Meet Hunter Pritchett | Therapist & Former Chef

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

Hi Hunter, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I decided to become a therapist after working as a chef for 20 years, realizing that my values and priorities had changed-spurred by COVID, becoming a parent, and the brutal economics of working in the hospitality industry. I had achieved my dream; opening a big, loud, fun, and cool restaurant in a hip neighborhood for LA. It had a been a long road to get there, and I’d already worked in about every aspect of the culinary world in an attempt to “make it,” and once I had it, it was killing me.

The hard work was always manageable as were the drain clogs, bad reviews, late nights, begging for credit, and staffing shortages-but the mental health toll of it all became a problem for me and my coworkers. I became more and more interested in the systemic issues that were impacting the kitchen crew and gave greater notice to the mental health of my staff. Narrow thin margins and labor costing didn’t care about mental health, and I found myself growing more and disillusioned, exhausted, depressed, and resentful with the dissonance between the economic priorities of the business and my moral values. COVID and a kid made hard decision to leave the business slightly easier, but I certainly mourned a career and major pillar of my identity.

I chose to become a therapist to be able to work within my value system and help others directly, hoping that my clients’ improved mental health pays dividends to their families, friends, social circles, and us all. Doing this work has allowed me to connect more deeply with myself, family, friends, and others and although the transition-especially returning to college as an adult has been difficult, the experience was formative, and I wouldn’t change a thing. As a therapist, I maintain the ways of being that made me a successful chef; meeting people where they are, noticing and amplifying their strengths, and validating their feelings and efforts. Now I help people re-story their lives, working with them to find their preferred narratives for who they want to be, independent of often-harmful outside influences that reinforce negative patterns, limit their agency, and cause suffering.

In starting my private practice (I still work as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist under a Supervisor) I want to be as accessible and accepting as a good restaurant, welcoming, affirming, and nourishing. I’m certainly not the right therapist for everyone, but I know I can create a therapeutic alliance that can help a client learn about themselves and others, find relaxation, form deep connections, and be kindly challenged to encourage growth.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I thought that I would be a chef forever, I had no idea what that looked like, and I don’t think it would have been possible for me. As far as my own interest in mental health there are three suicides that greatly impacted me; Stephen Brody Stevens, Robin Williams, and Anthony Bourdain. These are three men who I respected, appreciated, and shaped who I am today. Brody Stephens was an incredible comedian in LA who worked so hard to be successful and maintain his mental health. He had a fantastic show autobiographical show on HBO that chronicled his life and mental health struggles honestly and without filter. I was at work when I found out that he killed himself and I cried in a booth alone, I had so much hope for him, and I was so sad. Robin Williams was an electric and consistent source of joy for any kid reared in the 80’s and 90’s and his raw joy, irreverence, and humanity came through the screen and simply made the world a better place. Reading Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential at 19 years old changed my life. Simply, he put me on the path to the kitchen, right to the the hot, loud, and dangerous feeling nights on the line, and all the debaucherous fun afterwards. With his show “Parts Unknown,” he lived my dream life, traveling all over the world and connecting deeply through food. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough to keep him from killing himself, I thought he had it all, and his death scared the shit out of me. These losses made me start to take my mental health seriously, if these guys-these “givers” and “life of the party” types felt deeply enough to kill themselves, than I am not immune to the same fate. As far as I knew in my naive sense, these people had it all, and I knew I definitely didn’t and that I was in danger.

In the last five years, we’ve lost far too many chefs and culinary workers to suicide. This industry can be relentless with crushing pressure, long hours, addiction, and the isolation of leadership and working late nights can make it feel like there’s no way out. So many of us have been taught to push through, no matter how burned out or overwhelmed you are, just like pushing through a dinner rush. But like any good kitchen, you can’t carry it all alone. I want to work with more chefs and hospitality professionals who are ready to explore another way of living. In therapy, I offer a space of acceptance, curiosity, and possibility—a place to unpack the patterns that are no longer serving you and to build healthier ways of coping for a life well-lived. I tell my clients that they are not alone in this life, and you don’t have to keep doing it the hard way. Through food and cooking, Chefs are often so good at providing transformative and soulful care to others that they haven’t even met, and I believe that there is an incredible healing learning to focus the hospitality and love towards themselves.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Not many people know that LA has fantastic hiking trails where you can find yourself deep in nature within an hour from the city. Tragically the Eaton Fire affected the trails in my Altadena community, but the trail to Brown Mountain Dam and the El Prieto Trail are my consistent favorites for trail running, hiking, ,decompressing, and occasionally a “walk and talk” therapy session.

Right now, the LA immigrant community needs support, restaurants in East LA, Boyle Heights, and Koreatown are suffering. La Azteca on Cesar Chavez has the best chile relleno burrito in the world and El Gallo bakery is right next door for dessert. Angel’s Tacos in Eagle Rock, or Carnitas Michoacan on Broadway are fantastic. Support your local taquero!

Crystal Cove down in Laguna is worth the drive for a warm, fun beach, with an incredible surf shack burger stand up the hill. The hilariously named Horny Corner beach in Long Beach is a kid-favorite for shallow, warm water, and an inflatable playground.

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?
My own therapist has done so much for me, including encouraging me to become a colleague. The countless folks that have supported me and my vision in kitchens all around the world have given me more than I could ever repay. My wife and son who have accommodated my needs as a student and evolving parent.

Website: https://www.therapywithhunter.com

Other: substack: https://therapywithhunter.substack.com/