Meet Brooke Butler | Mental Health Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brooke Butler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brooke, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work life balance is a MAJOR topic I discuss with my clients. So much anxiety, burnout, and dissatisfaction in life can be tied back to a lack of boundaries between your work life and your personal life. When I was in my residency as a therapist, I was also taking part time classes and working full time. The toll this took on me was enormous and I saw the way it impacted my abilities to be fully present for my clients. My personal life took a back seat and all of my focus was on just getting through it. I promised myself that once I got through that, I would make it a priority to have a work life balance that works for me. Now, I schedule in off days during my week, I allow for breaks in my day, and I am sure to be intentional with my off time. Even if I might have some work I could be getting done, if I notice extra stress or overwhelm, I will prioritize self care, and energizing activities before I finish my work. After implementing these changes, I have noticed a huge improvement in how I show up for my clients which, in my line of work, is the most important part of my job.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a therapist working with couples, individuals, and teens in Texas. I have been in private practice for nearly 2 years now, and previously worked in marketing at a tech company. I always work from a client-centered perspective and I always want to meet my client where they are in their mental health journey. I am most proud of my ability to hold my clients when what they need most is to be heard and understood. One aspect of therapy that I am so excited about is my extensive knowledge of the nervous system and how it impacts our emotions. I use a polyvagal lens when working with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, and self esteem issues as so many of these can be traced back to a dysregulation in the nervous system and primarily in the vagus nerve. Getting to where I am currently in business was not easy. I have always had a love for helping people, and knew that was what I wanted to do as a career. However, one big aspect of that is taking on second hand trauma from my clients. As a deeply empathetic person who truly cares about the people I work with, it is hard to see them struggle. I started my practice during the height of the pandemic. While I had originally planned to keep my corporate job and see clients in the evenings, it did not quite work out that way. I got laid off from my job along with so many other Americans during the pandemic. Dealing with my own emotions, my struggle with money during that time, and watching my clients struggle in the same way I was, was really difficult. While I was confident in my abilities as a clinician, I would be lying if I said there were not times that I was tempted to try to get a job at an agency and seek out more stability. I had to remind myself all of my “whys” for starting my own practice in the first place. I put my head down for a while, invested in therapy for myself, and here I am on the other side of it feeling so proud, and so happy that I was able to make it through those times. While those times were so hard and I would not want to experience them again, I am grateful for all of the lessons I learned. That period of time showed me what I was capable of, and really pushed me to work as hard as I needed to to reach my goals. Since then, I have grown more and more confident in my field, and I look back on that time as an opportunity to utilize time as my resource instead of money. I was able to brush up on trainings, read about new therapy techniques, and get really clear with the direction I wanted my business to go. I want to world to know how much your life can change by finding a therapist you fit with. My brand is all about empathy, empowerment, and discovering that no matter what life throws at you, you have what it takes to be resilient and live the life you want to live.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Austin Texas is one of the most fun cities in my (possibly biased) opinion! The food here is phenomenal, and there is always something fun to do.

I love doing a staycation at hotel Zaza, or The LINE hotel. Sipping mimosas at the pool for a while before heading to South Congress to walk around a few of the shops and have dinner at Aba on the outdoor patio.
There is always live music, and tons of different venues. My absolute favorite is the Moody Amphitheater. After that a visit to one of the many amazing food trucks downtown is a must!
East 6th street is one of the best places to find a brunch place. I love Hillside Farmacy for a healthier option. The green belt is one of my favorite places for a hike when its a little warmer. You can hike right alongside the water and take a dip anytime you get a little too warm. It is breathtakingly beautiful and there is a 100% chance you will run into a ton of dogs!
Another fantastic area of Austin is the northside of Austin because of the Domain. The Domain is home to pretty much any store you can think of. After shopping, I love to hit the Rock Rose area for lunch at Sway, and a few cocktails.
After a long weekend of activities, RedAsh Italia is one of the best places for some Italian comfort food! You MUST try the lasagna!
This is just a small snapshot of the funs tuff to do in Austin. There really is so much and the city is always teeming with fun.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
While I worked hard for my success, I did not come by it on my own. My greatest supporters were my mom, dad, brother, and my fiance, Tate. I feel so lucky to have a partner who fully believes in me, and does anything he can to help me succeed. When I first started my practice I only had about 2 clients per week. I was burning through savings, and my fiance had so much faith in me and my abilities that he took on all financial responsibility for a while until I got on my feet. He is also one of the most hard working people I have ever met and he is always pushing me to be better, and looking into ways we can improve my business. I could never thank him enough and I would wish for everyone to have a partner as supportive and kind as him. He is my biggest cheerleader in all that I do! I would also like to give a shoutout to the wellness community in Austin, Texas. When my practice was in its’ infancy, I would network with other wellness professionals in the area and they were always quick to find ways to help get my name out there. So many of my amazing clients were referred to me by other wellness professionals and I think it is a beautiful thing when you have a community of people who know the challenges of entrepreneurship backing you up and cheering you on. I am so grateful anytime I get to return the favor for them, and will always do my best to champion other small businesses just like they did for mine.

Website: https://evolutionaustintherapy.wordpress.com/

Instagram: @evolution.austin.therapy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookebutler0125/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionatxtherapy

Other: You can also find me on Tiktok @themakeuptherapist

Image Credits
Brant Smith Kyle Connely ZenCare