Clinician Spotlight — Julia Fitzpatrick, LCSW-C
Four Corners Counseling & Well-Being has skilled, experienced, and compassionate therapists, and we want to share some of what makes them special! Julia Fitzpatrick specializes inInternal Family Systems, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, life transitions, high-masking neurodivergent adults, trauma, anxiety and depression, and adults experiencing crises of meaning or identity.
How did you become interested in being a therapist?
I had my first experience in therapy as an adolescent and found it to be overwhelmingly positive. I can vividly recall feeling empowered to share my inner narrative and being truly listened to and received with openness and curiosity. I instantly knew this is what I wanted to do with my life and went on to write my school’s “future career” assignment about being a therapist, and I guess the rest is history! I’ve come to know that many people are not as lucky as I was and come to me with previous experiences in therapy that were pathologizing or even traumatic. For this reason I take my responsibility to provide affirming and person-centered care especially seriously.
Are you a dog or a cat person?
I’ve lived with and loved both over my lifetime but I’m currently a proud cat person. This is partly because I’ve had an extremely friendly cat for the last 13 years, and partly because I personally relate more to cats - I appreciate a good stretch, I’m pretty introverted, and I prefer the company of a few good friends to a larger crowd.
Where are you from? What is your favorite thing about that place?
I grew up in New England and frequently miss the proximity to the ocean.
What brings you joy in your daily life?
Time outdoors, music, a good book, and feeling genuinely connected to the people around me.
What helps you to feel calm in life?
Anything that serves to remind me of the transient nature of most things. Also anything that gets me out of my head and into my body. Concretely, I find taking a brief walk outdoors often provides a bit of both.
What is your style of therapy?
My style has been described by clients as warm and relational. It is important to me that I show up as a therapist with authenticity and “realness,” as I believe that the therapist-client relationship itself is often a powerful vehicle for change. My approach is non-pathologizing and rooted in attachment work; for me, this means recognizing that we are wired for connection and understanding the ways that our early childhood experiences impact us throughout our lives. I try to inject the “talk” portion of therapy with opportunities for mindfulness, which often manifests as invitations to slow down and notice what’s happening in the body. I also hope to honor each person’s experiences of power and privilege at the intersection of their identities, noticing the ways that various systems influence one’s external and internal landscapes.
What’s your favorite quote or mantra you can’t live without?
I have too many to choose a clear favorite, but I frequently return to Carl Rogers when I think of my work and its impact on my identity and worldview: "When I look at the world, I'm pessimistic. But when I look at people, I am optimistic."
To read Julia’s formal education and bio, click here
