Today we’d like to introduce you to Kamryn Russell.
Hi Kamryn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of being a therapist for children. My parents got divorced when I was four, and I recall going to a therapist who did not help me in the way I anticipated. I promised myself that I would listen to, advocate for, and support my clients if my dream came true.
In 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, I received my Masters in Social Work from University of South Florida. My internship was working in the education system as a school social worker at a Title I high school in Pasco County. I continued working in the education system after graduating. I completed four additional school years after that.
While working as a school social worker, I worked on my clinical license with a great mentor. As a registered intern, I began working in community mental health for a company called Phoenix Counseling. I would travel to clients’ homes to do therapy, mainly children and adolescents who were currently in or had been in foster care or reunified with their families. Working in community mental health was eye-opening, and I learned a lot about vulnerable populations. I also learned to be adaptive, as I had a whole play therapy set-up in my car that I would bring into homes!
In 2023, I became a licensed clinical social worker and opened Spreading Your Wings, a private practice utilizing play therapy with children and adolescents. Play therapy utilizes play, which is a child’s natural medium of expression, to help them express their feelings more easily through toys instead of words. I use a combination of directive and non-directive play therapy with elements of TF-CBT, EFT Tapping, and EMDR. I feel deeply humbled and privileged to work with children, adolescents, and families, offering support during challenging times. It is an honor to be a part of their journey towards healing and growth.
Spreading Your Wings is my pride and joy, and I feel so lucky to be able to do what I do!
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?
Being a private practice owner comes with its challenges. When I first opened Spreading Your Wings, I subleased my office from another therapist who had a suite. I began looking for a space of my own, and I believe word went around about that. I was told I had a month to move out. It was hard to find a space with such short notice, despite previously looking with no luck. I recall being at work one day and seeing a space online. I called the realtor who asked if I could stop by that day, saying there were multiple therapists’ interested. I was at work all day, so I had my mom check it out for me, and I purchased it sight unseen. I have been here ever since, and I truly love the space. I have a suite to myself with multiple rooms, and it is located just near the heart of Safety Harbor.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My name is Kamryn Russell, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the owner of Spreading Your Wings, LLC. I specialize in working with children and adolescents age 4-17, focusing on anxiety, behavior concerns, school issues, emotional regulation, and trauma.
Young children respond to and process emotional experiences and traumatic events in ways that are very different from adults and older children. Play therapy is an effective way for children experiencing difficulty identifying, communicating, and regulating their emotions. Children learn to understand the world and their place in it through play. It’s where they’re free to act out their inner feelings and deepest emotions. Since the child can’t adequately express themselves in the adult world, the therapist joins the child in their world, on their level. As they play, the child may become less guarded and more apt to share their feelings. But they aren’t pressured. They’re allowed to do so in their own time and with their own method of communication. Adolescents enjoy Spreading Your Wings, because I believe in the importance of a strong therapeutic relationship built on trust, understanding, and respect. We value confidentiality but understand the benefits of working alongside the parent(s)/guardian(s).
How do you define success?
I would define success as living in a way that is aligned with your values while maintaining psychological well-being, such as having meaningful relationships and the ability to connect with others, managing emotions effectively, even when life is difficult, being resilient enough to adapt to setbacks and uncertainty, and experiencing a sense of purpose or meaning.
Pricing:
- $175 Intake
- $150 50-Minute
- These are self-pay prices. We also take insurance!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://spreadingyourwingscounseling.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spreadingyourwingscounseling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kamryn-Russell-61551752103514/
