Katie’s Story

As a self-employed artist and single mom, Katie assumed counseling was a luxury she couldn’t afford. When she found out about Insight Counseling Centers’ income-based fee scale, she discovered that not only was counseling affordable, but her mental and emotional health was completely worth the investment.

Katie’s Story Transcript

My name is Katie, and I am originally from southern Louisiana, but I’ve been living in Murfreesboro for 30 years, so I definitely call Tennessee home. I am a self-employed artist, muralist, and professional face painter. I have public murals in Brentwood and Nashville. I love art, theater, movies, and music, and I’ve been a single mom for about 12 years.  

My name is Katie, and this is my story.  

I’d been a single mom for 12 years, and as a single mom, I really put everyone, including my child, first in my life. Without having a significant other to share everyday stress and life challenges, life can kind of weigh on you. I was self-employed and uninsured, and I didn’t think that therapy was a luxury that I could afford. 

Interestingly enough, Insight kind of found me. It’s an interesting story how I kind of happened upon it. I love local theater and love to support the arts, and a friend of mine was directing a rather racy musical at The Center for the Arts. And for the first time, the Center worked with Insight Counseling to offer some therapy assistance for any audience members who might be triggered by certain aspects of this play. I thought it was really thoughtful of them to really think about their audience. 

So, I talked to my friend who was the director of this play and asked her a little bit more about Insight. Come to find out they worked with your income, and that was not something that I was aware of in the past. I decided to take my chances and reach out to see if it was something that I could fit into my budget. 

I have seen definitely some positive changes in my life in the past year and a half that I’ve been with Insight. My experiences have been to leave every session with tools and resources and answers to my questions instead of just more questions. Insight has not only helped me but has helped my child as well. And if there are ever moments when we need to have family sessions, that is something that is welcomed with open arms, and I’m grateful for that. 

The pandemic has undoubtedly brought about fear and depression and anxiety to the surface, in the beginning, and as it’s become more of a routine and a norm, we have found other ways to cope with the isolation and this anxiety that the pandemic has brought on. It’s been a challenge for me and my entire family, but I was so fortunate to receive the blessings of a grant, as a matter of fact, through Insight. It helped me maintain my therapy during a difficult financial time. That was hugely, hugely helpful. 

What I’ve had to come to realization is that I have to put myself first, my health first, and that includes my mental health. Because if I am the best version of myself, then I can be the best mother, the best fiancée, and the best daughter, and the best friend to those who really need me. I have had to reprioritize my finances and the people in my life in order to make my mental health a number one priority. If we have to scale back in other areas of our life, whether it’s shopping generic or cutting back on going out to eat, whatever I need to do, I am willing to put my mental health first. It has really been a huge, huge blessing to have a safe place filled with licensed professionals who keep all of my stress and challenges completely confidential, and they are my safe space.