Meet Dr. Chelsea Fiduccia | Licensed Psychologist and Assistant Clinic Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Chelsea Fiduccia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Fiduccia, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Work-life balance is one of those things that people are always chasing. As a therapist who works specifically with veterans and military families, I talk to people every day who are trying to do just that. Veterans and military families face unique challenges balancing their many roles (work, school, caregiving, duty, etc.) and can be a great example of how to achieve this type of resilience. I’ve learned that it works best to measure the work-life balance over time rather than in any given moment. Think time-lapse photo vs. snapshot. Some weeks will have more work, and some will have more life, so look for balance in the long-run. Personally, I find that setting firmer limits and boundaries with myself helps prevent work from encroaching on quality time with my family. Some of the things I practice are saying “no” to extra projects, walking away from my computer after a certain time, and turning off (or swiping away) notifications outside my normal working hours.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am the Assistant Clinic Director at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Metrocare, where we provide high quality, evidence-based mental health care to post-9/11 veterans, active duty service members, and military families. Our clinic in Addison is a partnership between Cohen Veterans Network and Metrocare Services, Dallas County’s largest behavioral health care provider for over 50 years. What I love most about our work is that we really value accessible care; we provide services regardless of discharge status or ability to pay, and we’ve been offering telehealth since 2016 (before anyone had heard of Zoom!). We were one of CVN’s first clinics when the nationwide network launched five years ago, and I joined the clinic shortly after we opened. As we wrap up our first five years, it is so rewarding to reflect back on where we started and think about all the lives we’ve touched.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The hot summers in NTX are not my favorite, so I try to take advantage of milder spring and fall to get outdoors as much as possible. My family and I have been exploring new parks and trails almost every weekend! The spots with water are my favorite, whether it’s a small creek, pond, or waterfall. I enjoy these adventures and look forward to finding more hidden gems.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without all the resilient women in my life. In my own family, my mother, great-grandmother, and aunt have been sources of strength and inspiration, consistently supporting me as I’ve developed personally and professionally. And working in the mental health field has afforded me the opportunity to be surrounded and mentored by other women who have been in my shoes, trying to find a sustainable work-life balance as an early career professional and mother of young children.

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