Inspiring Conversations with Layne Baker of Layne Baker Psychotherapy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Layne Baker.

Hi Layne, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m in my second career as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. My first was in entertainment, with 10+ years working as an actor and musical theatre performer. An interest in theatre that I picked as a kid grew into a paraprofessional career as a teen and then a professional one during my 20’s. The decision to change course and explore a new calling was a really interesting pivot for me. One day, I was on my way to an audition when I suddenly decided not to go, and I pulled into a coffee shop somewhere in N Hollywood instead. There I sat, as my call time came and went, and I felt… complete relief. That was the moment that I realized I did not want to keep pursuing a performance career anymore. A career I had felt the pressure to keep pursuing for several reasons, but mostly because it was a choice I had made at a young age, and I struggled with what it “meant” about all my years of training and hustle if I decided that I didn’t want to do it anymore. The relief I felt became a turning point where, perhaps for the first time, I started to challenge the idea that I had to keep making the same choice simply because it was the original one. A year later, I was sitting in my first class of my Master’s program and starting my journey towards becoming a therapist. I graduated with my MA in Psychology in 2014, earned my 3000+ hours and got licensed in 2016, and have never looked back.

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?
If it’s a smooth road, it’s probably not challenging you to the edges of your growth! And just because you make a choice to do something differently, certainly doesn’t mean it’s easy. So, no– it hasn’t always been a smooth road. First off, I had about a 10 year gap between my undergrad and graduate programs, and dusting off the academic hat took some muster. I also didn’t really have the full scope of what goes into becoming a LICENSED therapist when I started. My BA was in Music, so it was a pretty hard launch into learning a new field of study. The two years post-graduate/pre-licensed were some of the toughest I have ever experienced. Three thousand hours is a LOT of hours providing therapy, and pre-licensed therapists are grossly underpaid and/or volunteer their time for hours; not to mention all the additional training, supervision, holding down a night job to help keep the lights on, learning how to build a business if you’re going into private practice… it was so much more than just get a degree, get a license, open a practice. I didn’t ever question my decision to pursue this work, but I did burn myself out trying to get through the messy middle as quickly as possible.

We’ve been impressed with Layne Baker Psychotherapy, 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?
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California, serving clients across the state via telehealth in my private practice, Layne Baker Psychotherapy. My clinical expertise focuses on the nuanced intersection of high functioning anxiety and relationship health. With over a decade of experience in my field, I work with ambitious, yet anxious high-achievers to help them identify and unlearn their deeply ingrained habits that perpetuate cycles of over-performance in both their professional and personal lives. My work centers on empowering those who struggle with high functioning anxiety to cut through the noise and tap into their inner wisdom, get clear about their core values, embrace the power of saying yes to less and ultimately forge healthier, more authentic relationships to themselves and those around them. My additional areas of clinical focus include: mood disorders, relationship problems, burnout, self-esteem, perfectionism, people pleasing, fear of failure, imposter syndrome, high performance and career-related stress and personal growth.

My perspectives on modern relationships and personal growth have been featured in a range of prominent national publications, including HuffPost, Oprah Daily, Women’s Health, Self, Parents, Buzzfeed, Newsweek, Success, Thrillist, and Wondermind among others; my contributions offer relatable commentary on navigating adult friendships, romantic relationships, and non-romantic intimacy challenges in pursuit of fostering genuine connections with healthy boundaries. I also run a blog on my website, which is a blend of psycho-education, actionable insights and supportive guidance on the topics of high functioning anxiety and relationships.

You can learn more about me and my work at laynebaker.com, and via @laynebakertherapy.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Gah! So many, for which I am grateful. One of my favorites is that when I was little, my grandfather opened a toy store in my hometown. It was the cutest little shop, and he named it “Penny Lane Toys.” There was a yellow brick road that ran through the floor of the shop, a video center at the back of the store where he’d play the latest cartoon movies, and a train table. It was toy store, but also a play store, and it was a “normal” after school hangout spot for me. My grandfather was my favorite human– in fact, my son is named after him. The years he had that toy shop, before big box stores moved into town and decimated small businesses like his, were so magical. I hung out there a lot, learned how to curl ribbons for Christmas gifts, and got to see how my grandfather was actually everyone’s favorite human because he was the actual magic of his shop. I recently found a photo sketch of the storefront that I framed and hung in my son’s play room!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://laynebaker.com
• Instagram: @laynebakertherapy
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laynebaker/

Image Credits
Headshot images courtesy of Vincent Madero.