Have you ever woken up as a new therapist, or even one who's been around for a while, wondering, "Can I actually do this?" You're not alone, and in this episode, we're talking about exactly that.
We're joined by Katie Lang, LCSW a licensed clinical social worker, grief therapist, and founder of Enkindle Mental Health, a telehealth private practice based in Phoenix, Arizona. Katie has built a community of close to 19,000 followers on Instagram, where every post teaches you something, and (bonus!) she's a fellow Nebraskan, just like us.
In Part 1, Katie takes us back to the beginning. She never planned to become a therapist. In fact, she shares the five or six other careers she thought she'd pursue first. A grief-based nonprofit in Omaha opened her eyes on a topic she'd spent her life avoiding, and a mentor's simple question, "Have you ever thought about social work?", changed everything. She talks about earning her MSW at University of Nebraska at Omaha, finishing her practicum as a "COVID baby therapist," and taking a leap into a supervised private practice right after graduation.
Then we get real about imposter syndrome. Katie opens up about the nerves before her very first client, the voice that asks "Am I doing this right?", and why she still hears it today. Her biggest piece of advice for new and provisional therapists: do it scared. As Katie puts it, "That's a human across from you, and that is the best modality of them all."
In this episode, we talk about:
Why it's okay not to know what career path you want, and how your niche can find you
Common misconceptions about social work that keep people from the field
How training during COVID shaped Katie's telehealth practice
Starting in a supervised private practice as a provisionally licensed therapist
Imposter syndrome, therapist anxiety, and building clinical confidence
Why therapy isn't about "cracking a code" and how to stay yourself in the room
Remembering that our clients are doing it scared too
Whether you're a counseling or social work student, a new or provisional therapist, or a seasoned clinician who still feels the scaries, this conversation is a reminder that confidence isn't a destination, and grit means showing up anyway.
Part 2 comes out soon! Don't miss it the rest of the story.
Connect with Katie!
Enkindle Mental Health | Instagram: @katielanglcsw
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More Resources Made For Therapists
A simple, in-the-moment reset for therapists when imposter syndrome shows up.
This free ACT-based tool guides you through awareness, connection, and grounded action so you can interrupt the spiral and return to presence in session.