Inspiring Conversations with Karina Culbertson of Next Chapter Therapy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karina Culbertson

Hi Karina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey to becoming a therapist was an unexpected pivot. For about ten years, I was so content being a teacher. Teaching middle and high school English was a passion for me, and I stood at the front of a classroom, guiding young minds through the complexities of adolescence. It was a fulfilling role, but the demands of motherhood led me to step away. In that pause, a new path emerged. I realized that the part that I loved most about teaching was getting to interact with other humans all day long.

So, intrigued by human connection and growth, I returned to school, trading Shakespeare for case studies. Today, I feel so privilege to get to help others understand themselves and their place in the world. It’s a role that combines the passion for human development I cultivated as a teacher with the intimacy and depth of therapeutic work.

Friends often ask if my work is exhausting or difficult, but I can honestly say that I don’t see it that way. Sharing in my clients’ triumphs is an absolute honor, and walking beside them through life’s challenges is a privilege I don’t take for granted. I work with adolescents, adults, and couples, and I’m truly so grateful for each of them and for the opportunity to get to do this every day.

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?
The road to becoming a therapist wasn’t without its detours. Leaving a career I once thought would be lifelong was a tough decision, and returning to school as an adult presented its own challenges. I had two young kids at home, and it was a challenge to be present for them while also building my career. Yet, taking things one step at a time led me to where I am today. In addition, the help and love of family and friends gave me the courage to keep going. My husband Jeff was right beside me every step, cooking meals, folding laundry, and double-checking homework. I couldn’t have done it without so much support, and I’m so grateful for that.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Next Chapter Therapy?
My 3,000 training hours were a diverse journey, including a drug and alcohol rehabilitation site, public and private school settings, and private practice. These experiences prepared me to open Next Chapter Therapy. The name was inspired by a Brett Young song called “Chapters” where he discusses the way that life takes us down different paths and each path is a different chapter of our life. This was my hope for my clients – that they would see each success and challenge as a chapter, and that they would always keep going and turn the next page.

I work with individuals and couples managing the various things that life throws at us – anxiety, depressive feelings, compulsions, social fears, and a variety of other stressors that affect so many individuals. I offer a warm and engaging setting, where my clients can have a cup of tea, silence their phone, and talk about whatever is on their mind.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I guess I would split this into two categories – personal and professional success. For me, personal success is just finding some peace in each day. This comes from finding fulfillment in what I do and being at ease in my personal relationships. That doesn’t mean that everything is always breezy, but I truly aim to be able to lay down at the end of each day and feel good about my part in whatever was within my control that day.

Professional success is its own beast. I once had a professor tell me that the happiest clients he had ever worked with had enough money to pay their bills and enough extra to have some fun. That resonated with me. My success is based in feeling like I’m making a positive impact for others, while sitting with confidence that I’ve done the best that I’m capable of.

Pricing:

• My current fee is $150 for individuals and $165 for couples

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nextchaptermft.com/

Image Credits
Matt Farias