We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Samantha Hoover. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Samantha below.
Hi Samantha, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
Imposter syndrome is NO JOKE. You’d think that after so many years of schooling, therapists would generally be more confident in their skillset. I’ve found the opposite to be true–that the more schooling you have, the more you are aware of what you don’t know. Especially in the mental health field, there’s always something new to learn, someone’s always coming out with a new theory, and you’re always seeing new cases and client issues. The best way I’ve learned to cope with imposter syndrome is normalizing it. Talking with colleagues has made me realize that all the “best therapists” struggle with feeling like they shouldn’t be in this position. Also, taking continuing education one step at a time instead of expecting yourself to know everything about every case immediately. I’ve been seeing clients for about 5 years now, and I know I’ve grown so much as a therapist since 2019. That doesn’t mean I’m anywhere close to being done learning. But, just because there’s always more to learn, that doesn’t mean I’m inadequate. Sometimes, I’ll look back at the clients that I’ve been able to help (in any way), and even if I would do something differently now, what’s true is that my skillset back then still helped someone.
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 mental health therapist, specializing in teenagers and young adults, with a focus on anxiety, perfectionism, work-life balance, and trauma. I also incorporate Christian elements into session, when a client requests it. My main goal as a therapist is to help people navigate life transitions, building a toolbox along the way. Sometimes I’ll have a client come in that really just feels lost and directionless, which is honestly one of my favorite kinds of cases to work with! I love helping people make sense of their trauma and past experiences, and help them see the roses in the thorns.
I’ve been practicing for a few years now, but officially launched my own practice April of 2023! It’s been one of the best experiences so far. I love being a part of the Frisco community. In the next year, I’m hoping to hire my first associate and start expanding to do more couples therapy and premarital counseling.
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?
By far, the best thing to do if you’re hoping to start your own practice or become a therapist has been learning from others. In this field especially, the mentors you have can truly shape your career. I always knew I wanted to have my own practice, so I purposefully sought out people who could teach me how to do it. Mentors matter!
Your ability and desire to learn, take constructive criticism, and be creative are the three qualities I think really helped me create a business that I love.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am always looking for people to collaborate with, especially other therapists or practitioners! Every so often, I do Instagram Lives where I like to partner with other professionals in the field and talk about a shared interest, whether it be enneagram, young adult books, mental health, or stress. If you’re a professional who would like to be featured, shoot me a DM on Instagram @thornandrosecounseling
And as I mentioned before, I am hoping to start expanding Thorn & Rose Counseling in the next year through hiring LPCs and LPC Associates who have a heart for young adults and teenagers. My hope is to take on another individual therapy clinician, and a couples/family therapist. This position would be great for someone who wants to start seeing clients in private practice, and is wanting some supervision/education along the way. I love collaborative therapy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thornandrosecounseling.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/thornandrosecounseling
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthahoover/
