Lindsey Brown, Graduate Intern

Education:

University of Florida Clinical Mental Health- In Progress

At a Glance: 

 Sometimes it feels like there’s nowhere that we can be completely real about who we are, what we’re feeling, and what we’re thinking. I am a graduate student therapist, and I want to provide a place where you’re allowed to be real without having to worry about being “too much” or that you said the wrong thing or created too many expectations. I believe that you are valuable and capable and that a caring, safe, genuine connection can help provide support for you to make the changes you want to see in your life. Whether you are an adult, a child, or somewhere in between, I believe in the power of connection to help us all grow and heal. I love to provide opportunities for creativity and exploration in a non-judgmental, space. I also love to connect, laugh, and enjoy the process.

I am available for youth aged 2-18 as well as young adults. 

Why did you become a therapist? 

I’ve worked at a lot of jobs and volunteered in lots of positions where the focus was on people. My favorite roles were always when I got the chance to sit one-on-one with someone and connect. When I got the opportunity to mentor some teenage girls at a non-profit I was volunteering at in New Zealand during a youth program, I found myself wishing that I had more tools to help support my mentees in what they were going through. I wanted to help people in a way that felt like an extension of who I was, and I wanted to do it as well as I could. I started looking into therapist training programs, and it felt like all of the pieces of my life and who I was were falling into place. 

What can a client expect to experience in a session with you?

My goal as a therapist is to provide a relationship that you can use to get closer to your goals. That can look like different things at different times depending on where you’re at and what feels helpful to you. Whether it’s providing a listening ear, working on new skills and tools, identifying barriers,  creating plans, finding local resources, or something else, this process is based in complete acceptance of who you are and a belief that you are capable of healing and thriving. We will go at your pace and build trust as we go (and hopefully have some laughs along the way). You’re ready to move towards what you want for your life, and I am ready to get excited about who you are and where you’re going alongside you. 

Children can expect me to provide an environment where they feel safe to explore, be themselves, and feel their feelings. I believe that trust is earned, and I will move at the child’s pace with patience, compassion, and acceptance. I want to help kids thrive and connect through creativity and play. Some goals of play therapy can include learning to express emotions in safe ways, coping with big feelings, social skill building, and processing trauma (to name a few).

If you could work with on celebrity, who would it be?

 I love the idea of being a therapist for a singer/songwriter like Lizzy McAlpine or Jensen McRae. I think it’s so fun to find ways to incorporate creativity into therapy, and I would love to work with them to find ways to use their songwriting as a way to process if they were onboard. 

How do you spend your free time? 

Quality time is my favorite thing. When I have some spare moments, I usually spend them with people that I love. Long conversations, being outside, and crafts/art are some of my favorite things to do with other people. I also spend lots of time with my rescue Australian Shepherd mix, Sunny, and try to make progress on my Good Reads reading goals. 

What's your favorite quirk about yourself? 

I’m a very “happy to be here” kind of person. Need to run errands together? I’d love nothing more. You want to go to Top Golf? I have no hand-eye coordination, but I am so happy to do my best not to accidentally let go of the club when I swing and count that as a win. Whatever I’m doing, I’m usually able to enjoy the process and laugh along the way, even if it’s not my favorite activity. 

What does social justice mean to you? 

I believe that social justice is about removing barriers to positive, safe, genuine connection and thriving for everyone. We all live within systems that support and hinder us in different ways. When we listen to the experiences of others, we can begin to identify and challenge the barriers and oppressions that affect people of various identities and experiences. I acknowledge the privilege I carry, and I am committed to listening, learning, speaking up, owning up, and taking action. 

How do you believe change happens?

I believe that change happens through relationships. When I think about my own growth, I think about all of the people along the way that made it possible. When we feel seen, accepted, and cared for, we have a safe base to find new ways to connect and thrive. We are so often our own toughest critics, so sometimes we need others to remind us that we are good and we deserve to move towards building a life that is filled with joy, connection, and a sense of purpose.