Balancing Humanity and Healing: Consultation Hour with Dr. Kate Truitt

In the ever-demanding field of psychotherapy, we often ask ourselves: How can I hold space for others while holding space for myself? For Dr. Kate Truitt, this question is not theoretical—it's lived. As a clinical psychologist, applied neuroscientist, and international bestselling author, Dr. Truitt is a powerhouse in the mental health space. But what makes her stand out isn't just her accolades is her deep authenticity, vulnerability, and relentless pursuit of balance between being a therapist and a human being.

In a recent conversation with Jackie Moore, LPC, for our Consultation Hour video series, Dr. Truitt opened up about the raw, real experiences that shaped both her life and her clinical practice. From surviving the sudden death of her fiancé just a week before their wedding, to facing the devastation of California wildfires, to navigating her own healing journey through trauma and dissociation, Dr. Truitt offers a profound reminder: therapists are humans first.

Dissociation as a Superpower—and a Challenge

Dr. Truitt speaks candidly about how dissociation served her early on. "It became a superpower," she shares, describing how it helped her survive both her internal struggles and external chaos. But as she matured professionally and personally, she realized this once-helpful adaptation was getting in the way of true connection. “It kept me buffered, safe, but also distanced from intimacy and community.”

The takeaway? Therapists are not immune to the brain's defense mechanisms. Recognizing and working through our own coping strategies—without shame—is an essential part of the healing journey, both for ourselves and our clients.

The Ongoing Work of Being Human

Despite her expertise in neuroscience and trauma recovery, Dr. Truitt doesn’t shy away from admitting that she still has to remind herself to use the tools she teaches. “There are days when I know what I should be doing, but I just can’t do it,” she admits. That level of honesty is not only refreshing, it’s vital.

She speaks to the importance of community—both professional and personal—as a lifeline for accountability and support. Whether it’s a colleague reminding her to take a deep breath, or her internal dialogue with “Amy the Amygdala,” Dr. Truitt shows us how healing often requires us to circle back to the basics: breath, awareness, compassion.

When the Therapist Needs Healing

In one particularly powerful story, Dr. Truitt recounts the moment she had to leave clinical practice due to the intensity of her own PTSD. It wasn’t a failure—it was a conscious, ethical decision to protect her clients and herself. After deep therapeutic work and time to rebuild her foundation, she eventually returned to practice stronger, more attuned, and more connected to her purpose.

Her story serves as a call to action: mental health professionals must do their own healing work, and sometimes that means stepping away to find solid ground again.

Integration Is the Goal

Dr. Truitt’s books, Keep Breathing and Healing in Your Hands, are extensions of her personal and professional mission—to empower others to work with their brains, not against them. Through practical tools rooted in neuroplasticity, self-havening, and embodied awareness, she teaches us how healing happens in real-time, often in the small moments: a breath, a touch, a pause.

At its core, her message is clear: Being a therapist doesn’t mean we’re exempt from life’s pain. But by honoring our humanity—by letting ourselves be messy, vulnerable, and real—we become more powerful agents of healing, both for our clients and for ourselves.

Watch the full episode of our new interview series with Dr. Kate Truitt below.