Today we’d like to introduce you to Juliet McGee.
Hi Juliet, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a first-generation college student on both my parent’s sides. My dad dropped out of high school at 15 to be part of the Hell’s Angels biker gang in Winston-Salem. During my dad’s youth, he found himself in and out of jail cells and addicted to narcotics. Later in life he changed his lifestyle by becoming connected to a Church and deciding to make evangelism his full-time career.
Because of the nature of my dad’s job, sometimes we had plenty of money, other times we had nothing. We were evicted from our home in 2009 as a result of the housing bubble of 2008. We would spend summers traveling around to various rehabs, jails, outpatient treatment centers, and churches where my dad was hired to share his story (“testimony”) and offer pastoral counseling. I often interacted with the people in these spaces since we would have lunch in the community dining halls. My summers didn’t consist of camps and birthday parties. It consisted of traveling across the United States to “serve” others through my dad’s ministry.
Growing up, there was nothing I wanted more than to go to college. When I got to college, I knew I wanted to major in psychology with hopes to go onto graduate school so I could become a licensed clinical mental health counselor. I desired to understand why people & communities struggle from a scientific, psychological, and cultural lens so I could help them in a therapeutic setting.
After graduating with my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, I got married and moved to The Netherlands the day after the wedding. I got connected with UNICEF and Save the Children where they hosted me in Amsterdam for a 3-day intensive training on how to psychologically support refugee children & families. I now spend a couple of days a week at the refugee center here in Maastricht, Netherlands. The refugee kids I work with are asylum seekers fleeing war zones, religious persecution, child brideship, physical harm, soldiership, and so on. Some are unaccompanied minors because their parents or aunts/uncles may not make it through or their process can take longer. (https://www.warchildholland.
I also decided to launch and operate a 100% virtual mental health private practice for clients in North Carolina while I am living abroad. My website outlines my specialty, services, & mission. (www.greyembraced.com). I see clients in the afternoons & evenings because of the time difference. It has been so fun! @greyembraced – Instagram. The name comes from embracing the grey area in our story/experiences because oftentimes those grey areas are what hold our freedom and purpose.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have gone through seasons that were smooth and seasons that were the complete opposite. My dad’s story is the reason I am passionate about and specialize in helping people who have experienced trauma and adversity. The ACEs study shows how adverse childhood experiences negatively impact long-term impact health. I saw how ACEs took a toll on my dad, and I also witnessed insane resilience from him. He is the reason I live my life aiming to help break negative generational cycles.
When it came to college, I applied and figured it out completely on my own. I experienced the typical “first-gen student” struggles, but I wouldn’t change it. It made me take ownership over my education because I always felt it was a privilege to be there.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Grey Embraced PLLC is a virtual psychotherapy private practice for individuals, couples, & families. I am interested in people’s life stories, especially those with tales of loss, adversity, dysfunction, and trauma. I recognize the legitimacy of inherited trauma and generational cycles of dysfunction. When a client is in my chair, my focus is helping them find a new path forward.
When a client’s story feels clogged, I help them work through their experiences in ways that make them feel safe, powerful, and connected to themselves. I believe people get the most out of therapy when they discover their own unique ways of healing and coping. So, I try to equip all of my clients with the skills and insight needed to grow and create meaning even after therapy has ended.
I am a therapist who does therapy in a very personable, “off-script,” and productive kind of way. Instead of adhering to formulaic methods of therapy, I incorporate approaches that allow for deep, authentic conversations. I use research-backed techniques but my approach allows me to maintain a safe, open and affirming space for all clients.
I am most proud of the way my brand takes into account the “whole picture” of a client. You can’t judge a book by its cover and there is often a “grey” area in every chapter of our story. We delve into work/school culture, community safety, learned values, childhood experiences, family history, adverse and traumatic experiences, and heredity to get the complete picture of a person. In this way, we can see how parts of a client came to be, figure out what role those parts play, and when ready, assign those parts new roles in the context of the client’s current life.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My biggest piece of advice for anyone pursuing any kind of goal is this: Release yourself from attachments to how things “should” go or “should” be in the future.
It took a pandemic and an unexpected move abroad for me to realize that no matter how much I plan, life has a curve at every corner. Set goals, but don’t attach yourself too strongly to what you think the outcomes will look like. I used to hold rigid expectations and strong desires for specific outcomes. Releasing myself from that has actually led to unexpected paths I never imagined possible.
The sooner you let go of control, the sooner you can be present with what you are doing. The sooner you are fully present with what you are doing, the sooner you will be at peace.
Contact Info:
- Email: juliet@greyembraced.com
- Website: www.greyembraced.com
- Instagram: @greyembraced
- Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/GreyEmbraced/
Image Credits:
Brittany Steed Photography
