Meet Alexa Rodell of Dr. Alexa Rodell, LCSW

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexa Rodell

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always had an insatiable desire to understand the world around me. I’m an observer with a love for story and nuance.

One of my most formative memories was a moment that I was told I ask too many questions by an adult I trusted. I was really young and the comment was wounding, or it had the potential to be. Because just a few seconds later after the devastating blow arrived, another adult I trusted leaned down to my ear and said, “Never stop asking questions.”

That exchange has replayed in my mind many times since (and in reality because I DO, in fact, ask a lot of questions), but always with a rebellious smirk because I know that asking questions is a dying art.

I loved school and knew I wanted to study psychology from a very young age. I wish I could remember a moment in time where that became clear to me, but it feels like it was always there. I didn’t know what that would lead to (private practice was a surprise to me!) but I knew that if I kept studying what made me feel excited to learn, then I would always feel invigorated by my work.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
After my master’s program, I thought I was done. Being a student alongside being an adult had taken it’s toll and I was ready to juggle a little less. But a year into working as a clinician the magic was gone. The work felt dry and too formulaic. It all felt misaligned. I felt like I had taken a wrong turn somewhere and was completely lost.

So I started looking for trainings, workshops, or mentors that might help re-enchant the field of psychology and ultimately my work in the world. I found it immediately, I have no idea how. I found a school grounded in depth psychology, a field of psychology that prioritizes curiosity and the unknown, centers story and reveres nuance. I took a quick trip to visit the campus, felt an immediate knowing that it was the right next step and jumped in head first!

Eight years later, the magic is still alive and strong. I love what I do and the way I get to do it. I am the adult who gets to tell that little girl that not only is she never going to stop asking questions, she’s going to get to ask questions for a living. She’s going to work in the realm of writing and rewriting stories and she’s going to get to revere nuance for the way it creates diversity in our world.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Dr. Alexa Rodell, LCSW?
I practice through the lens of depth psychology, which is the examination of the unconscious processes that influence and guide our thoughts, interactions, and beliefs about the world. In therapy, it means paying special attention to the stuff that’s hard to see. The deeper stuff. The stuff that sometimes metaphorically “drives the car.” Allies for this process consist of dreamwork, myth and storytelling, archetypal psychology, eco-psychological practices and somatics. In addition to bringing a depth psychological perspective, I would say I’m also very guided my nature. I often look to seasonal processes, animal behavior and ancient wisdoms for clues on how we might, as modern humans, connect more deeply to our innate nature.

How do you think about happiness?
I love this question! A lot of things. My two boys, first and foremost. Motherhood has allowed me to enter the most constant state of marvel. Life’s tiny miracles are everywhere, and they are so much easier to see through little eyes. My horse. I’m so fortunate to have a sweet, little mustang mare who lives in my city’s local equestrian center. She has taught me an incredible amount about what it means to be in deep relationship with others, the divine and the natural world as a whole, completely without words. I am brought back to joy in her presence, without fail. Being active, being with my family, rocks, sticks and other gifts from the Earth, a good dream, heart chats, quiet moments.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alexarodell.com
• Instagram: dr.alexarodell

Image Credits
Natalie Moser Photography; Tricia Mogensen Photography