Meet Teen & Parenting Expert, Kim Hamilton, MAMFT
Midlife shift, becoming a therapist.
Sometimes we need to make a shift in our lives. That is exactly what Kim Hamilton did.
In her mid-30s, she found herself at a crossroads in her life. She had been working as an accountant for several years, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. She had accomplished what she had set out to do in her career, but she didn’t feel fulfilled. She began to question if this was truly what she wanted to do for the rest of her life.
During this time of introspection, she started to reassess her priorities and what truly brought her joy. She realized that she had always been drawn to helping others and had a natural inclination for listening and providing support. She had always been the go-to person for her friends and family when they needed someone to talk to, and she found deep satisfaction in being there for them.
It was during this period of self-reflection that she stumbled upon the field of therapy. Kim was immediately captivated by the idea of helping people navigate their challenges and find healing and growth. The more she learned about therapy, the more she felt a deep resonance with the principles and values that guided it.
Kim says, “I made the decision to pursue a career in therapy, and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I went back to school and obtained my master’s degree in counseling psychology. The journey was not always easy, but every step of the way, I felt a sense of purpose and fulfillment that I had never experienced before.”
Becoming a therapist has allowed her to combine her natural inclination for empathy and support with the knowledge and skills she has gained through her education and training. It has given Kim the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, and she is grateful for every client she has had the privilege of working with.
One of the things she loves most about being a therapist is the opportunity for growth and learning. Every client she works with brings a unique set of experiences and challenges, and she is constantly challenged to expand her knowledge and skills to meet their needs. It is a profession that keeps her on my toes and pushes her to continually evolve and improve.
In addition to the fulfillment she finds in her work, being a therapist has also brought a sense of personal growth and healing to her own life. Through her training and practice, she has gained a deeper understanding of herself and her own patterns and has learned valuable tools for self-care and self-reflection. It has been a transformative journey that has enriched every aspect of her life.
As she reflects on her midlife shift to becoming a therapist, she is grateful for the courage she had to listen to her inner voice and follow her passion. It was a leap of faith, but one that has brought immense joy and fulfillment. She is excited to continue this journey and help others find their own path to healing and growth.
Family harmony through therapy.
Kim shares her personal journey of finding her purpose and passion in becoming a therapist. She explains that she always knew she wanted to help people in some way, but it took time and exploration to discover the right path for her. She tried different career paths, such as accounting and nursing, but none of them felt fulfilling or aligned with her true calling.
It was through personal experiences and therapy that she realized the profound impact that our environments and relationships have on our lives. She became fascinated by how these factors shape who we are and the choices we make. This realization sparked her interest in therapy and led her to pursue a career in the field.
As a mother, she wanted to teach her children how to communicate their feelings and needs effectively, rather than bottling them up. She recognized the value of healthy relationships and setting boundaries, which she felt she lacked in her own family of origin. This desire to provide her children with the tools for healthy emotional expression and relationships further fueled her passion for becoming a therapist.
Kim specializes in working with families, couples, and children. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the dynamics of the entire family system, rather than focusing solely on the identified client. She explains that families are interconnected systems, and addressing the issues of one individual often requires addressing the underlying dynamics within the family as a whole.
Her approach to family therapy is grounded in systems theory, which recognizes that individuals are influenced by and influence their family system. For example, a child’s anger or temper tantrums may not be isolated incidents, but rather symptoms of larger issues within the family dynamic.
Therapy is a process of growth.
Kim knows that there is often more to a person’s behavior than meets the eye, and that therapy can help uncover the underlying factors contributing to challenges within a family.
Kim is a therapist at the Mindfulness Center, and acknowledges that therapy is not about pathologizing individuals, but rather about seeing the puzzle pieces of a family and how they fit together. She stresses the importance of considering factors such as what is happening between parents, with siblings, and at school, in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics at play. By doing so, therapy can help identify areas where adjustments can be made to promote family harmony.
One of the key points is that therapy is not a quick fix or a one-time solution. It is a process that takes time and effort from both the therapist and the individuals involved. Kim emphasizes that therapy requires unlearning certain behaviors and beliefs that may have been ingrained over many years. This process allows individuals and families to develop new ways of relating to one another and moving forward in a healthier and more positive manner.
She also touches on the importance of understanding developmental stages and age-appropriate behaviors. Kim highlights that it is normal for children to have big feelings and tantrums, and that it is the role of parents to provide them with tools to navigate these emotions. Therapy can help parents understand and respond to their children’s emotions in a way that fosters growth and development, rather than causing further conflict within the family.
Therapy is not limited to individuals with diagnosed mental health conditions. Anxiety and ADHD are examples of real challenges that individuals and families may face, but the focus is on providing tools to manage these challenges as a whole. Therapy can offer support and guidance to parents in supporting their children through anxiety or overwhelm, and can help families function more smoothly as a unit.
If you are interested in hearing more about how therapy can help your family, or more of Kim’s story make sure to listen to this episode of the shift your shit podcast!
