Kelsey Blazak shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Kelsey, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Though I wish I was more consistent with it, I really become immersed in creative outlets like illustration, painting, collage, or printmaking to the point that I can unplug from the rest world and get lost into a kind of flow state. And with the right playlist to carry me along, I’ll go for hours without realizing it.
Like many of us, I am often busy or distracted with other things, and I forget how nourishing the arts are for me, especially since I studied design and fashion in college. It makes me realize how essential creativity is to my wellbeing, so I’m working on regularly seeking out sources of inspiration and staying connected to that part of me.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Old Town Pasadena.
I work with adults, couples, and teens to address a variety of concerns, like anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions, or stress management. I specialize in treating adult children of emotionally immature parents. I also have a professional background in design, which allows me to bring this lived experience to my practice and help others address the unique challenges of creative life.
Many of my clients come to therapy because they’re feeling stuck, frustrated, overwhelmed, or noticing a lack of confidence either within themselves or in their relationships. They are looking to gain clarity and confidence, leading to a deeper connection with themselves and others.
My approach as a therapist is warm, grounded, intuitive, and depth-focused. I believe that therapy can be both exploratory and practical—holding life’s joys, challenges, and everything in between. I offer clients a space where they can unpack all the messy parts of life and do so with real support beside them.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I’ve always been someone who feels things deeply and is curious about the world. I grew up in a small suburb in the Midwest and was fortunate enough to travel quite a bit as a young person. These experiences opened me up to new places, cultures, and ways of life, but I always felt a yearning to see more.
I also took part in a mentorship program in middle school where I was paired with a local designer who allowed me to shadow her work and learn from her experience. She and I sat in her studio flipping through all kinds of art books–on photography, textiles, ceramics, and quilting–and fashion magazines that I’d never seen before.
As we did this, she shared about her career, life experiences, family, and friendships. She opened my eyes to a wider world not only in regards to design (which is what I wanted to study at the time), but also to broader ways of living, thinking, and being. I think this experience is partly what made me want to live in a city like Los Angeles.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell her that she doesn’t need to people-please to be lovable. That her kind, delightful, silly, creative, funny, curious self is more than enough, as is.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I deeply value empathy, both on a personal and collective level.
To me, having empathy means approaching the day with an understanding that life can be tough, no matter how you slice it, and we’re all in this together. Because of this, I believe that, at the very least, even the smallest acts of kindness have the ability to shift perspectives, lift spirits, and connect us to one another.
In terms of the collective, having empathy means caring about the issues others face, even if they are issues I may never be confronted with myself. It means tolerance and acceptance of lifestyles different from my own. And it asks that we have the courage and willingness to feel, or at least imagine the struggles that others are experiencing.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
When I think of a peaceful moment, what comes to mind first are early mornings drinking coffee on the porch with my dog. I’ve always loved the feeling that early mornings evoke—there is a stillness that makes connecting to myself, my thoughts, feelings, and intuition more accessible.
I try to bring this sense of stillness and mindfulness to my work as a Marriage and Family Therapist. I notice that in my sessions with clients, I feel most at peace when I’m able to tap into this stillness and intuition, trusting what is needed from moment-to-moment. Making room for quiet moments of mindfulness allow me to build my intuitive muscle which, paired with my training and experience, allows me to support my clients and show up for them in meaningful ways.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kelseyblazaktherapy.com
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/kelsey-blazak-pasadena-ca/1038533
Image Credits
Photos by Danny Corey
