Regan is a psychotherapist at Wildflower. Her clinical interests include anxiety, depression, perinatal mental health, OCD, life transitions, relationship challenges, self-esteem, trauma, and gender and sexuality concerns. In her practice, Regan draws on various evidence-based theories, primarily Psychodynamic Theory, CBT, and ACT. Regan graduated from Northwestern University with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. Read her full bio here.
What inspired you to pursue a career as a psychotherapist?
On more occasions than I can count, I felt completely overwhelmed by whatever life was throwing at me. Dealing with hard things becomes even harder when you feel like you have to do it on your own. While I was always interested in psychology and understanding how people think, I mostly chose to become a therapist so that I could advocate, support, and show up for others in the ways that I know would have made such a huge difference in my own life.
As a psychotherapist, what part of your job is most satisfying?
It sounds cheesy, but I feel honored when clients trust me with their hearts and stories. Therapy is such a uniquely vulnerable experience, and I am constantly surrounded by amazing people who choose hope everyday by showing up and making an investment in themselves. Humans are social creatures, and I think the value of forming genuine connections with others is often underrated.
How would you describe your therapeutic approach?
I would characterize my approach as holistic, strengths-based, and person-centered. I really emphasize building trusting and authentic relationships with clients. I have quite a bit of experience working with children and adolescents, so I’ve had the opportunity to nurture my sense of creativity and translate that to my work with adults. I like to use all sorts of different mediums to connect with clients, whether that’s through videos, worksheets, talking, or art. I typically draw from Psychodynamic Theory, CBT, and ACT because of their complementary and respective focuses on early life experiences, the mind-body connection, and personal values.
Why do you believe that psychotherapy can help?
I have personally experienced the healing and restorative power of a safe, secure, and non-judgmental relationship. Aside from personal experience, empirical research supports the effectiveness of therapy. Interestingly enough, research has shown that therapy can be as effective or more effective than medication for people with anxiety and depression.
What are some of your specialties and what drew you to them?
A few of my clinical interests include anxiety, mood disorders, life transitions, trauma, and relationship and identity-related challenges. I think many of these concerns can be co-occurring and interrelated, and I both enjoy and feel well-equipped to explore how they uniquely show up in people’s lives.
What is one thing about psychotherapy you wish everyone knew?
Research demonstrates that the relationship you have with your therapist, regardless of the treatment modality or theoretical orientation, is a significant predictor of improvement. In short, it’s important to find someone who’s the right fit. A great place to start is asking yourself whether you genuinely feel heard, understood, cared for, and on the same page as your therapist with goals and planning.
What is your motto or personal mantra?
You have the power to define your own value. Your value is not determined by what you do for a living, how much you accomplish, or the expectations of others. This is definitely not an original thought, but the general sentiment has helped me work towards centering and living in alignment with my own values as opposed to the values of others.
What are your favorite self-care activities?
My favorite self-care activities are anything that gets me up and out of the house. Sometimes just going for a walk or being in the presence of other people can help to lift my mood on a tough day. If it’s the middle of a Midwest winter, then I might try a new craft or doing something that would make my inner child smile, like playing with Legos or Play-Doh.
