Meet Caitlin Harrison of Mirror Moments Therapy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Caitlin Harrison.

Hi Caitlin, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I knew I wanted to be a therapist when a friend shared with me that her friend was studying to become a sex therapist. This corner of therapy seemed right up my alley– sex is important and we need more spaces to explore and de-mystify! So, I started pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology and then I got my masters in Marriage & Family Therapy. Since graduating 5 years ago, I have honed my skills have found work to be really fulfilling when I’m folks around issues related to religious trauma, sex, and perfectionism.

Being a therapist is so weird! I get to witness people’s most vulnerable moments and parts, and am trusted in building a relationship full of transparency and trust. But then if I see a client in a grocery store, I can’t say hi! I love my job, though. This work is so meaningful because I have seen people show up, choose themselves, and re-write their stories to be ones of community, peace, and pleasure.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Becoming a licensed therapist is certainly not a smooth road! Accruing all of my 3,000 hours necessary to get to the application phase was at times grueling, challenging, and slow. Starting anything new and meeting with new types of clients brought up a lot of imposter syndrome for me– thoughts like, “Can I do this? “Why are they trusting me?”, and “What do I say next?”.

And honestly, those thoughts still come up, but fortunately, I am so much more confident in the relationship skills that I know I have and apply within my work. I am human, I will make mistakes, but that is not the end. Mistakes are just practice and an opportunity for repair. Repairing misunderstandings, ruptures, or other issues with clients are when the juice that is worth the squeeze! My clients benefit when I’m honest and transparent that I don’t know everything– my work is to help folks come home to themselves.

As you know, we’re big fans of Mirror Moments Therapy. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Mirror Moments Therapy is a private practice in which the goal of the therapy I offer is to help you feel seen and celebrated. The term “mirror moments” comes from how therapy is just a small part of your week, but during the space created, I as therapist am able to reflect back all that I see– the present, the past, and where you’re trying to go. By reflecting this parts, through an caring and positive way, clients are able to experience safety in being contained and their pain is witnessed. We need to be witnessed in order to acknowledge our past and present, and to create hope for the future.

I specialize in religious trauma, issues around sex, and perfectionism recovery. These focuses have a lot of overlap, and the clients I tend to work with are dealing with anxiety and not feeling as if they’re allowed to be themselves. My approach is very casual and conversational– we’re going to use humor to be real with one another and help build safety in our relationship. I show up as fully as I can– I’m not one of those “blank slate” therapists. You’re going to be able to tell how I’m feeling based on my face. I find that me being myself in the room allows my clients to have permission to do the same. I genuinely want all of my clients to take up space and find community that accepts and celebrates them! It’s hard work but it’s so worth it.

I offer individual sessions for adults looking to explore any of these issues, as well as couple/partnership therapy for couples that are looking to deconstruct religious ideals from their relationship, work on sex issues, or simply looking to have a space to work on communication and trying to care about their partner(s) more efficiently. You can also be on the lookout for fun groups or workshops that I offer! I have an upcoming therapy book club that I have yet to announce, but will probably be us reading some smut together!

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
While my practice is technically in Arcadia, I really resonate with Pasadena. I was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley [land originally and still inhabited and cared for by the Tongva (Gabrielino) People]. I love Pasadena for its history and architecture. That it hasn’t always just been for rich, white people. That there is a lot of art and opportunities for folks to eat good food, drink great coffee, see the mountains, be surrounded by palm trees, peacocks, and parrots. Pasadena offers a place to get energized, a place to rest, and a place to be in community.

What I like the least about Pasadena is that it still inefficiently dealing with the ripple effects of redlining and that public school systems are suffering because there are so many charter and private school options. As someone who attended private schools in Pasadena, I hold the both/and of gratitude for the experience I had and the knowledge that there are other, better options.

Pricing:

• 50 minute individual sessions: $200
• 60 minute couples sessions: $215
• 90 minute couples sessions: $300

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mirrormomentstherapy.com/
• Instagram: @caitlin.harrison.therapy

Image Credits
Wanderlust Creatives
Heather Shane Photograpy