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Who Am I You Ask?

Auntie Anxiety is the creative alter ego for Lynn Dutrow, Courage Coach and Counselor

In the past I never considered myself to be very creative.  I thought that you had to be able to draw or paint or sing or be an accomplished musician to be "creative".  Over the years while assisting others in climbing their mountains and discovering their dreams, passions, values, goals, and talents, I had my own "revelation"....I am creative!  I love to play with words and to use humor in both my own life and also to share this "talent" with others.

In 2013 I finally decided to walk my talk and I took a leap of faith from providing counseling for an agency to being a solo practitioner in a private practice. I have not looked back since! I love being my own boss (even when I am being my own task master!) and I love assisting others in taking similar leaps! I see myself as a confidant, coach, counselor, and, in some cases an ass kicker! The way that anxiety (in the forms of worry, fear, and self-doubt) tricks us is to get us stuck. While my feet may be relatively small, they still know how to assist clients in getting unstuck and moving forward towards their hopes, dreams, passions, and goals. It brings me joy to assist others in letting joy into their lives.

In 2014 I took another leap and hired a Business Coach. During our first session we were talking about an area to focus on and create a niche for my business. I hemmed and hawed and finally spit out that I worked best with clients who were anxious and then I said "but" (totally negating every thing else I had just shared!) "all counselors work with anxiety". There was a very slight pause, and then my very wise coach replied "AND everyone has anxiety". That one statement was not only worth every penny I paid , it started my creative juices flowing. The baby that was born from that first conversation (and the very valuable subsequent sessions)? Auntie Anxiety!

For those of you who want to know even more about how I got here....

I have been a studying psychology and education formally for more than 25 years and informally for even longer than that! I remember being told as a child that I was "a good listener", so I have a lot of experiencing in listening! I must also admit that on more than one occasion I may have been told that I was "bossy"! As a counselor and a coach I have found a way to integrate these two aspects into a unique Directive Cognitive Behavioral delivery model. Unlike other counselors and therapists who may just sit silently and listen, I am direct, I "talk back", and my approach will assist you in learning how to "talk back" to your anxiety! As I worked with more and more clients who have benefited from this approach, I realized how similar to coaching my approach really is and how coaching can benefit a variety of clients who are experiencing worry, fear, and self-doubt, but who do not have a diagnosable mental illness! So I now offer both counseling and coaching opportunities.

My undergraduate degree from U.M.B.C is in psychology with a certificate in Early Childhood Education. While working in the Education Department at a psychiatric facility with children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges, I pursued my Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from Loyola College in Maryland. Throughout my career as a School Psychologist, then as an Outpatient Counselor for an agency, and now as a Private Practice Counselor and Coach, I have continued to fill my bag with skills and techniques to assist my clients in living their lives to the fullest. I am here to Support, Encourage, facilitate Learning, and assist you in moving towards a calmer, better future, one where you will FLOURISH! Are you ready for more JOY?

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