Meet Roxanne, Brave GR’s Counselor and Podcast Connoisseur
Roxanne joined the Brave team in July of 2019 with a passion for helping others on their journey towards living more fully. She believes that current life situations and challenges are greatly influenced by past experiences- shaping our behaviors, beliefs, and patterns in a way that may not serve us well anymore.
In an environment safe from shame, judgment, and rejection, Roxanne helps her clients explore and practice new ways of engaging with others and themselves.
She strives to honor people's individual stories and unique experiences, with a focus on college students and adults facing depression, anxiety, life transitions, and trauma.
We sat down with Roxanne to learn a little bit more about her and her passion for helping others.
WHAT LED YOU TO A CAREER IN COUNSELING?
I have always loved learning about the mind and human behavior. During my undergraduate studies, one of my professors (who later became a mentor) was an avid researcher in the fields of health and physiological psychology. She encouraged me to participate in the research.
It was through this process of discovering and learning about the human mind and ways of processing grief, trauma, big life decisions, etc. that my interest and passion for counseling began. I realized I wanted to be a part of helping people navigate those feelings and emotions on their journey toward wholeness.
WHAT ARE SOME AREAS THAT INTEREST YOU WITHIN THE WORK THAT YOU DO?
I love learning about the body's ability to heal, different ways of working through trauma, and the power of human resilience.
One topic that I find particularly fascinating is how sleep is deeply connected to the health of the body and mind. Each stage of sleep has a unique function that affects our physical and emotional wellness, most importantly the REM cycle.
Rapids Eye Movement or “REM” is the dreaming phase of sleep and the body's natural way of processing and storing information that has relevance or meaning in our lives.
WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING THING ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?
I love learning about my clients; who they are, what makes them tick, and their unique interests and skills. It is so rewarding to build a relationship in which my clients feel comfortable enough to be their truest selves.
Sometimes people can hide behind walls of insecurity regarding their talents or interests, but through creating a safe and judgement-free environment, I have seen individuals open up about their true interests, hopes, and desires. Not only do they open up to me, but they feel more empowered to open up with others in their lives as well.
WHAT DOES SELF-CARE MEAN TO YOU? HOW DO YOU PRACTICE THIS IN YOUR OWN LIFE?
Self-care means prioritizing your needs- not in a selfish way, but in a way that enables you to live more fully and allows you to be present with others.
I practice self-care in my own life by spending time with people I truly love, as well as making room for alone time. One of the ways I feel rested and recharged is by journaling.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE BRAVE?
Being brave means being willing to try new, different, or even scary things with the confidence that you will be ok in the end, even if whatever you tried didn't work out.
WHAT HAS BEING A COUNSELOR TAUGHT YOU?
That people, regardless of age, gender, background, etc. are very similar at their core. We all want to feel loved, valued, and heard.
WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU'VE EVER BEEN GIVEN?
That I am not alone in what I am going through. Whether it’s stress about a certain situation or fear about the future, there is someone out there who is experiencing a similar situation or has walked this journey before and come out on the other side.
Knowing that, in the midst of hard times, helps me feel hopeful and less alone.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO OUTSIDE OF YOUR CAREER?
I enjoy propagating plants. I find the growth process so rewarding. I also enjoy walking and listening to audiobooks. While I still appreciate a good ol' paperback book, given the choice, I would almost always choose an audiobook.
IF YOU COULD TRAVEL ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
I would love to travel back to France. I have been there once before but I would love to go back and brush up on my French language skills and visit some of the places that made me fall in love with it in the first place.
WHAT IS AN INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOU?
I track my sleep cycle every night and can be a little obsessive about getting enough REM sleep.
I also love podcasts and have a lot of good suggestions for anyone interested. One of my favorites is Gangster Capitalism- specifically the Operation Varsity Blues episodes about the college admissions scandal.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE CONSIDERING COUNSELING?
That counseling, like any other relationship, takes time to build trust. It’s ok to try out a counselor for a few sessions, and if you don’t feel comfortable, to try someone new.
Also, I think many people worry that they are going to be judged for what they say or what they do in counseling or feel pressured to share everything at once. However, a good counselor will never judge you for what you reveal to them, and you have full control over what you decide to share and when.
To speak with Roxanne or one of our other licensed counselors, click the link below.
