Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherree Turcott.
Hi Sherree, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I am born and raised in a small retirement beach town in Florida. I always knew I wanted to be the first woman in my family to attend college, have a career, and be independently stable. Most of my life, I thought I would be a doctor. My grandmother moved in with us when I was young and playing a caregiver role came naturally to me. I knew that doctors made good money, and I could use my other interests to specialize in either pediatrics or sports medicine. All signs were pointing the way to medical school. During my senior year of high school, one of my teachers had a long discussion with me about my career goals. His name was Colin Ramsay, and he had become a mentor to me throughout high school. Mr. Ramsay was one of the first adults in my life who could see past the overachieving, optimistic, hardworking student who showed up for his classes. He took the time to really question HOW I was doing and did not always just take my answers at face value. He was the person who first brought up the idea of being a teacher. He told me that when I spoke about teaching my ballet students, my eyes would light up and sparkle. I did my research and fell in love with the idea of teaching. I entered the University of South Florida as an elementary education major.
There was something else that Mr. Ramsay recognized in me that I did not fully understand until many years later, and it all came from simple observations that he made about how tired and drained I looked. He was always inquiring about my health and home life. I did not understand why at the time, and simply brushed it off, but looking back now I am grateful that I had an adult who was willing to ask hard questions and show concern for me. This realization is something that would help push me into the social work realm years later.
After teaching elementary school for 4 years, I found myself constantly more concerned about my student’s home life and social-emotional learning than I did about their academic success. I taught multiple grades, and I was certified as an exceptional student educator, meaning I worked with students who had learning disabilities and behavioral challenges. I truly loved teaching and building relationships with my students, but my dream of being financially independent somehow was not as easy as I thought it would be as an educator. I was overworked and underpaid. This was not the dream I had set out to live.
I was giving the opportunity to attend graduate school full-time when my [now] husband was relocated for his job. Being the middle of the school year, we decided this would be a good time for me to pursue one of my many passions that had a salary more equal to my skill and efforts. I returned to the University of South Florida and enrolled in the dual master’s program for social work and public health, focusing on maternal and child health. After receiving both degrees 1.5 years later, I worked for about 2.5 years before becoming pregnant. I decided to be a stay-at-home mom and did not return to work until my daughter was 3 years old. At that time, I worked 12 hours a week, teaching her preschool class, and the rest of the time, we would stay home together. She attended school at We Rock the Spectrum, a place where inclusion and acceptance is a part of the daily culture, and I was again working with kiddos who needed extra love and patience. Recently, my daughter aged out of the preschool program, and I was left wondering what was next for me. I plan to homeschool my daughter and wanted to be home with her as much as possible, but I also needed to generate an income. And here is where that second piece of Mr. Ramsay’s wisdom would resonate with me. After having my daughter and looking back at my life, I realized I had experienced childhood trauma. Finally, all of the concern and questions from Mr. Ramsay made sense. I can see now as a teacher, as a mother, as a therapist all the signs that Mr. Ramsay was seeing. I decided I would do my own work around my trauma. I went to therapy, I read all the books, listened to all the podcasts, took continuing education courses about childhood trauma and the effects it has on us as adults. My husband and I took in a 12-year-old foster daughter for one year and learned so much more than any class will ever convey.
I decided to be brave and open my own telehealth practice for mental health services. I felt that my knowledge and experience in multiple professions would give me the clinical background I would need to be an effective therapist. Mixed with my newfound personal experiences with childhood trauma and my own healing around that, I knew that I would be relatable, empathetic, and an encouragement to my clients. My favorite work with my clients involves working with adults of childhood trauma, especially in the area of parenting their own children. I began my practice in February of this year, and the amount of pride and value I feel in myself through my work is indescribable. It was a long winding road to get here, but I finally feel like I am right where I meant to be.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting my own private practice has been a struggle to say the least! I realized that though I have the clinical skills to be an effective therapist, I was really lacking in all the skills you need to run the business. I have had to learn how to create my own logo and promotional materials. I had to make an appointment with my CPA to learn the legalities of taxes and how they work for my business. I discovered and learned how to use multiple platforms to generate referrals, keep HIPPA-compliant documents, virtually see my clients, and collect resource files. I am learning how to use WordPress so that I can maintain my own website. I have learned how to create attractive social media posts for my business pages. Then there are all the questions and confusions around getting paneled and billing insurance companies! There are so many small things that happen behind the scenes that I am constantly seeking counsel on. I am constantly doing continuing education to keep all of my licenses and certifications up to date. I recently added another state onto my LCSW so that I can serve a larger population, and with that comes totally different rules for insurance, documentation, and continuing education credits. Every day there is a new problem to be solved; it really keeps me on my toes!
We’ve been impressed with Hive Mind Therapy, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Hive Mind Therapy is a woman and mother-owned small business. So small, in fact, that it is just me running the whole show! My current main focus is building my private practice, offering telehealth services to clients residing in North Carolina (my current home) and Florida (my home state). I specialize in therapy for adults who have experienced childhood trauma, parents having behavioral challenges with their kiddos, and codependency and people-pleasing. Of course, I work with a wide range of client needs, but these tend to be my favorite populations to work with, as they best match my skills and expertise.
I have an extensive background as a childhood educator, working with kiddos who have additional needs and behavioral concerns. I am a licensed clinical social worker who has an additional master’s degree in maternal and child health, and I am a certified lactation counselor.
I am a former foster parent and a current biological parent. I have been a stay-at-home mom and a working mom. I am a homeschooling mom, and I have worked in the public-school setting. I have experienced childhood trauma myself and work hard every day to be an intentional parent.
I believe my professional and personal experiences make me not only an effective therapist but one who can provide wrap-around services for my clients. Through Hive Mind Therapy, I also create online courses for adults and create educational content for students. I keep a running list of resources for my clients that best meet their learning styles and work diligently to make professional connections to refer any clients who may be better served by another provider.
My number one goal is to be sure that any client who comes my way is able to connect with the best resources and providers that they need for their particular situation. If that is me, great! If it is not, we will find who is!
I accept insurance, self-pay and can provide out-of-network superbills.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I was diagnosed with ADHD at 36 years old. The qualities that have impacted my success have either been a direct reflection of my ADHD or a coping skill I had created throughout my life to mask my ADHD. I use my hyper-focusing skill to my advantage. I use brain dumping, old-fashioned planners, and phone reminders as a way to keep myself organized, on track, and completing tasks. I use my out-of-the-box thinking to push the boundaries of what society deems as the norm. I thrive on being empathetic, unique, and weird!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hivemindtherapy.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hive_mind_therapy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hivemindtherapy
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherreeturcott/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hive-mind-therapy-asheville
- Other: https://secure.helloalma.com/providers/sherree-turcott/
