From Hesitation to Healing: What Holds Us Back from Therapy and How to Begin with Katie Babcock

Starting therapy is one of the most meaningful steps a person can take—but it’s also one of the hardest. In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Margo Jacquot sits down with Katie Babcock to explore the real reasons people pause, stop, or never begin their search for a therapist. From fears about what therapy will be like, to misconceptions about needing to have everything “bad enough,” to the overwhelm of finding a provider who feels like the right fit, we break down the emotional and practical obstacles that quietly hold many people back. You’ll also hear empowering, practical strategies for restarting the search with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re considering therapy for the first time, returning after a break, or supporting someone else on their journey, this episode offers guidance that can help you move from hesitation to healing with greater ease and understanding.

What You'll Learn:

• The most common fears, assumptions, and misconceptions that stop people from starting therapy
• Practical steps to restart the therapy search with clarity, confidence, and realistic expectations 
• How to identify what you need in a therapist so the process feels less intimidating and more empowering
• Why small mindset shifts can make the journey toward mental health care feel more accessible and less overwhelming

Bio:

Katie Babcock is a board-approved Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a National Certified Counselor in Baltimore, Maryland. Katie is trained in EMDR and holds certifications as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and an ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider. She is the founder of Counseling for Professionals, a private mental health practice specializing in supporting the mental wellness of adult professionals. As a professional and high-achiever herself and someone who has experienced burnout multiple times, Katie is on a mission to support adult professionals, businesses, and organizations:

• overcome and prevent individual and systemic burnout 
• heal unresolved trauma & PTSD
• understand attention differences and difficulties
• support those struggling with substances 
• create space and honor grief

Katie began her career at Sheppard Pratt Health System, the nation's largest private, non-profit provider of mental health services. She has trained and worked in various treatment settings, including inpatient facilities, long-term substance abuse programs, intensive outpatient programs, and private practice.  She is a Baltimore native, a former two-sport collegiate athlete, and a recovering adult child of an alcoholic with an ACES score of 7. Katie is an activist for the destigmatization & anti-pathologization of mental health.

Connect with Katie Babcock:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-babcock-cfp/

https://www.counselingforprofessionals.com/

kbabcock@counselingforprofessionals.com

Dr. Margo Jacquot is the award-winning founder and Chief Care Officer of The Juniper Center, one of the largest woman-owned counseling and therapy practices in the Chicago area. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in trauma recovery, addiction treatment, and LGBTQ-affirming therapy. Dr. Jacquot is also the host of the "Mental Health Business Mentor" podcast, where she shares insights on running a successful mental health practice.

Connect with Dr. Margo Jacquot:

• Website: thejunipercenter.com
• Instagram: @thejunipercenter
• Facebook: The Juniper Center