Today we’d like to introduce you to Alicia Racine
Hi Alicia, 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 started my journey as a therapist after going through therapy myself. Before that, I was fully immersed in a career as an actor and musician, all while being a single mom to my daughter, Anaïs. Though I was obsessed with being a performer, I was exploring other paths that might stimulate me and bring us a sense of stability. After a traumatic event, a friend forced me into EMDR therapy, and that experience transformed me. I was struck by my therapist’s energy, his approach, his vibe, he was an artist and he profoundly and directly impacted people’s lives. I realized, you can be a therapist and still be rad.
I decided to apply for grad school, packed up, and moved us to Boston. My band was slowing down and I was still acting, but I was getting deeper into the world of psychoanalysis. After grad school, my professional focus was on eating disorders and eventually I made the move to Los Angeles—a place I had always dreamed of living. Here, I could continue to pursue performance while my career as a therapist grew. I worked at a few different treatment centers, which eventually led me to working with some high-profile clients. At the same time, I kept doing stand-up with my buddies, but my day job evolved into this incredible blend of traditional therapy and clinical coaching. I visit my clients at home, spend time with them in their environment, and help them achieve their mental health goals in creative, outside-the-box ways, while also offering traditional therapy sessions over Zoom. I proud to say, I am licensed in both California and Massachusetts.
For so long, I felt like I straddled two different worlds. I’m finally growing up and merging my two passions. I recently gave a TEDx talk where I had the chance to speak about identity vs. dianosis, and I’m about to release a podcast, Xanyland, where I interview stand-up comedian friends about their mental health journeys. Maybe next I’ll write a psychological drama. It’s all kind of an exciting, full-circle moment thing.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Is that a real question, haha? I don’t think anything is ever really smooth. Chew on this, I believe in manifestation but I also believe in radical acceptance. Getting into grad school was unexpectedly and weirdly easy. Finishing three years of it while raising my daughter, performing, and managing everything else, that was rough. My daughter’s dad had already moved to Arizona by then, and I was raising her alone on student loans, while doing unpaid internships. Every night, I’d pick her up from the YMCA program, exhausted. Life happened, a few moves and some bad relationships, and I made the decision to drive my daughter across the country to her dad in Arizona before heading to California. I had no job, no apartment lined up—looking back, it was insane.
Once I got to California, I realized I needed another license to practice as a therapist. That meant more classes, and redoing some of my clinical hours. It took a couple of years, and during that time, I juggled three jobs: working at a cheese shop, waitressing, and pulling doubles at a treatment center on weekends. Finally, I earned my license and opened my private practice. Things started off smooth! I was teaching people how to love food—I even ran my first retreat in Bali for disordered eating. When COVID hit, my entire business model had to pivot overnight. I moved away from treating just eating disorders and broadened my services. Luckily, the world embraced Zoom therapy, and I had built great connections in my existing network.
During that time, I got engaged to the love of my life. He’s in mental health too, and/but he lives with severe OCD. It’s a constant challenge, and it’s also deepened my understanding of SMI (serious mental illness.) I’ve started working on a memoir that’s part self-help, focusing on what it’s like to live with someone who has a mental illness, and how to support them while friggin taking care of yourself. Hopefully I release it one day.
During covid, I began connecting others with therapists and created a network within the mental health community. I really love helping people the right fit. And in 2022, I had to undergo two surgeries, which brought on chronic pain. That’s added a whole new layer to my journey. So, smooth road?
I am a therapist dude, smooth roads are fantasy.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Well, I specialize in working with creatives because I am one. To me, therapy is an art form, even though I also rely on evidence-based treatments. What makes my approach special is that it’s unique with each person. People say that but I mean it. If one client requires a more traditional approach, I can provide that. If another client needs me to work with them holistically in their home, give them homework, I can do that too.
I’ve worked with clients on movie sets, in corporate, in group home settings, with people diagnosed with schizophrenia, in soup kitchens, in treatment centers for eating disorders, and with high-profile celebrities. I have lived so many lives and that I can almost always relate.
What I’m most proud of, is my ability to transcend any demographic and build a deep connection.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I credit the success of my career to my husband and daughter. Husband legit helped me build my business and daughter saw me through it all. Let’s be honest, I wouldn’t have considered therapy if it wasn’t for her. I’ve also had a myriad of mentors, therapists who shaped my technique and acting coaches who helped me embrace creativity and humanity. PS. everyone needs a therapist.
Pricing:
- If you’d like to book a session with me, head to my website at aliciaracine.com and schedule a meeting. That way, we can assess your needs and find the best approach for you. Whether it’s with me or one of my associates, we’ll make sure to tailor our services to fit both your emotional and financial needs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aliciaracine.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liciaracine/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@aliciaracinefink
