Meet Abigail Wambaugh | Psychotherapist and Owner of Abby Wambaugh Therapy

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

Hi Abigail, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking

Thoughtful risk taking has played a significant role in my career. I professionally started out in digital marketing and public relations and took a risk to leave that profession and go back to school to become a psychotherapist. Leaving a stable, growing career to start over in a new one was a risk, but a necessary one for me to sustainably work and not continue to deplete myself in a profession that left me feeling uninspired, frustrated, and ultimately was not aligned with who I am.

I took another risk leaving stable county-funded psychotherapy work to join a group therapy practice and then ultimately started my own business. Every step along the way included financial risk and personal risk, but I am immensely grateful that I pressed through and made those choices. Learning how to prepare for the turbulance these transitions bring and tolerate them has helped me thoughtfully take risks along the way.

I could have stayed in my old career or even in my previous therapeutic positions, but I know that I would have felt drained, frustrated, and unfulfilled. A huge factor in my ability and choice to take each of these risks was the support of friends and family around me, and a connection to myself to be able to listen to my own needs and my intuition. As scary as taking risks can be, each risk has allowed me to set myself up for long-term health and success and I believe is necessary to lead a full, aligned, and alive life.

What should our readers know about your business?
I own a therapy practice in Eagle Rock, called Abby Wambaugh Therapy, and I am currently in the process of expanding to hire more therapists. Los Angeles is flooded with psychotherapists and other supportive health care professionals, and that can make it even more daunting to find and connect with a trusted therapist. Ultimately, therapists are what make a practice unique and my approach to therapy – using humor, directness, empathy, and my different training experiences – sets me apart from other practices and therapists.

I specialize in treating people who experience chronic depression or anxiety, individuals with a history of family wounding and trauma (abuse, domestic violence, neglect), individuals with relationship issues, couples with difficulty resolving arguments, teens in crisis, and those feeling stuck or in transition. I have a subspecialty in sex therapy and have co-lead groups and workshops with my colleague, Janie Glassmith, to support female identifying individuals in their journey toward sexual fulfillment and health. I also utilized my background in business and consulting to build a practice that feels aligned with who I am and branded in a way that reflects what clients will experience in my office with me.

I have had challenges along the way with the legal process of starting a business and accounting work. These were areas I was unfamiliar with before starting my own business and had a steep learning curve. With the support of other therapists, business owners, my accountant, and at times the handy resource of Google, I was able to get the support I needed and resolve issues as they came up. I would tell any new business owner to expect to make mistakes, and that often you learn the most by resolving errors.

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.
If my best friend was visiting the area, I would start our weekend grabbing an early coffee at my local coffee spot, Two Kids in South Pasadena, and then head to a hike in the Angeles National Forest or Griffith Park. Afterwards, we could grab brunch at Amara Kitchen or Kitchen Mouse both in Highland Park. The next day, I’d make a reservation at The Broad downtown, my favorite museum in Los Angeles, and then have a celebratory dinner at Damien in the Arts District. Other places I would want us to check out are walking along the shops on York Ave in Highland Park, driving out to Point Dume in Malibu for a hike along the beach, Holcomb wine bar in Highland Park, and catching a concert at The Ford or the Hollywood Bowl. One of my favorite things about LA is the ability to enjoy arts and music, and all the different outdoor activities there are.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Janie Glassmith, the owner of Spaces Therapy in Highland Park, is a dear friend and colleague of mine. I am immensely grateful to her for her support in helping me start my business. She supported me practically in sharing her business knowledge and emotionally in believing in me and encouraging me. I feel strongly that the psychotherapist community should support and collaborate with each other. It can be a lonely profession and we make each other and the community better when we help each other.

Website: https://www.abbywambaughtherapy.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbywambaugh/

Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/abigail-a-wambaugh-los-angeles-ca/352871

Image Credits
Bonnie Jean Koenn of Bonnie Jean Photography