Expert psychotherapist Stephanie Gilbert believes awareness is the key to improving our lives and the world at large. She has implemented changes at her clinic, Stephanie Gilbert and the Associates, LLC, by promoting telehealth and offering psychotherapy in multiple languages, e.g., Spanish, Russian, and Chinese. These have proven to be effective in making mental health more accessible to all.
After running a successful psychotherapy practice, Stephanie has a well-planned future involving more significant ambitions. In an exclusive interview, Stephanie shares her journey as a psychotherapist and her plans to remove the stigma of mental illness.
Q: Coming from a family of successful businesswomen, what encouraged you to pursue psychotherapy?
My struggles with some mental health disorders during my childhood motivated me to pursue a career in this field. I was diagnosed with an eating disorder as a teen and later OCD. My father passed away when I was six unfortunately, which most likely contributed to my issues. I had to put in a lot of effort to overcome these struggles.
Now, I am in a position that allows me to talk about mental health in general and my issues more openly with others. I also want others to understand that your past struggles with mental health do not define your present.
Q: We have seen you speak openly about your mental health struggles. Do you believe this will help remove the stigma of mental illness?
Sometimes people look for examples to make a move they are unsure about. When I share my journey with others, they may then be motivated to take the psychotherapeutic route they may have otherwise pursued. My hope is it helps them seek relief for their symptoms, which they never thought were due to their past trauma, abuse, anxiety, or stress.
Sharing my personal experiences with mental health allows others to understand my perspective and can make them feel less isolated in their struggles. That is why I never really hesitate to share that information because I believe a tool to reduce stigma is people sharing what they’ve been through, and I’m in a position where I feel comfortable sharing.
There can be polarizing views on how much a therapist shares, so I try not to go into too many details but rather give the broad picture. I’ve done a lot of hard work in my recovery, and now I am at a place where those struggles and diagnoses don’t define me, but rather they’re part of what I went through. With self-awareness and the right kind of treatment, I got here today despite those issues.
I also observe that when a person shares their story with me, it gives context to their behavior and actions, which helps me empathize with them. Displaying empathy allows me to listen and understand their experience better.
Q: Now that we are almost past COVID-19 restrictions, do you plan to continue online consultations for your clients?
Yes, of course! We can not overlook the benefits of telehealth. Telehealth offers much-needed flexibility and accessibility to my patients, especially to those residing in remote areas and those with diagnoses such as social anxiety disorder and OCD.
It allows people to take counseling sessions from their homes or anywhere they feel comfortable and relaxed. It saves them commuting and scheduling time and resources required to travel for every session. Patients only need a stable internet connection and a place with privacy.
Also, the pandemic has caused anxiety disorders to become the most common mental health diagnosis in the US. I firmly believe telehealth is a potential solution to the post-pandemic mental health crisis.
Q: What are your plans for promoting Mental Health Awareness, considering your busy clinical schedule?
I plan to take some extra time out from regular practice to engage in non-profit activities, which has been an important priority to me for a while. I want to assist abuse survivors and patients who can not afford therapy sessions, and am always looking for creative ways to get mental health resources to more people. That way, I can work on macro changes, positively impacting people in need.
I also plan to engage in public speaking activities, including in-person and online sessions, to encourage people toward therapy and provide psychoeducational resources. I love what I do so much as a therapist, and now I would like to expand my reach from one on one sessions to talking more publicly about mental health topics.
It is inspiring to know that Stephanie Gilbert’s efforts embody the potential to make a significant change in our society. Dedicated individuals like her deserve recognition and support if we hope to create a better future.
To learn more about Stephanie Gilbert and her mission to promote mental health awareness and accessibility, follow her on Instagram and visit her website.