levels of burnout, so running the business side of a practice while taking care of clients’ needs and managing a personal life is a balancing act that needs to be handled with care. For me, achieving a sense of balance combines self-reflection with a good understanding of my personal and business needs and strong boundaries.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
I specialize in supporting highly motivated adults and couples who want to improve their connection to themselves and others and feel a sense of internal safety and support as they navigate their world. My work with individuals focuses on understanding how their life experiences have impacted their present, helping them heal childhood trauma and wounds, and teaching them to learn and love their most authentic selves. Couples in my office learn how to increase their connection, build vulnerability safely, feel confident communicating effectively, and heal unresolved emotional hurts and betrayals. I value a holistic approach to healing, as I believe recovery happens through strengthening the mind, body, and soul connection.
Contact Info:
- Website: growingtogetherllc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growingtogethercounseling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552144422546
