Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Ofrecio.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hello! My name is Sarah Ofrecio, and I am the founder of Growth Mindset Psychotherapy. We are a private practice dedicated to helping teens, young adults, and couples foster a growth mindset to get unstuck in their lives, learn tools to cope, and build healthy relationships. The concept of “growth mindset” comes from the spirit of embracing challenges and seeing failures as an opportunity to learn.
To be honest, I didn’t always have a growth mindset. Growing up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, I was decidedly not a “cool” kid. I was riddled with insecurities, which held me back from connecting with others and seeing much potential in my future life. The only place I really fit in and felt seen was in my high school drama class. I felt an affinity for analyzing different characters, trying to understand their motivations, and finding empathy for them. Theatre became my comfort zone, so when I went to college at Loyola University New Orleans, I decided to major in theatre arts.
I carried all of those old insecurities with me into college and developed a tendency to push down my true feelings and pretend to be who I thought everyone wanted me to be. I didn’t know who I was, let alone what I wanted to do with my life. I finished school about 2 years after the movie Eat, Pray, Love came out. Much like the protagonist of the movie I felt called to travel somewhere totally different to find myself. So, the summer after I graduated, I found myself traveling to South Korea to teach English.
Over the 3 years that I lived in South Korea, I learned 3 key things. First, appreciating the differences of another culture helped me embrace my own individual differences. Second, I learned that when I am outside of my comfort zone, I am forced to be creative and put myself out there. Lastly, I finally admitted to myself that what I really wanted to do with my life was to become a psychotherapist. Part of me had known that for a long time, but I just needed the courage to be able to admit it. That was when my dream was hatched: to one day open a private practice helping others struggling with self-esteem and anxiety issues I was all too familiar with.
After many experiences within the field of mental health- from graduate school to working within varied counseling agencies- I can now say that my dream has come to fruition with my practice, Growth Mindset Psychotherapy, opening its doors earlier this year. I truly love this work, and I’m inspired every day watching my clients start to believe in themselves and chase their dreams, too.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest hurdle has been finding my footing within the DFW community. I just moved here with my family in June of 2023 from the DC area, so I am still in the process of connecting with other professionals in the area and figuring out where everything is. It has also been a challenge starting up a business as a new mom. I don’t have a background in business, and I am a first-time mom, so it is a lot to learn all at once!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Growth Mindset Psychotherapy?
Growth Mindset Psychotherapy is a boutique-style private practice that provides individuals with a customized plan to meet their unique needs. We specialize in helping teens, young adults, and couples struggling with overwhelming emotions, low self-esteem, and relationship issues learn valuable coping skills, improve communication, and gain confidence. Some of the therapeutic services that we offer include dialectical behavior therapy, parts work, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, attachment-based interventions, and Imago & Gottman Method couple’s therapy.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Yes! I love Esther Perel’s podcast, “Where Should We Begin?” in which real couples navigate various relational issues. For books, “The Body Keeps the Score”, “Attached.”, and “No Bad Parts” are all really awesome. I also recently read “The Midnight Library” and thought it had some great insight on healing from depression. Some apps that I tend to recommend are Insight Timer (for meditations) and Rootd (for panic attacks). I also follow the “Gottman Relationship Blog” for helpful relationship tools.
Contact Info:
Website: https://www.growthmindsetpsychotherapy.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthmindsettherapy/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrowthMindsetPsychotherapy
Original Article Written By Voyage Dallas