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

Hi Mycah, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
To answer this bluntly, I would almost always say to keep going. But to make a short answer long (my favorite thing to do), I’ve added a bit more context below.

I say almost always because the only time I would choose to stop is if continuing, through my decisions or actions, would cause harm to myself or others. In those cases, stepping back isn’t giving up; it’s choosing safety and care. When safety is not a concern, I find that growth often comes from staying with the discomfort rather than turning back. I was reminded of this recently while on a hike with a few friends.

On this hike there were times, the path was easy to identify and walk through. Other times, not so much. There were moments when we had to turn around and find a new route, climb over rocks and fallen trees, and stomp through tall grass. It would have been easy to say, “Let’s go back and not continue”, but if we had done that, I think we all would have been unhappy with that decision. So we kept moving and actually had fun figuring out how to work through the obstacles.
There is a common saying, “Choose your hard”. Was it hard walking through freezing water, slipping on rocks, and climbing over trees? Heck yeah. Would it be hard to go home and feel disappointed about not completing the hike? For me, absolutely. So I chose the hard that felt fulfilling and left me feeling accomplished.
Many times the universe will throw things at us that are completely out of our control. This is where radical acceptance comes in handy. Radical acceptance is a skill- developed by Marsha Linehan- that emphasizes focusing on what is within our control, rather than suffering while trying to change the unchangeable. This doesn’t mean we give up; instead, we brainstorm what our next move will be when a certain path is blocked.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am the founder and owner of Mycah’s Mental Health Corner, a private mental health practice. To better understand how I got to where I am today, I’d like to share a brief story of my journey.

As a teen in high school, I had a very bubbly and outgoing personality. Most people wouldn’t have known that I was struggling with my mental health. There were signs at home, but let’s be honest, education on what to look for was almost non-existent in my small Midwestern town. So, I struggled in silence.

That changed one day when my dance instructors noticed shifts in my behavior and took the time to talk with me. They reached out to my parents, and I started therapy. To be candid, I went to maybe three sessions and stopped. I wasn’t ready to put the work in.

Fast forward to my graduate years and it was time to get out of my own way and accept help. There’s a common saying in the therapy world: “You can only take your clients as far as you’ve been willing to go”. I knew that if I wanted to be a competent therapist, I needed to work through my own struggles. I often reflect on how unlikely it would have been for me to open a business without first doing my own healing. In many ways, that was the hardest part of starting my practice.

What I’m most excited about is the very reason I started a therapy business in the first place. I wanted to create a space where teens can receive the help they deserve and truly have a voice. Too often, adults are quick to dismiss what teens are experiencing. At Mycah’s Mental Health Corner, I make it a priority to meet each teen exactly where they are at. I help teens find their voice and learn skills to make the challenges and pressures of adolescence more manageable.

Not everyone is ready to receive help, and that’s okay. When you are ready, I, along with many other therapist, am here to support and guide you through the process.

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.
Since many of my friends live across the country and endure some pretty harsh winters, our first stop would be defrosting at the beach. Once they had their fun in the sun, we’d pick one of the many hiking trails in the area to explore.
To fuel up, I’d take them to Mikomi Sushi in Santa Monica- their dragon roll and garlic edamame are incredible! The next morning, we’d get our caffeine fix at Caffe Luxxe. My go-to order is a hot vanilla latte!
If you know me, you know my love for games and competition. After we’re properly caffeinated, I’d selfishly make my best friends complete an escape room-and no, we aren’t allowed to ask for hints.
A few other activities sprinkled throughout the week would include a pottery class at Bitter Root Pottery in Culver City, aerial yoga at AIR Aerial Fitness on Pico and trivia at Auld Fella.

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?
To start off my shoutouts, I would like to thank my parents. Not only have they supported me from the beginning, but they also instilled the message that I could accomplish whatever I put my mind to. My partner has been another strong support system. Thank you, Ryan, for listening and being a calming presence when the stress of starting a business felt overwhelming. A huge shoutout to one of my past supervisors, Katherine, who taught me to trust my clinical judgement. I would like to thank my friend and colleague, Mary! I often think back to creating our office space together and how much fun it was. Last, but not least, my pup Freya for providing comfort and the best cuddles. There are many others not mentioned above whom I would like to send my gratitude to. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey.

Website: https://www.mmhealthcorner.com/

Other: Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1020132

Image Credits
Taylor Yarmie, Francesca Lugo

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