We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Juliet Rowsey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Juliet, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
Absolutely, and the first thing I will say is that confidence is one thing humans are continuously growing throughout life. My confidence journey really began in college when I experienced intense imposter syndrome for the first time. I was a first generation college student who used comparison, perfectionism and self-criticism to guide the unfamiliar terrain of academia. Graduate school only amplified my inner-world until I had no choice but to address it and find a new way. I went on a journey to accumulate self-respect and discharge the need to be liked. Through that uncomfortable trek, I started to find my way back to me – my truest self. It’s not always the “easy” thing, being authentically yourself, but it is the necessary thing.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I own and operate Grey Embraced, a private practice in Charlotte focusing on providing people with an approachable and authentic therapy experience. I use approaches rooted in science, but never in a rigid way that narrows the lens I look through, I love my job and feel so privileged that I spend my days in deep conversation with people who want to do their own deep, inner-work. Soon I will be heading to Oxford University in the UK to consult with and learn from some of Psychology’s most influential researchers and pioneers in the field. When I am back, I will be taking everything I learned to refine and refresh my approach.
The Charlotte office has been open since January 2023. Before that I was living and practicing in the Netherlands, Stay tuned for 2025! By then I hope to be ready to expand and hire on other amazing practitioners who are passionate about this work.
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?
The three most impactful qualities / skills / knowledge areas so far in my journey have been self-confidence, cultural competence and understanding the biological side of trauma. It is typical as a new therapist to doubt yourself, and at times I still do! However, getting comfortable in the chair and confident in myself as a therapist has really translated to my client’s experience. Usually with time the confidence comes, so in the meantime hold tight and reaffirm yourself as much as you need! With confidence comes willingness to look for and acknowledge my own blind spots. Examining my biases and honoring all that my client brings to the table is just a piece of how I try to operate competently across cultures and backgrounds. I stay current with what is going on in our world, I consult with clinicians across diverse backgrounds / identities, and most importantly, I listen. Lastly, studying the brain and body has helped me be a better therapist. The best way to develop this knowledge is by being a lifelong learner – attend conferences, read research articles and take courses. The field of psychology is still so new, so there is so much to still be learned.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
There are three main things that have been most helpful in my career so far. The first is self-compassion. Through a lot of work with my own therapist and supervisor, I practice gentle kindness toward myself and hopefully model that for my clients. The second thing is rallying my support team. Since I am in solo practice, it is important for me to stay connected and involved with other clinicians, healers and helpers so I don’t practice in isolation. This not only benefits the quality of treatment my clients receive, it also guards my mental well-being working in this field. Lastly, I could not have overcome some of my challenges without setting clear boundaries around work. Although I am in-love with psychology and love being a therapist, I also have a lot of loves and interests outside of work. When I am not in the office I disconnect and engage with other parts of my life. Being a therapist is only a part of who I am. Knowing this along with having support and self-compassion has been essential during the challenging moments.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.greyembraced.com
- Instagram: @greyembraced
Image Credits
Vanesa Venable
