Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittaney Latta.
Hi Brittaney, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
How did I start? That is a pretty big question. First, no therapist becomes a therapist because they had an easy upbringing. If we talk about how I got to where I am today, I have to briefly summarize my childhood.
I was born into divorced parents. It wasn’t a play-nice co-parenting relationship by any means. It was typical to talk about one another through the child and ask the child to ask the other parents for things. I grew up in Ramona with my mom and stepdad; then, I visited my dad and stepmom in the summers. I also grew up with brothers on both sides- they were great and the most consistent people in my life. My stepdad was very unpredictable and had a temper, which resulted in emotional and physical abuse starting at the age of 12 until I was 16, when my mom divorced him. My father was very much “prove that you love me and want this relationship type of person.”
Fast forward to college. I knew I wanted to attend college in LA, mostly to escape the pain I experienced in Ramona. I did it! I lived in LA for ten years and really found myself out there. I learned in school that psychology classes came quickly and naturally, so I pursued that, and the career path that seemed most fitting for me was that of a therapist. I didn’t enjoy research, and I didn’t want to just prescribe a pill and never see the person again. I wanted to really get to know people and help them get through trauma and live authentically like I never received.
When you mix the two- a history of trauma and a degree in psychology, you get a path of self-growth and healing. I was forced to face a lot of the behaviors I once used for survival but now no longer help me as an adult. I learned I was a people pleaser, an addict, and a closeted bisexual polyamorous person. It took years of healing- which I still am on. The more therapists work on themselves, the more they can help others. I’ve been told several times- you can only take your clients as far as you have gone. I continue to share my healing story with others to fight stigma and show that life can be exactly what you want it to be. All you need is some help to get there!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I believe everyone has a challenging transition into adulthood. For me, book smarts did not come easy. I had to study double the time to get the information to stick, or I would read super slow and would have to reread everything. I wasn’t blessed with financially supportive parents. I had to work several jobs to pay my way through school, and even while I interned to become a licensed therapist, I worked another job.
Also, when you come from trauma, you tend to attract more trauma until you unlearn those patterns. I very much found ways to replicate my upbringing by dating controlling people. I used substances to cope with my stress and to “have fun.” Fortunately, I wasn’t someone who could just party on the weekends. I got to experience a great rock bottom that I think saved my life.
I wouldn’t be a business owner if I wasn’t sober- I know that for a fact. I also learned about boundaries, healthy conflict, and healthy relationships. Now, I’m continuing to practice a healthy work-life balance. When you become a business owner, it’s easy to fall into the unhealthy “I am not doing enough” mindset.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Your Therapy Room?
I run my own online mental health therapy practice for teens and adults in California called Your Therapy Room. I specialize working with non-traditional people who have experienced trauma and/or struggle with anxiety. What does non-traditional mean? Anything outside of white, hetero-normative, 9-5 cultures. I work with the whole LGBTQIA+ rainbow, poly folx, people in recovery, first-generation Americans, and people of mixed cultures. I take pride in being trauma-informed and culturally competent.
What sets me apart from others? I like to describe my therapy sessions like if you were talking to a friend who really gets you. I don’t like that stuffy “and how does that make you feel energy.” If you’re looking to talk with someone who gets you, it feels super comfortable; they are an expert in psychology, trauma, and mental health while being a little directive- that’s me.
I want my readers to know if they have been struggling to find a therapist for a while- don’t give up. It’s such a journey, but once you find someone who is the right fit, you will see tremendous growth in yourself.
I want people to remember my company as the place that helped them learn to create peace in their lives- meaning taking control of creating peace in their environment and within themselves. I want people to understand how to accept themselves and find a sense of safety in this world to live authentically. I love it when people learn how to express their feelings and start seeing so many of their symptoms improve. Society really teaches us how to repress our feelings, but repression just causes our emotions to explode like a volcano- often in ways we can’t explain. That’s where I come in to make sense of their feelings and why and teach people how to improve their overall well-being from a holistic lens.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
My favorite mantra when I started grad school was: “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”
Looking at the whole picture, it will feel overwhelming and nearly impossible. But if you break it down into bite-sized pieces and only focus on what is in front of you, it becomes much more doable. This is really something you can use in any situation in life.
Pricing:
- Free introduction session
- 50-minute therapy session before 4 pm is $160
- 50-minute therapy session after 4 pm is $180
Contact Info:
- Website: Yourtherapyrooms.com
- Other: Schedule a free introduction session through my calendly link: https://calendly.com/yourtherapyroom/freeconsult
