Meet Carly Pollack | Trauma Therapist (LCSW)

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

Hi Carly, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
Therapists are people first! It is quite outdated to think of therapists (or therapists to think of themselves) as “blank slates” and “completely unbiased.” That was the old way of learning how to do therapy, and I think it only benefited those with privilege in our society. Being a real, human person with faults and struggles and joys makes this whole “healing” thing doable.

If a therapist is deeply religious, that will affect the way they do therapy. If a therapist has an oppressed identity, that will affect their therapy. If a therapist has recently experienced a major life shift, that affects their therapy. As a therapist, I have a duty to take care of myself emotionally, financially, and physically so that I can hold space for others. As a white, cis, middle-class woman, my identity intersects with the way I do therapy, too.

What should our readers know about your business?
I own a private therapy practice, plainly named Carly Pollack Therapy p.c. I specialize in working with men (and women) who have experienced childhood or recent trauma and are feeling stuck, irritated, and depressed. I use EMDR, Brainspotting, EFT, and other trauma-processing therapies that do not rely on “talking about it” to heal.

I am proud of the tools and experiences I hold in order to help people dealing with the absolute worst. Rape, car accidents, torture, childhood abuse, war, divorce, you name it, I work with it. As a trauma therapist, I use interventions and therapies that allow clients to heal their nervous systems and body, rather than trying to figure it out logically. Trauma lives in our bodies, not our brains.

It was a long and not-so-easy path to where I am now. In order to become a therapist, you have to obtain both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. After graduating with your master’s degree, you must gain (depending on the state) about 3,000 hours of clinical hours, supervised by a licensed therapist. Once you gain your required hours, you take a national exam and any state-required exams. After passing those exams, you submit yourself to your licensing board and they ultimately accept or reject your application. Each year you are licensed, you must complete required continuing education credits and keep updated on any changes to laws or codes.

I graduated with my master’s degree in 2017- it took me until April 2023 to officially open my business. Honestly, I thought about giving up a few times. Multiple personal losses, setbacks, doubts, and confusion all played a role in my journey, but because of the support of my partner, my supervisors and mentors, and other amazing therapists, I persisted.

I want people who have PTSD, cPTSD, or other trauma-related distress to know that there is a way through. There is a life without unregulated irritation, sleepless nights, and unfulfilling relationships. Even if you’ve never addressed this stuff before, even if you’ve tried therapy in the past with little success. You have everything required for healing within you, right now.

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.
I live in Winter Park, so I’d pick them up from the airport (or they could take the Busdang!) and we’d head straight up the mountain. I would warn them that Berthoud Pass is beautiful and treacherous, often making me car sick if I don’t have my Dramamine. While visiting, we would get the best Indian dinner at Durbar and delicious Mexican lunch and margs at Casa Mexico. There are so many places to hike and walk around, we would start somewhere on the Fraser River Trail and end up in downtown Winter Park or even Fraser. Blue Sky Trail, Hart Lake, and Monarch Lake are all hikes we would drive to, picking up breakfast burritos at Wake n Bacon or sitting down at Sharky’s in Fraser.

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?
All of my mentors, supervisors, friends, family, and peers. My partner, Liam, who supports me with unwavering love. And, the Refugee Development Center in Lansing, MI, the place I finally found myself.

Website: carlypollacktherapy.com

Instagram: @healwithcarly

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

Facebook: facebook.com/healwithcarly

Image Credits
Annah Meintzer