Holly Winston, a licensed professional counselor, operates NewSpace Counseling LLC in Kirkwood. | photo courtesy of Holly Winston
After Holly Winston fulfilled the requirements to become a licensed therapist, she deliberately chose Kirkwood as the place to establish her NewSpace Counseling LLC private practice.
“Kirkwood is one of the greatest walkable, hometown-feeling communities in this country. There are new businesses arriving all the time, and I feel lucky to be a part of this community,” said Winston, a Webster University graduate in clinical mental health counseling.
Winston added that she also chose Kirkwood because of its central location and accessibility to St. Louis metropolitan residents. She said she was fortunate to find an office space that’s quiet, has convenient off-street parking and is perfect for therapy services.
Having previously worked in corporate marketing before staying home with her children when they were young, Winston said when her last child entered high school, she knew it was time to get back into the workforce.
“But the appeal of marketing was no longer there for me,” she said. “As our family had grown and experienced many things, my kids and I went to therapy at different times and stages of life. We got to experience some of the wonderful support and change-focused mindset building that therapy helps to create.”
Based on those positive experiences, Winston decided to go back to graduate school at Webster University to become a licensed professional counselor after the age of 50, graduating in 2021. She also holds a master of business administration from Rice University, which she earned in 1997.
Holly Winston | photo courtesy of Holly Winston
“A Wonderful Sense Of Accomplishment”
Winston loves having a space of her own where she meets with clients.
“There’s a wonderful sense of accomplishment when I think about what I had to do to get my degree, and to become fully licensed in Missouri,” she said. “Particularly for me, deciding to go back to school after the age of 50, makes this accomplishment feel even more like a reward in itself. Having a practice in a wonderful area and getting to work with so many diverse and incredible clients has been a dynamic and rewarding experience.
“I honestly wish I’d started this a lot sooner, but I’m so happy to be where I am right now,” she added.
In her practice, Winston works with adolescents, adults and couples who are dealing with relationship conflicts, depressive symptoms, temporary challenges, chronic illnesses, adjusting to new situations, anxiety, grief, obsessive thoughts, childhood trauma, infidelity, divorce, blending families, parenting, resiliency in aging or general well-being.
“Sometimes making the call to talk with a therapist is a hard first step. I create an intimate space where safety and comfort are my top priorities,” she said. “Through cognitive behavioral therapy and somatic awareness techniques, we talk about the things that matter most to clients.”
Winston also encourages techniques to help clients grow personal resiliency at any age and during any stage of life.
“I incorporate mental well-being methods to help clients focus on feeling better day-to-day,” she said.
For establishing work-life balance in her own life, Winston said she’s an avid traveler, an enthusiastic pet owner and a mom to three grown children, for which she prioritizes protecting her personal time and space.
“It’s Never Too Late”
Winston’s advice to other women in business, or other women who might be considering opening their own business, is that it’s never too late to start a new career.
“Finding something that has had a big impact in your own life can turn into new opportunities,” she said, speaking from her own experience. “There are scholarships and loans for women looking to change careers, and even different programs that offer flexibility in how to attend training or complete the necessary curriculum.”
Winston wants to remind women who are weary of taking the first step toward new careers or occupations that it doesn’t require dropping everything to start over.
“You can incorporate training into existing life with a little research and curiosity,” she said.
Winston added that she’s willing to talk with anyone who’s interested in becoming a counselor to let them know about the process or path that she followed.
“Private practice counseling is an exceptional career that allows a lot of flexibility with your schedule, and offers many different environments in which to practice,” she said.