Counselor Spotlight: Kim
Kimberly Fritsch, LAC joins us to discuss paddleboarding, moving from education to counseling, and Mumford & Sons.
What was your journey to becoming a counselor?
How long do we have? It has been an amazing ride. I was a teacher for 17 years and always had a love for people and relationships. However, the last five years in this profession I knew God was training me for something more. When I was an instructional support teacher working with at-risk students, my heart for the hurting kept strengthening with each passing year.
When God presents a God-given desire of the heart, we have to take a leap of faith to follow Him. This leap led me to where I am today as a counselor. By no means was the road I walked easy, but He’s showing me the therapy realm is so worthwhile. Like He promises all of His followers, the fields are overflowing with milk and honey for me.
What do you do for fun?
I love to laugh and joke, hang out with family and friends, relax, read outside, and go to the beach. My family and I vacation at our shore house on the bay, and I try to go out on my stand-up paddleboard as much as I can. I taught myself, which was a blast. My preferred place is outside, I love trying new activities and doing things on a whim. Honestly, I could have fun with a paper bag… I don’t need much to make me smile and have fun.
Describe your approach to counseling.
I’m all about connection, right from the initial phone call, where I try to make clients feel comfortable to be themselves. The therapeutic alliance is such a key component, like the salt needed to season a dish. I desire to offer a refreshing perspective that opens doors so clients can find what works best for them in their search for healing, peace, and life fulfillment. Not only do I desire clients to be blessed, but I hope the growth gained in therapy creates a domino effect where they go on to bless others. While I frame my work from a psychodynamic theoretical orientation, I utilize a variety of modalities based on my clients’ individual differences and their therapeutic needs. My teaching ability comes in handy and connects so well. I refuse to become stagnant.
In your eyes, how do faith and therapy interact?
Faith and therapy intersect beautifully since both practices require a great level of patience, discipline, commitment, and a soft heart. With my clients I make it known that in therapy, just like living out and practicing Christlikeness, God is more interested in the journey than the destination. God has the ability to fix or offer us deliverance at any given moment, but as His children in need of discipline, faith and therapy both extend invitations for beauty to arise from ashes when we embrace the act of wrestling with our struggles. This “waiting period” is just like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane; His timely crucifixion was purposefully paired with His momentous resurrection.
Do you have any pets?
Not right now, but I’ve been itching for a fuzzy kitten. My parents instilled in me and my siblings a love for animals and gave us great experiences like seeing kittens being born. At one point we had 2 dogs, 7 cats, 2 hamsters, and fish; that was the most we ever had at one time. We often joked about our little menagerie and still do. Doing life with animals creates a warm, sweet spot you can’t gain anywhere else.
What is your dream vacation spot?
I’m a warm weather gal through and through and have lots of places I want to visit in my lifetime. We have such beautiful places right here throughout the United States like the national parks. Hands down at the top of my list is Israel to see all the biblical sites during Jesus’ time. When I’m outside, I feel one with God and His creation, so going to Israel would be so special. Moving forward in life, I want traveling to be a transformative experience.
What’s your favorite band?
This question is like asking me, “how many pairs of shoes do you own?” I absolutely love music and am very eclectic. My brother-in-law has gotten me into a couple of really good reggae bands that are fun to listen to, especially when I want a summer vibe during the long months of fall and winter. If I have to pick one, I would say Mumford & Sons. I got to see them for their Gentlemen of the Road tour in Queens, New York back in 2009. Their folk-rock style with the variety of instruments they use, and lead singer Marcus Mumford’s iconic voice all have a way of firing you up for an overall feel-good time. They’re awesome!