We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sara Hooten a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Sara with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I grew up in the woods of East Texas, and we had a garden full of peas, corn, tomatoes, and peppers. My summers were spent waking up at sunrise, tending to the garden, and harvesting vegetables. My first hand at entrepreneurship was selling bushels of peas to our small town community. One summer my goal was to earn enough money to buy a new bedroom furniture set, and by the end of the summer I met my goal. I owe those hot summer days for setting the stage for my perseverance, confidence, and determination. I learned I can do hard things and achieve my goals.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I own a private practice for services in mental health therapy. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and an Internationally Credentialed Sandtray Therapist. I work with children, teens, young adults, and families to help overcome life’s challenges, improve relationships with self and others, and learn ways to reduce and cope with stress. I love using sandtray therapy as a way for the clients to learn more about themselves and process emotions. Sandtray therapy uses a variety of miniatures to build scenes and stories in sand. It’s a great way to access the right side of our brain where early trauma lies as well as our feelings and emotions.
I often use nature to improve mental health and promote mental wellbeing. My clients and I often go outside, using the nature around us as a mindfulness and emotional regulation tool, and we do walk and talk therapy as a way to help connect what’s going on in the brain with moving the body.
In addition, I created hiking events for young girls in my community. The goals are to promote peer empowerment, build confidence and self-esteem, and practice stress management techniques while in nature. The girls have fun spending time with their peers, challenging themselves to hike at least a couple of miles, and exploring what nature has to offer.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Get out of your comfort zone! What does getting out of your comfort zone look like for you? I believe when we push ourselves into something new, different, or even what scares us is when growth happens. 2. Be a life learner. This mindset has helped me through my journey as a therapist and business owner. We can learn more about ourselves, others, and our career through asking questions, listening to mentors and others who have extensive knowledge, and attending conferences or seminars.
3. Have perseverance in your challenges and setbacks. Reflect on where you are currently in your journey and where you want your goals to take you in the future. Often life will lead us on different paths whether that is with career or personal, but adjusting and persevering through those challenges or changes will help you on your journey. Don’t forget to celebrate all the little and big wins!
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
This is an important question because I think many of us are feeling overwhelmed with life’s stressors. The number one strategy I practice with my clients is taking deep and controlled breaths. It sounds so simple, but can be very impactful. When we take deep breaths, it sends signals to your brain and nervous system to relax. A few other strategies to reset our nervous system when feeling overwhelmed is talking to your support system, going outside and taking a walk, journaling or drawing, or using something cold on your face like a towel or ice roller. Even if it is just a few minutes of your day, incorporate what brings you peace and calmness.
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Image Credits
Amber McNutt (for photos of me)
