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

Hi Stephanie, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Yes, and it continues to evolve! To maintain perfect balance every day is just not realistic. Each day different aspects of life may take more focus and energy than others. Like walking a balancing beam, I think it’s about making small adjustments to keep your footing. In the past, I rarely focused on my body’s cues, like low motivation and fatigue, that was trying to inform me of the need for balance! By the time I needed to readjust, I would be so desperate for balance that I would overcompensate or overcorrect (which is not replenishing when your tank is way past empty). Now, I’ve learned to take time to tune in with myself, my feelings, and my energy daily. That way I can take proactive measures and make small adjustments to maintain balance before I let myself burn out.

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 currently provide therapy as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist at a group private practice in Fullerton called Gather and Grow OC. I have been a part of this supportive and enriching group practice for over a year now. I specialize in working with anxiety, low self-esteem, interpersonal issues, perfectionism, and other forms of inner child wounds. I believe that we give power to the parts of ourselves that we hide in the shadows for fear of shame, rejection, or abandonment. I believe we take back our innate power when we shine a light on these wounded parts and show them love, empathy, and compassion. I’m excited and proud to be doing the work that I feel is my life’s calling. I engage in my own depth work because I think it is my duty as a mental health professional to practice what I preach. I tend to myself as a fellow human along this crazy thing called life so I can continue to be a clear channel to those I support. I think that is the greatest challenge I will continuously have to face. To me, being a therapist is also a commitment to your own healing. The theme of casting light on shadows is my story and brand. I host a podcast called The Lightcast Podcast where I talk openly about mental health to normalize and cast light on the shadows of the human experience. I record monthly episodes based on themes that intuitively arise for me personally and professionally. My philosophy is that vulnerability fosters trust. I would never expect a client to be completely vulnerable without creating some form of safety and trust. I do my best to model that there is no shame in vulnerability and to normalize the discomfort that comes with it!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Being a homebody, I may not know many local spots to recommend! I’m close to East LA and I think Uptown Whittier is a hidden gem. A great little uptown area where you can stroll down the streets with fun shops and good food. Uptown Whittier hosts a vintage flea market every first and third Saturday of the month. It is free entry and pet-friendly!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate my shoutout to my incredible Co-directors Jacqueline Plante and Traci Medeiros-Bagan! The greatest gift they have given me is the acceptance and encouragement to be myself authentically as a therapist. My training in school was thorough but had traditional foundations that made it feel wrong to be yourself as a therapist. Almost losing touch with the humanness of being one human supporting another. To ignore my own conditioning, beliefs, upbringing, and other intersecting identities would be to ignore how I hold space and understand my client’s own intersectionality. Traci and Jacquline emphasized the importance of connecting and trusting my intuition; showing me that there really is an intuitive aspect to the work we do. A vast difference from my schooling, they helped me know it was okay to be human in the room and to be a part of the transformational space between the client and therapist. I’m so happy and grateful to be a part of such an amazing group of people that have helped me along professionally and aided in my personal healing journey.

Website: www.stephaniegtherapy.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/stephaniegtherapy

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephaniegtherapy

Other: www.gatherandgrowoc.com/stephanie-gast

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