Meet Kristin Spiegel | Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Child and Family Therapist

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

Hi Kristin, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
With life experience, I have become better at work life balance and expanded how I define balance.

Traditionally, I thought of balance as the amount of time between work life and personal life but now, I see it more broadly. There is a balance between being comfortable and pushing my comfort level. There is a balance between letting go and opening up space for new opportunities. I have learned that part of balance is doing what I love and doing what inspires me.

For me, creating balance involves being intentional and thoughtful about what creates balance in my life. Making time for myself helps me stay balanced and allows me to be present with others. Being in the outdoors and in the mountains helps ground me and bring me back to myself. Exercise and being with my husband and friends also help me stay balanced. Creating balance sounds simple but it is not easy. As for me, I have found that learning to have balance is always evolving and changes with the seasons of my life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have a private practice in Durango, CO offering individual and family therapy, supervision to therapists and trauma-informed consultation and training for individuals, organizations, and schools. I am a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, Certified Synergetic Play Therapist and Supervisor, and Licensed School Psychologist with specialized training in trauma and working with children and families.

The way I work and the training I provide is grounded in concepts from the Neurosequential Model developed by Bruce Perry, MD, PhD. and in Synergetic Play Therapy. I also work part time in the schools, providing intervention, family support and training primarily in early childhood.

As I reflect on where I am today professionally, I think it is a combination of doing something I love, that inspires me and having a desire to learn and grow. I was fortunate that early in my career, I discovered a joy in working with and being with children that fed my soul. I have a love of learning and have continually sought out training to deepen my knowledge. I still have so much to learn and forever see myself as a student of life. Everything is interwoven and the dance between professional and personal growth is hard to separate.

Another significant impact on where I am professionally and personally has been my journey in becoming a certified Synergetic Play Therapist and supervisor. It is hard to describe exactly how it has impacted me, but it has made me a better person and professional. I think one of the biggest lessons I have learned in my training with the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute, is that if I follow my heart and align myself with what I value, that my energy and passion for my work grows.

When I think about what I want the world to know about me is that I hope I am making the lives of people I know and work with just a little better. I want to carry on my parents’ legacy of being kind, genuine, joyful and making people feel important when they are with me.

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 love southwest Colorado and the opportunities for experiencing the beauty of nature is endless. I would take my friend on a trip into the mountains to see the beautiful place we live and visit some local restaurants and breweries.

Assuming it was summer, I would take them on some local bike rides in and around Durango. Dry Fork, Twin Buttes and Overend Mountain Park are some of my favorites.

I would also want to take them into the mountains for a couple hikes. Engineer Mountain and Snowdon Peak offer some striking views.

In between activities there are several restaurants and breweries with outdoor patios that are relaxing and fun places to hang out. Steamworks, Carvers and Chimayo’s in Durango are a few of my favorites. There is a walking trail along the Animas RIver that runs through Durango where we could go for a mellow stroll and maybe take a dip in the water.

We might even venture to Bayfield to eat at Chavolos, our favorite Mexican Restaurant where we could sit out on the patio to enjoy some good food and margaritas.

Lastly there is a gorgeous car ride which includes the Million Dollar Highway. Starting in Durango, we drive to Silverton then over Red Mountain Pass to Ouray where we take a hot spring soak, and then onto Telluride, to Mancos and back to Durango. It offers spectacular views and several places to stop and take in the scenery.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
As with many people, my parents have had a significant influence on who I am today because of how they lived their lives. My mom was a nurse and was known for her intuitive nature and compassionate care. . My dad, who died in March, was a pioneer of no-till farming in North Dakota and followed what he believed in, despite what others thought. He had a joy for living and was a kind and genuine man who touched many lives. I think that watching how they lived and impacted others has influenced who I am and led to my success in my work. I can’t leave out my husband who is my biggest supporter and cheerleader. He encourages me and believes in me.

I have had many other mentors along the way, from college professors to professional trainers and colleagues whose guidance has changed the trajectory of my career.

Website: www.kristinspiegel.com