Meet Angelic Schmidt | Licensed Professional Counselor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Angelic Schmidt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Angelic, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born in Clear Lake, TX, and have lived in Houston and surrounding areas throughout the majority of my life. My mother is Black and my father is Trinidadian and Venezuelan. Black, Hispanic, and Caribbean cultures often turn to God and religion to heal any matters. Throughout my childhood, I so often heard, “Just pray about it” or “Leave it to God” when I tried to discuss any emotions I was experiencing or struggles I was facing. If religion wasn’t the answer, then secrecy and brushing difficult topics, such as mental health, under the rug was the answer. Therapy was viewed as something that “weak people seek out”, something that “was not for our people” and we were discouraged from talking about family matters outside of the family. In reality, spirituality and therapy can coexist and truly help an individual live a well-balanced life and grow tremendously. Witnessing the impact of mental health struggles within my family and friend group throughout my childhood and the disregard for discussing this important topic drove me to seek a profession in the counseling field. Representation in counseling matters. A large part of my passion for pursuing a career in the counseling field is rooted in my desire to educate people of color on mental health and to provide a safe space for people that look like me to engage in therapy. I am truly honored to walk alongside my clients and support them.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor at Natural Balance Counseling located in The Woodlands. At Natural Balance Counseling, we provide personalized mental health counseling for individuals over the age of 18 in Texas. We provide counseling for individuals, couples, and families either in person or by telehealth for convenience. Our counselors are highly trained to support clients through a variety of concerns including depression, anxiety, grief, life transitions, boundary setting, communication issues, and more. As a professional counselor, I am passionate about providing a safe space for my clients to show up authentically as themselves. I strive to provide a nonjudgmental, empathic, and open-minded space for each client that I meet. I understand that each client is complex and unique. I feel it is important to get to know my clients in all facets of their life including their values, family dynamics, and more. My hope is that my clients leave my office feeling armed with tools and increased insight to conquer their day-to-day life stressors and ultimately improve their mental well-being.

Personally, I have been in the field of mental health for over 5 years. The road to where I am today was not easy but was incredibly worth it. I took the leap to transition to this group practice in July 2022. Prior to working at Natural Balance Counseling, I was employed at a community mental health center. I learned so much in the community mental health setting. However, there were significant challenges that I faced including lack of role clarity, lack of support from supervisors, high rate of clinician turnover, and unmanageable workload.

I realized I was not able to have a healthy work/life balance and that I was experiencing significant burnout in this setting. In order to be the best provider possible for my clients, I must first care for myself and I recognized it was time for a change. It was intimidating making this transition because the group practice setting and the community mental health setting are incredibly different. However, I sought support from an old professor from graduate school and dove in ready to tackle the challenge head-on. It has turned out to be the best decision I could have made for myself and has made a noticeable difference in my life. The biggest lesson I have learned has been to continuously challenge my imposter syndrome and the negative thoughts that pop into my brain. I am sure other professionals can relate to the very real struggle with imposter syndrome. I am competent, I continue to hone my skills, and I truly have a passion for this field. I have learned to challenge these negative thoughts when they arise and try to tell me otherwise.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My husband and I are big foodies, love a good brewery, and enjoy various experiences. That being said, we love when friends come to visit us so that we can show them around our area! The first recommendation I have is B-52 Brewing in Conroe, TX! If you have not been to this amazing brewery located in a forest of trees with twinkle lights strung, an outdoor fire pit, an indoor taproom, and over 30+ beers on tap …then what are you waiting for?! This is a favorite spot for us and we have introduced many friends to this brewery. They have a selection of beers for everyone whether you like a hoppy beer or a stout.

The next recommendation I have is CRÚ Food & Wine Bar in The Woodlands, TX. This is an intimate cozy spot where you can enjoy a curated wine flight, stone-fired pizza, and fondue! They have a huge selection of delicious wines and their staff is incredibly knowledgeable and can help you make a selection that you will enjoy. The wine bar is located in The Woodlands Market Street within walking distance to many different shops. This could make for a fun outing for a guest from out of town!

The last recommendation I wanted to mention is for the foodies! There are many delicious local food trucks and restaurants to choose from so I would see what they were craving and go from there! It’s hard to even pinpoint specific restaurants or food trucks to highlight because there are just too many good options. Just to mention a few favorite food trucks: Chicken Headz, FiammaTX, Nomad Barbecue, and KAOW Kajun Asian On Wheels!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The one person that instantly comes to my mind is my grandmother, Ursula. She has been a rock throughout my entire life and a confidant at times when I felt I had no other outlet. My grandmother is one of the only family members who undoubtedly encouraged me when I decided to change my major in my Freshman year of college to Psychology so that I could pursue a career in counseling. She is also one of the only family members that have been willing to acknowledge the struggles with mental health within our family and understood why I felt it was important to forge this path. She has remained a constant voice of reason, love, and support in my life. I feel that she played a significant role in my journey of becoming the woman that I am today and I thank her for that any chance I get.

Website: https://www.naturalbalancecounseling.com/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/naturalbalancecounseling

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Naturalbalancecounseling/

Image Credits
Cari Scalise