Featured Therapist for February, Kimberly Holt
Every month, Council for Relationships features one of our staff therapists. This month’s Featured Therapist is Kimberly Holt, MS, MFT. Learn more about her in the below interview!
Why did you become a therapist?
I have always loved people and enjoyed working in a helping role. I believe that we are created to be in relationship with one another, however none of us get through this life without struggles and challenges. Although some of our deepest pain can come from relational hurt, relational healing is possible. It is my honor and privilege to support people as they move toward greater mental health in their own lives.
What is your background? Why did you choose CFR?
I have a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Eastern University and a Master’s in Counseling from Villanova University. I have worked as a counselor in public, private, and alternative school settings and held various positions in community organizations and groups. I chose to further my training in Council for Relationship’s Post Graduate Certificate Program in Marriage and Family Therapy because of the emphasis on a systemic approach to working with individuals, couples, and families. I decided to stay and work for Council for Relationships because of the exceptional group of individuals who make up this organization and their ongoing commitment to the mission of providing quality therapy for all.
What makes you unique as a therapist and a person?
Both personally and professionally, I have had the privilege to witness and experience healing in many different forms. As a result, I can offer compassion, nonjudgment, and hope to clients who are taking steps to create their own new way forward. I am flexible in employing various modalities and I am curious and open to discovering together what works best for each individual, couple, and family.
What do you consider to be a goal of therapy? How do you help your clients achieve their goals?
There are many reasons people decide to try therapy – most generally though, there is a sense of being stuck and a realization that what we are doing is not working for us. I believe a primary goal of therapy is relational healing. Sometimes the relationship we wish to improve is with a family member, a partner, an employer, or a friend. Oftentimes a goal of therapy is improving the relationship we have with ourselves. I collaborate with clients in identifying their own goals for treatment and use cognitive, emotional, experiential, and trauma-informed approaches to facilitate change.
What advice would you give someone who may be struggling with the decision to start therapy, but may not feel ready?
I get it. Therapy is a big investment, and it can feel really hard to get started or even know how to get started. For a lot of people, it takes a real crisis for them to be willing to consider therapy. That is understandable, as the crisis is often an opportunity for change. But you don’t have to wait until life has become truly unmanageable. It takes a lot of energy to avoid dealing with our hurts, habits, and hang-ups, and the pain of staying the same can be greater than the pain of change. Many clients say that they have known for some time that therapy would be a good option for them. If this resonates, I encourage you to reach out. Taking steps toward healing and creating the life we want is an act of courage and strength – and working with a therapist means we don’t have to do it alone.
Kimberly Holt, MS, MFT is a Staff Therapist at our Exton, PA and Paoli, PA Offices; she currently sees clients via online therapy. To set-up an appointment, you can reach her at kholt@councilforrelationships.org or 215-382-6680 ext. 4229.