Meet Scott Whelan | Therapist & Artist

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

Hi Scott, how does your business help the community?
We are living in very strange and distressing times where people are in need of social connection and belonging more than ever. The culture in this country is one that really breeds isolation, division and disconnection which of course create all kinds of anxieties, depression and mental health issues; particularly if you are queer, trans, neurodivergent, a person of color, a woman, or part of any other marginalized or oppressed group. These are the people I tend to see in my practice which is an honor and also gives me a real sense of connection and belonging myself. As a highly sensitive person I have often found myself overwhelmed and angry at the injustices and traumas in our culture, whether that be bullying, racism, sexism, inequality, heteronormativity, and even the field of psychology harmfully diagnosing humans as “disordered”. So for me, I really see therapy as an act of resistance and empowerment. Holding space for another human being and their multiplicity of identities and stories is sacred. While it may seem like a small or humble contribution, I think individual therapy is a powerful way to enact social change and it really brings me to life to see people create and become their most authentic selves.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a Los Angeles based marriage and family therapist, board certified music therapist and musician. I maintain a private therapy practice where I work with other artists and creative people who are healing from the effects of trauma. I combine somatic trauma therapies, mindfulness and narrative therapy and my clients are often neurodivergent, highly sensitive people seeking to live more authentically. I’ve worked a lot with blocked artists, children who grew up in abusive or alcoholic households, people who are healing from the shame of toxic religions growing up, and other therapists/caregivers who find it difficult to to give themselves the same care and compassion as they do their own clients.
I am also a musician and have played professionally as a touring and recording artist for metal/hardcore/indie bands for most of my life. I am grateful to have found a balance where I am able to create and perform music as well as focus on my practice. For me, music is the space I feel most authentically myself, where I am most freely able to express the depth of emotion I feel while also feeling connected to something greater, a sense of belonging. I also feel this when working with my clients so in that way both music and therapy are very spiritual for me.
Between traveling the world in a band to accumulating thousands of hours sitting with individuals in therapy, I have been so lucky to have my mind and heart opened in such profound ways. My clients have changed my life and taught me so many lessons. about myself, the world and life along the way. One of the most enduring lessons has been that people are inherently good, and are always doing their best. Usually the patterns that are causing problems in people’s lives and bring them into therapy once started as very adaptive and understandable attempts to survive or cope with something painful. It’s incredible to see what compassion and a truly non judgmental stance towards people can do. I want people to know that the things that trouble and hold you back the most in your life are the parts of you that deserve the most compassion and curiosity, because on the other side of those protective parts are your most vulnerable, authentic and creative parts, and it is possible to heal those and bring them to the forefront so you can live and create what you want most in this life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live on the northeast side and my practice is in Pasadena so my favorite neighborhoods are highland park, eagle rock, and Pasadena. To me a perfect day in LA would probably be start at civil coffee in highland park take a stroll down Fig to stumble upon some great books at north fig book store, or to buy some incense and flowers from prelude and dawn, Get some lunch at Villa’s tacos which truly are the best in LA. I love supporting local shops and artists and would highly recommend buying some coffee and plants from Pasadena roots, a wonderful first-Gen Latina owned shop, a massage from respira wellness at the latinxtherapy center, some flowers and natural wines from Purple vine and bloom in Pasadena, and if you want the most perfect pizza, trying Wallflour which is opening up a location in eagle rock. Along with all the amazing food and drink in the neighborhoods I love spending time outside, hiking at Griffith park, exercising outdoors, and spending time creating in my home studio.

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?
I owe so much of where I am today to the therapists and artists I’ve been lucky to have in my life. The artists and musicians I’ve looked up to since my childhood have shown me there is so much possibility out there to create what you want to see in the world, to make art that expresses deep feeling and affects meaningful change. Along with my own personal therapists who have changed my life I have also been inspired by LA based Narrative therapists Charley Lang, Jon Tatelman, Lucy Cotter and others who have shown me that therapy can be an out of the box, artistic and empowering practice.

Website: https://www.scottwhelantherapy.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-whelan-2a6a4887/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082107590861

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHSJVd9X6Wg

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7voCqDg5xgF1LZFrmbPS7w?si=JywC9N-2TGKV6L6ErVhBiw

Image Credits
Christopher Kellogg