Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassie Galmiche.
Hi Cassie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My interest in counseling started when my parents divorced; I wanted to help children of divorce navigate their new reality. I started my career in schools in 2017 and have fulfilled many different roles serving students of all ages from kindergarten to 12th grade. Most recently, I worked with teenage girls as a school counselor. In 2022, I began working with couples and women to help them identify and show up as authentic selves. Earlier this year, I left my school counseling job to build a private practice and have more flexibility to be home with my children. My desire to help children remains the same. However, while working in schools, I noticed that real change came for children when I could work with their parents. That inspired me to specialize in working with moms and parents. Parenthood is overwhelming; you don’t know how it will go until you get there. With two under two, I am navigating parenthood myself! I work with many different family structures: co-parenting, step-parenting, new moms, moms of many, single moms, etc. Supporting my clients through the unique challenges each parenthood journey presents.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
When I started in education, each interview would be met with the sentiment that you needed experience before getting a job but couldn’t get a job to gain experience. I spent time as a classroom aid, a reading intervention assistant, and a substitute teacher. All to gain experience in schools while working toward a more permanent role as a school counselor. Before working as a school counselor, I worked as an In-School Suspension Coordinator at the Middle School level. That was the most challenging year of my career in schools. I learned so much about myself, and supporting the students whose behaviors were deemed the most challenging. That knowledge is helpful when working with parents who aren’t sure what to do next. After that year, I secured a position as a school counselor at a private school. That role stood in stark contrast to my previous one. I was grateful for the change and again learned so much about myself and my role as a counselor. Building a counseling practice while having two under two myself has been challenging. It isn’t easy to balance time at home and time with clients. Like many moms, I want to be available to everyone when needed. I have a passion for working with moms to find the balance between work, home, and personal time for themselves.
We’ve been impressed with Unwritten: A Therapy Space, but for folks who might need to be more familiar, what can you share about what you do and what sets you apart?
Unwritten may bring to mind the Natasha Bedingfield song; while that is okay, it wasn’t the intention. The song serves as a powerful image for writing your future. Unwritten is about looking at your whole life and telling the story of who you are on your terms. We each have a unique story; we can let others guide it and tell it for us, or we can take control of our lives and write our own story. Unwritten does not simply apply to the future. We can explore and heal our pasts and relate to our experiences in different ways as we better understand their place in our lives. We can be more intentional about our present, focusing on our values and who we truly are—making decisions based on our own story, not someone else’s version. We have the power to shape our future into what we hope for it to be. I am happy to support anyone who connects with my message. However, I specialize in helping parents navigate all aspects of parenthood, from pregnancy and infertility to the teen years and relationships with their adult children. We often talk about the type of parents we want to be before we have kids. “I would never let my kid,” and when they get here, suddenly everything is different. My experience in school gives me a unique perspective on parenthood. I have worked with challenging behaviors and diagnoses. I have helped parents navigate both public and private school systems and the resources available to their children. We don’t know what it’s truly like to have kids until we do, and then there’s no turning back. You don’t get sent home from the hospital with a user manual. Even if you did, it could never cover all the possibilities you may face in your parenthood journey. Each child is different and just when you feel like you’ve got the hang of it; everything changes! All at once, everyone in your life wants to share their advice, social media is giving you conflicting information, the “influencers” make it all look so easy, and you just want a minute to yourself. Not to mention, you feel like you haven’t talked to your partner in days, and even when you do, it’s like you are speaking different languages. You aren’t sure the right answer to what seems like the most difficult test you have ever faced. The good news is that you are exactly what your child needs and don’t have to do it alone! Slowing down and connecting with your partner about the family you want to create can seem nearly impossible. If you want to get started on your own or hope to work together as a couple, I’m here to help you quiet the noise around parenthood and get intentional about the family you are creating.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
My husband and I are high school sweethearts. We have been together for 13 years and have grown and changed together. Being in a relationship and finding joy in that relationship takes hard work. More than just my formal training in counseling, I have personal experience in making a relationship work long-term. In my limited free time, I enjoy watching cooking competition shows. I love to cook and bake for my family and find it relaxing. I have recently started including my almost 2-year-old in the meal preparations and find it a fun way to connect. Knowing I won’t be alone in the kitchen every night makes the often daunting task of making dinner a bit more bearable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://unwrittenstl.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unwritten_stl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551947956008
Image Credits
Amber Mark Photography
