We recently had the chance to connect with Lindsay Wilson and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lindsay, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think most of my clients, friends, family and those I look up to most live with an imposter syndrome part. My imposter syndrome part makes a nearly daily occurrence. It is even here write now as I do this interview! It often says things like “who entrusted you with this?”, “when will everyone just realize I’m not who they thought I was”, or “what if I can’t”. I think for many of us if we tell others that we live with an imposter part inside of us then others will then see us as exactly that – a fraud. Like if we don’t always believe fully in ourselves 24/7, how can they believe in us too? While the imposter syndrome part of me will likely always be around to keep me humble, I think our imposter parts are often just living with an immense desire to do good in the world and do right by people – especially those in our lives and those we work alongside and are entrusted to lead. I think that kind of humility and responsibility to check ourselves is important, even good!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Lindsay Wilson, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Co-Owner of Cultivate: A Counseling Collective.
We are located in the heart of University Heights and La Mesa because of our core belief of operating in community – which is also at center of our DNA at Cultivate. Our mission at Cultivate is to foster wholeness within our clients, community, and team through quality therapy, bridging the gap between our office and the city we serve. We strive to create a professional atmosphere that exudes warmth and inspiration, believing that the collective pursuit of wholeness stewards healing to a world that is in great need. We currently have 20 therapists on staff (with a few more joining us later this year) who see the lifespan of clients ranging from ages 5-100 with each therapist utilizing a unique set of therapeutic modalities and client needs. Our therapist each specialize modalities such as EMDR, IFS, EFT, Attachment theory, CBT, DBT and offer Kid/Teen, Family, Individual & Couples therapy. In addition to therapy we also strive to put out affordable and accessible mental health resources and events.
This year Cultivate turned 8 years old but in a lot of ways it feels like we are just getting started and look forward, with immense gratitude, for the opportunity to continue to support the mental and emotional health and wellbeing to the San Diego community.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I love the concept of attunement. Attunement is not something we have or we don’t – it’s something we find and foster through relationship with self and others. My favorite way to think about what I do in my job as a therapist is as a frequency finder or an emotional tuning specialist . It’s the image of turning the a (now vintage) radio dial to find the right station or tuning a guitar til to exact the right sound. I have always felt like this is the gift I have for human emotion and connection. I help people to reconnect with parts of themselves and their relationships while also helping them to heal ways that the connection has been out of tune or sync.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
In 2019, when my youngest son Luke was 3 months old I was both rocked and forever changed by the news that our son was both blind and living with an ultra rare genetic disorder called Norrie Disease. It was a dark and scary year of surgeries, hospitals, unanswered questions, anxiety and a world of doubt about how we would ever be able to to show up as the kind of parents our son needed to help him navigate through the world. I doubted my resilience for the majority of that year. I know now I could never have imaged how resilient I could be until that moment and all the ones that have followed after. I look back at that version of myself with awe at how much I grew and came into myself that year. Luke is now 7 years old, thriving and going at the world at his own pace with so much joy and curiosity. Being Luke’s mom has been one of my greatest gifts this life has offered me. We have so many challenges ahead of us as he gets older and yet I actually have to live in such a way that anxiety or worry can’t live too far in the future -today’s needs and challenges are enough. I am more present, open-handed, and empathic person and I strive every day to bring that with me to Cultivate and the therapy room.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I believe that one of the biggest lies our industry tells is that our wounds and emotions are something to be fixed not felt. I have always loved the quote by Robert Frost – ” The best way out is through”. I often think of the work I do in therapy as helping people to find ways to move towards their emotional pain so that we can better connect and understand what our needs are. We are all just looking for ways to be heard and listened to – sometimes that is going to come in the form of anxiety, anger, addiction, conflict, depression and so much more. While I have found diagnosis and medication to also be incredibly helpful and life changing for people and the mental health needs they are facing – I also know that making time to process and move towards our emotions is necessary and paramount for our wellbeing.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
Love will always remain. I want to live a life where love is fostered and felt freely and in abundance. I want that to be my legacy that anyone who was in my life was touched by love in same way – even if that looked them learning how to love themselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cultivatesandiego.com/
- Instagram: cultivate_sandiego
Image Credits
Studio Sutton / Sutton Joslin – Photo in striped shirt & photos on grey couch
Erica Benson – Family Photo
