Meet Lindsey Bates, BA, MA, CMHC
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Lindsey and I am a new clinical mental health counselor here at Middle Path Counseling. Becoming a therapist is a mid-life career change. For the past fourteen years, I worked with young people as a middle school and high school teacher in New Hampshire. Outside of work, I enjoy painting with watercolors, engaging in art and storytelling with my two children (we love our public library), and exploring local nature trails as a family. In my younger years I enjoyed world travel and experiencing new cuisine and cultures. Now that I have young children, I’m excited for the day when they’re old enough to join me on new adventures. I can’t wait to share the joy of travel and discovering how unique and diverse the world can be.
Why did you become a therapist?
In the classroom, I watched many young people struggle with negative self-talk, anxiety, and depression. These observations inspired me to shift my career from teaching to working with people in a therapeutic capacity that promotes emotional growth. As a former educator, I see the need for children, young adults, and parents to develop coping strategies that enhance self-understanding. I am eager to assist clients in exploring their strengths as they explore questions like: Who am I? What is important to me? How do I want that reflected in the world? Working as a teacher allowed me to work with young people in a way that was instructional, while working as a therapist opens up the opportunity to help individuals to identify their core values. My own personal challenges with modern parenthood and the maternal mental load have reaffirmed that caregiver mental health is vital in today’s world.
What do you consider your specialties?
I am eager to work with individuals facing a wide range of life’s challenges like Anxiety, OCD, ADHD, school avoidance, parenting stressors, and adjustment to big life changes. I embrace a neurodiverse-affirming approach to counseling as I know talk therapy is not accessible to all. I am committed to creating a safe space that nurtures inner strengths and acknowledges each individual’s unique challenges.
What is it like to sit in your office with you? Tell us a bit about your approach to therapy.
I use a warm, person-focused, and empathetic approach when working with clients. I consider my approach to be eclectic – drawing from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, CBT, Solutions-Focused-Therapy, and creative approaches (e.g. art, storytelling, imaginary play). I believe the client is the expert on their lived experience and has the power to pull from internal strengths to navigate personal challenges. Since I work with children as young as five, I consider the client's sensory sensitivities and adapt the therapy space to the individual's needs.
What is your favorite part about being a therapist?
My favorite part of working as a therapist is witnessing the emotional growth of clients as they navigate their own personal journeys. It is a unique privilege to support individuals in their path toward self-acceptance and personal empowerment.
If you are interested in booking an appointment with Lindsey you can click here or go to the "Book an Appointment" tab on the website!
