Kathryn Tipton is a licensed professional counselor and a founder of Houston Center for Valued Living. She has been practicing counselor since 2010 in Houston, Texas. Kathryn brings experience and thoughtfulness in the areas of maternal mental health, including anxiety, depression, and postpartum OCD. She also works with individuals experiencing generalized anxiety, stress, and life transitions. She holds a special place in her heart for clients experiencing chronic insomnia and uses short term behavioral treatments for long-term relief. In session, you can find Kathryn sipping on a cup of coffee in the morning or tea in the afternoon! She looks forward to joining you in consumption of a warm beverage and a heart to heart talk.
Why did you get into the field of counseling?
My parents always said that as a young child I loved getting into the middle of people’s problems and finding ways to help others feel better. As a teenager, I used to sit outside at lunch with a view of the freeway. I’d watch cars go by and I’d always think “Where are those people going? What are they thinking right now? What problems are they dealing with? What are they feeling? What is their story?”
Then, in college, I took one of those career personality tests. It told me that I was going to be a therapist. Just kidding, actually it told me that one of my ideal jobs was to be a forest ranger. Yup. For real. A forest ranger. (To be fair though, I think it said that for a lot of people right?! Or did it?) I think psychology was listed too, but I really remember forest ranger sticking out.
So, forest ranger was an option (and some days when I’m out walking in nature, I believe it). But as you know in college they force you to take a variety of courses. I always kind of assumed psychology was where I’d end up.
However, I remember as a freshman sitting in this introductory environmental engineering class of some sort and the professor went around the table asking everyone “What is going to be your major?” One by one they all answered “pre-med” or “engineering” or “accounting.” When it was finally my turn, I calmly stated “No clue.” They all laughed. My professor nicknamed me “No Clue Kathryn.” But truly, I didn’t want to commit myself to something like a major on my first day of college. You have to try things to really know if you like it! I actually encourage my clients to do this all the time – try something five times before you make up your mind about it.
Well, to no surprise, I developed “a clue” and psychology courses were the only courses that I always enjoyed. There wasn’t anything else I liked better so I just kept going with it. They were always interesting, engaging, and inspiring to me. And here I am today. I don’t regret any of it because I feel like I have the best job in the world!
What do you love best about your job?
In a way, I love truly getting to know you. It really is a huge honor to feel privy to your thoughts, your fears, your struggles, your joys, and your successes. Bearing witness to people’s journeys of growth can be so incredibly moving. I have a unique opportunity to meet people from various backgrounds, family dynamics, careers, religion, and points of view. I get to see how truly connected humans are in their universal human types of experiences (emotions, struggles, etc).
I know a lot of people assume that therapist jobs are really draining. But for me, most of the time, I find it energizing. Sure like most people I get up feeling like I’d rather just stay home and garden (forest ranger anyone?), but when I’m in a session with one of my clients, I’m totally in my element. And when clients achieve a breakthrough, confront pain they’ve been avoiding, or approach the world in a new more flexible way – it’s the icing on the cake!
What treatment modalities do you use in session?
The tool used in session of course depends on the problem at hand. I frequently use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (called “ACT” for short). This is a therapy that encourages psychological flexibility to help clients engage more fully with their lives in the moment. Additionally, I incorporate practices of self-compassion to help clients to be loving and kind to themselves, especially when they are suffering.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention are methods that I use when working with postpartum OCD and certain anxiety disorders.
For my clients with insomnia, I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, which is a specific type of therapy designed to help clients make significant changes to obtain more sleep and find relief from insomnia.
What do you want clients to know before beginning therapy?
Therapy is not always about making you feel better. Believe me, I want to. If I had a magic wand and I could take away all your suffering, I would. Unfortunately, this is not how life or emotions work. Sometimes therapy is about helping you feel better. Meaning, feel your feelings better. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes there are some really useful tools and strategies that we can use to help achieve relief! Additionally, I think of therapy as something to help you get unstuck from the stuff that’s holding you back from doing the things in life that bring you joy and satisfaction.
I also want clients to know that not every therapist is right for every client, and that’s okay. Research in the therapy world has shown us that the relationship you have with your therapist is one of the major predictors of success in therapy. If you don’t click with your therapist, it’s okay if you find a new one. We understand!
Finally, therapy is a lot of work. You’ve got to work hard in session and work hard outside of session. Just like working with a personal trainer, you get out what you put in. When you show up to a session prepared and ready to work, you’re likely to make more progress. Additionally, if you practice what you’re working on during the week, you’ll get even more out of it.
What’s something you like to do in your spare time?
It may come as no surprise that relationships are just as important to me in my personal life as they are in my professional life. Outside of work I love filling my time with those nearest and dearest to me. I’m a big fan of great TV as well as listening to music. I also love getting outside, walking in nature (forest ranger?), and chatting it up. In addition, I’ve jumped on the indoor plant wagon. I’ve always loved working (or playing?) in my outdoor garden, but I’m loving the fun challenge of growing and propagating indoor plants. I just love watching things grow! I get so excited when I see a new leaf! Perhaps I think about you in the same way. When you “sprout a new leaf” it makes my heart happy and I’m honored to watch you grow.
Kathryn Tipton, MA LPC is a founder of and therapist at Houston Center for Valued Living. To schedule an appointment with Kathryn you can contact her kathryn@hcfvl.com or 713-331-5338 ext 2. You can also book an appointment online.