Today we’d like to introduce you to Nic (they/she) Harbeck.
Hi Nic (they/she), it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have always been fascinated by psychology. From a very early age, I had the felt sense that I was different from my family, friends and community but couldn’t put a finger on what that was. Because of this sense, I sought to explore what shapes personality and ultimately, how we become ourselves. Throughout adolescence, I realized the difference I sensed was my queerness. I “came out” in college and was mostly accepted by my family and friends. After submerging myself in the LGBTQIA2SP+ community in Columbus, Ohio, I realized how many struggles came to those before me and my peers through rejection and shame-based on identity.
After a decade working in the queer community in Columbus, I knew it was time to go back to grad school to become a licensed MFT. When I became a therapist, I knew I wanted to work with the sexually and gender diverse folx to provide affirmative support for folx who have experienced oppression at many levels simply for not fitting into the narrative or template that was expected of them.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Most of my struggles came before I re-dedicated myself to psychology and started working on my master’s degree. I had originally sought out to attend an Art Therapy program directly out of undergrad. Before I was to move to Chicago with a longtime roommate, I came out as queer and my roommate had an alarmingly big reaction and refused to move with me. In turn, I sought out the LGBTQIA2SP+ community in Columbus, Ohio. There I found a home where I spent many years being an untrained therapist to staff and patrons as a bartender and bar manager. This was a detour from my path that spanned ten years. I attribute much of this experience to the understanding I have for the diversity within our big beautiful queer community.
I have a theory that many times when people are “othered”, they can often return home and have their identity reflected in their family, acknowledging their history and creating safety. There are a few exceptions to this, persons with disability, adoptees, and LGBTQIA2SP+ folx. Due to this, I believe queer folx often find ways to individuate away from the family earlier in service to finding our history and chosen family to seek safety.
I moved to San Francisco for a few years before settling in Santa Monica, CA. Once I began my MA for clinical psychology at Antioch University Los Angeles, I can say it was fairly smooth road, although not always easy. I gained an incredible amount of experience through internships at Antioch University Counseling Center and The Saturday Center for Psychotherapy and Training. I opened my private practice in Santa Monica in 2019 and have been a small business owner since. The main struggle I have experienced since then has been adapting my practice to suit the needs of my clients (and myself) throughout the pandemic. I am looking forward to seeing my client’s in person again soon.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Moving Inward Therapy?
Moving Inward Therapy is a small private practice located in Santa Monica, CA. I am a sex therapist who provides a safe environment working collaboratively with adolescents, adults, partners, friends and families in exploring issues including sexual and gender diversity, LGBTQIP2SA+ identities, consensual non-monogamy, anxiety, depression, sexual dysfunction, aging, racial and cultural issues, trauma, and difficulty in relationships.
I am a member of WPATH, AASECT and CAMFT.
An additional service I provide is writing letters in support for gender affirmation procedures and surgeries according to WPATH Standards of Care. I signed a pledge with GALAP to assess and write these letters at no cost to the patient to resist the harmful practices of gatekeeping to the trans and gender diverse community.
How do you define success?
Success can mean so many things! I believe there are as many definitions of success as there are people. My personal definition includes continued self-discovery, being able to identify my own wants and needs and being able to understand boundaries as a reflection of those needs. I believe as long as I am continuing to impact positive change in the world, adapt, shapeshift and evolve with the ever-growing landscape of life, I have found success.
Pricing:
- 200 per 50min session
- 250 per 80min session
Contact Info:
- Email: nicharbeckmft@gmail.com
- Website: www.movinginwardtherapy.com
- Instagram: @movinginwardtherapy
