Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie Sepkowitz, LCSW.
Hi Maggie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have been a Clinical Social Worker for over 21 years. My focus included serving children and young adults as they adjusted to chronic illness, instilling hope that they have the ability to thrive despite unexpected changes in their lives. Naturally, these events impact an entire family system and I worked closely with parents in identifying their strengths. My career progression includes leading a team of social workers, providing clinical and administrative supervision, and supporting my team members as they moved through their professional development.
In addition, I have professional experience helping to create families through adoption; both international and domestic.
Working in a healthcare setting during the COVID-19 Pandemic was extraordinary. After two years, I realized that I was experiencing significant burnout and made the decision to leave the hospital. Initially, I took time to decompress, reflect, and heal. I imagined a different way to utilize my skills and began by starting a private practice offering psychotherapy.
I wanted to continue my professional growth and add to my skill-set. Over this past year, I completed a 12-month coaching certification through Fielding Graduate University which is an accredited training program through the International Coaching Federation (ICF). I am now able to provide this additional support to my clients and partner with them in reaching their personal and professional goals.
As an individual practitioner in the community, I primarily work remotely, which offers a great deal of flexibility for my clients.
I have been married to my wonderful husband, Matt, for 24 years. He is an elementary school teacher and has worked in education for nearly 30 years. We are proud parents of our son Elijah (13 yrs.) and our Terrier-Maltese fur baby known lovingly as French Fry.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As I think back on any transition in my life, I noticed each one presented a unique set of challenges. I had to adapt and pivot accordingly. As I mentioned earlier, working in a healthcare setting during COVID-19 was unprecedented and I don’t think anyone could have been “prepared” for how it was going to impact every aspect of our lives.
I struggled with meeting the needs of my own family as well as showing up to work each day with the expectation of providing support to my patients and their loved ones. It was one of the first times in my professional career that I had moments of feeling truly helpless as many parts of our city just shut down.
I was unable to provide the time and space necessary to help my patients process what was happening. It was during this turbulent experience when I realized I wanted to make a change and use my professional expertise in a more personalized environment.
As you know, we’re big fans of Maggie Sepkowitz, Inc. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
What’s unique about me is that I am a psychotherapist and a life coach. While there are clear differences, my background in mental health compliments coaching. I am passionate about guiding my clients to trust in their intrinsic abilities to help themselves. I focus on a systems approach; exploring individual, family, and community resources. I collaborate and help empower my clients to reflect on their thoughts and feelings surrounding the change in their lives. Recognizing patterns of behavior (past and present) is a powerful tool to begin the process of taking action. I pay close attention to specific language as this often contributes to how we make meaning of our lives. We can get “stuck” in a certain mindset and I believe that it’s possible to discover new pathways of thinking and living.
I particularly love to help others during times of transition, either planned or unplanned. This is a distinct time were imagining an unfamiliar path can be intimidating, however, channeling that energy can help reveal what ignites them.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Likes –> I love great disco music and singing out loud. I always look forward to drinking my morning coffee in silence while gazing out the window from my couch. I cherish time with family and close friends. My husband and I are true foodies and welcome any opportunity to discover a new food scene. We are passionate travelers who seek out unique adventures around the world. Also, being near the ocean is a gift and I value any chance to just sit and ground myself.
Dislikes –> I’m not a huge fan of chocolate (I know, most people find that hard to believe! LOL). I do not like being in the snow or any cold place for an extended period of time. Like many of us, dealing with the LA traffic is something I try to avoid at all costs (good music does help!).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://maggiesepkowitzlcsw.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-sepkowitz-lcsw/
