We had the good fortune of connecting with Kaitlen Forman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaitlen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I was a teenager, I tried the whole counseling thing and hated it. I didn’t feel like I connected with my counselor and even though I desperately needed help, I wasn’t willing to divulge my deepest and darkest secrets to someone I didn’t feel a connection to. Fast forward into my 20’s, I finally found a counselor I loved. She listened to me, laughed with me, cried with me, guided me towards figuring out my crap without spoon feeding me all the answers. It took some time, but everything in my life started improving and I felt like I could breathe again. I can’t imagine how differently my teenage years would have been if I had found a good therapist when I initially needed it. THAT is my why! I want to be that “good therapist” people find when they first start looking. I want to help teenagers learn how to face the battles in their life so they don’t have to wait until their 20’s or 30’s and on to figure everything out. I want to make a difference when it matters. A true, lasting, impactful difference.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I own a counseling practice that launched a little over a year ago! There have been many challenges in creating this practice but the greatest has been accurately conveying my heart through my brand and identity. I want people to truly feel how much we care when they browse our website or scroll our social media. That’s no small feat! Life is hard, and those who are scrolling my content are in that “hard” phase and are searching for a way to ask for help. I want them to feel heard, seen, and wanted before they ever come in contact with me and my team. I overcame this challenge by partnering with one of the most intentional branding companies I’ve ever worked with, Misfit Brands. They helped me put my heart on those pages and created a brand I’m proud of.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We’d start the day with brunch, obviously. My favorite brunch spots are Snooze AM Eatery or La Duni. Although the coffee is great at either of those locations, I’d wait until our post brunch coma to grab a coffee from Houndstooth, my absolute favorite coffee and coffee house vibe. The afternoon would be spent doing a number of things – we could either stroll Northpark and shop, visit one of the many museums in Dallas, take 1,000 pictures at the Arboretum, the list is endless! If we needed a little pick me up midway through the day I’d stop at Nekter or The Juice Bar for a fresh pressed juice or smoothie. Restaurants options for dinner would include Velvet Taco, Gloria’s, HG Supply, and Cane Rosso for sure. We’d probably wrap the night up with a drink and a long game of “We’re Not Really Strangers,” my favorite card game that encourages friends to go deeper with each other. That, to me, is a beautiful day!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
When I was a young and rather ignorant counselor intern, I flourished off my newfound ability to help others. My heart and intention was always good, but the stewardship of my gift was lacking. My mentor at the time saw this in me and with tears in her eyes said “Kaitlen, you have a gift. You have been given a chisel and a hammer and you have the gift of helping others carve out beautiful masterpieces within themselves. But to use your gift wisely takes stewardship, wisdom, and meticulous patience. If you continue to blindly hammer into peoples hearts you will break them.” If I’m being honest I went home that day and cried. To be a counselor is a gift. I get a front row seat to peoples inmost selves. That day I learned that it is a gift that requires so much more than what I had been giving it. It is not up to me to decide what the end piece looks like, but instead to come alongside others and help them become the masterpiece they want to be. I owe so much of who I am today to that mentor.

Website: https://valleytomountain.co/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vlyxmnt/

Image Credits
Briana Wollman

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