Tamara Antishin, LMSW

In my opinion, the relationship between therapist and client is one of the most important parts of therapy. Connecting with people has always been a strength of mine, and I don't believe it's as simple as being good at building rapport; I sincerely believe God gifted me with the ability to truly see people and to make them feel it, to connect with them in a way that makes them feel safe and genuinely cared about. It can be heavy at times, to see and sense so deeply, but I also recognize it as a gift I've been blessed to use to help others heal, and I don't take that for granted.

I also think my curiosity has influenced my success. I genuinely love to learn and I'm interested in so many different things. And I truly love what I do. The mental health field is full of paradox and is constantly evolving, and gives me the space to keep wondering and learning indefinitely. I've always been fascinated by people and trying to understand why people do what they do. Helping people make sense of that for themselves so they can live more authentic lives worth living is what keeps this work so fulfilling for me. I wake up every day actually wanting to do this work, and that makes a difference.

I also have to mention my husband here. There is no way I could have started this company without the way he believes in me, encourages me, supports me, and the sacrifices he has made so I could do this. From the countless hours renovating our suite to late nights working with Karyn, to moments I've been distracted or stretched thin, and all the times I've come to him needing support, perspective, wisdom, or just someone to keep me grounded - he's been there. He has supported Dynamic in so many ways, and I will never look back on these early years and not see how much he was behind us the whole way.

When I first started my career, I was sent to a compassion fatigue training. They emphasized the difference between compassion (feeling with someone) and empathy (feeling for someone), and how important it is to practice empathy while being selective about compassion. When you sit with people going through crisis, unpacking trauma, facing grief, navigating major life transitions, wrestling with anxiety or depression, etc. you have to protect your capacity so you don't burn out. Learning early on how to create that boundary while still being present and doing meaningful work has been incredibly important in staying in this field long-term.

I can't remember if this was specific advice or something that was just modeled or implied, but another mantra that has kept me sane is remembering that "something is always on fire." Especially when I was working in Community Mental Health, coming to a point of radical acceptance that I can plan my day, have a list, and still expect things to go sideways at some point (or several points) was life-changing. There will always be something urgent, another need, another crisis, or something more added to your plate. When you stop expecting yourself to do it all, when you accept the list is never going to go away or feel less critical, you can shift into just focusing on what is in front of you, do your best, then leave when it's time to leave. Giving yourself permission to step away and be present in your own life, and not carry it all with you, helps keep you from burning out from trying to meet expectations that were impossible to begin with. The list will be waiting for you when you get back. Go home.

I would tell them, "boundaries are your friend." This work is sacred, and at the same time, so are you. It's easy to burn out or start to feel resentful of work you once loved if you don't keep strong boundaries with yourself, your boss, your clients, your colleagues, etc. Protecting your time, energy, and capacity is essential if you want to do this work well and sustain it long-term. I would also encourage young clinicians to seek out formal training as early as possible. What you learn in school provides an important foundation, but it can be difficult to translate that into real-world skills without additional training and experience. Investing in specialized modalities helps bridge that gap and builds confidence and competence. I would not be the therapist I am had I not had such strong DBT training early on. Also, take a business class. You'll thank yourself a million times over. And finally, keep learning. This field is always evolving, and the more you stay curious and open to growth the more effective and fulfilled you will be in your work.

We've been in a mental health crisis for a long time, and it's really heavy being a person right now. One of the greatest challenges in my field is the emotional intensity of working closely with people in suffering and in crisis, particularly when you can't change their circumstances. Maintaining strong boundaries and managing compassion fatigue are essential skills I developed early in my career. It can be difficult to witness ongoing hardship or intense crises while staying grounded in effective support and intentional intervention, but there is nothing better than being with someone in a moment of breakthrough. It is the greatest adrenaline rush of my life, and I feel incredibly grateful and honored to be present when clients begin to reconnect with themselves and experience hope.

As for opportunities, I believe there will always be opportunity where there are people. The need for human connection isn't going anywhere; if anything, it's only growing. We're also constantly learning new ways to bring support, connection, and healing to our clients. My co-founder, Karyn, and I have some really big dreams and a very long list of ideas we're excited to explore within the collaborative, and that sense of possibility continues to drive our work.

The top two values that come to mind are integrity and respect. For me, respect is foundational. I had a middle school teacher whose only classroom rule was "respect" because every other rule ultimately comes back to respect anyway - and that always stuck with me. I believe every person has value and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and I feel it is a form of self-respect to treat others well even when I disagree with them or don't personally connect with them. Integrity is a core value of mine, as well. It's doing the right thing regardless of whether someone else deserves it, reciprocates it, or even notices. It's about being consistent, holding yourself accountable, and making sure your actions align with your values even when it is difficult - maybe especially when it is difficult. Those two values really shape how I lead, how I show up for others, and how I make decisions every day.