My Story

I have heard, “You are not a typical psychologist.” Repeatedly.

If true, perhaps this is because of my very not typical life.

Note: This page is only for those who are well-caffeinated and want to know even more to make a better-informed decision regarding fit. I am sharing my extended story here so it will cost you nothing but time.

In search of dreams…

Early Years.

I was very poor as a child and raised by a single, uneducated 24-year old mother of three who waitressed three jobs to support us.  I grew up quickly and began working at a very early age. I was essentially told by my high school counselor I was too poor to go to college and not allowed on the college-prep track. (For the record, this decision was made before I started sleeping in the high school equipment room).  Fortunately, I was also being mentored by my basketball coach, Donnie Thomas, an ex-NFL player with a commanding presence who believed strongly that notion was utterly absurd.  Thanks in large part to Donnie, I now have five degrees and many years of additional training.  Incidentally, we were undefeated through all of our regular seasons—and coming from Indiana—that actually means something. 

Military Service

I joined the Army Reserves when I was 17. I declined the loan repayment program and GI Bill because I felt it was my duty to serve our country; I felt extremely privileged and knew that even with little, I had everything I needed to achieve my dreams.  I still feel the same and often get tears in my eyes when I hear the song, “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood.  

I was honored to be a solider and paratrooper in the 12th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

I continue to be quite close to many of my cohorts twenty-six years after our deactivation. They are some of the finest people I have ever known—with a depth of dedication, loyalty, character, and integrity not commonly found in nature.

You read correctly—girls actually served in special forces in the 90’s. Many of our mornings began with, “Good Morning Gentlemen, and Julie, this is what we’re going to do today...” This was especially hysterical because there was often another woman in formation—and if you knew SFC Sak, you would know she took those greetings as a compliment. After the 12th SFG(A) group deactivated, I then joined the 93rd Psychological Operations (PSYOPS).

I served in Bosnia as an artist and computer graphics illustrator after the Dayton Peace Accord and designed propaganda (leaflets, flyers, billboards, etc.)—and, cool fact, we slept in the war-torn, Zetra stadium in Sarajevo, where they hosted the winter Olympics in 1984!

I’m including what one of my colleagues sent to various reporters after they reported on intentional misreports by a defense attorney regarding my being in special forces:

“….Julie Steele (Seel) did in fact serve in a special forces group from 1990-1994.  She was assigned to the Signal Detachment, 12th SF Group (Airborne). In this capacity she was responsible for communications systems on numerous live environments that supported my detachment.  Her contributions to mission readiness and to mission success where I served as the Senior Operations and Intelligence Sergeant were nothing short of outstanding.  I can also provide numerous other veterans of 12th Special Forces Group that can set the record straight.”

—KF

In my 20’s

In four years, I earned both a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and completed my pre-med requirements while studying theology at Loyola University of Chicago. I was also working full time, serving in the reserves, and doing a lot of volunteer work (spending 2-3 nights at the homeless shelters; 1-2 evenings delivering food to people with AIDS, working with a “Best Buddies” program at a village for the handicapped, and helping take care of a couple of elderly people). And I was deeply saddened by all the need, poverty, discrimination, and neglect I witnessed in Chicago. 

For fun—and likely to counter that sadness—I was a competitive skydiver (3,400+ skydives), SCUBA diver, pilot, and marathon runner.   I was also an artist and I wrote poetry. 

After college

I became an activity therapist in an inpatient psychiatric hospital for children and adolescents with severe behavioral disorders in my hometown, Michigan City, IN—and, in case Pope Francis is reading, the Catholic church might want to consider this position as an effective birth control strategy. During this time I was also deployed to Bosnia with PSYOPS (much deserved R&R after working many doubles).

After the psychiatric hospital closed in 1996, I went back to Chicago to study Health Law and Policy at DePaul University.  In addition to courses at the College of Law, I studied economics, finance, and management in the Public Services Management Program.  From my volunteer work, I understood well the depth of discrimination HIV+ people faced after developing AIDS, but also understood this discrimination began well before then, and they were not protected. Therefore, my master’s thesis was an exploration of the legal precedent to make the argument that people with asymptomatic-HIV should be protected from discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  The Supreme Court ruled in agreement shortly after my thesis defense (Bragdon vs. Abbott, 1998).  I earned a Master of Science with Distinction.      

During graduate school I was the Director of Development and Special Projects for The Center for Ethics and Advocacy in Health Care in Techny, IL.  After graduation, intrigued by the idea of helping people create a legacy while redirecting their wealth to charitable trusts, I managed a wealth management consulting firm in Northfield, IL. This position led me to become a financial advisor/planner in DesPlaines, IL. 

In my late 20’s—through no fault of my own other than dismissing my own intuition—I lost everything after launching a promising career in finance and struggled greatly with PTSD.  I have been knocked down many times throughout my life, but this was the first time I really struggled to get back up.  Fortunately, my skydiving teammate saw me through this period and prescribed a different form of air therapy—motorcycle riding, real fast.  I found good mental health care was extremely hard to come by—and unfortunately that remains very true to this day).  So I decided to return to my original plan and pursue training to help those who suffered.

In my 30’s

More graduate training

I accepted an offer to attend a PhD program in Clinical Psychology at the University of New Mexico (UNM)—on one condition—that William R. Miller, PhD would be my advisor. This was an unlikely counteroffer, but I wanted both great mentoring in psychology and to get as close to the greatest coaches in skydiving, from the world champs, Arizona Airspeed.  

Prior to my interview, Bill declared he wasn’t taking on new students because he was five years from retirement; however, because of my very not typical story, he agreed to take me on as his last student.  Having Bill as my mentor and advisor for five years was an absolute gift. 

Bill is the co-founder of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and one of the most influential, prolific, and generous psychologists of our time. 

He cared deeply about creating a lab that celebrated life experience, diversity, and struggle, and he enjoyed providing opportunities to non-traditional students.  Bill believed those students became more effective clinicians because they learned in life something you couldn’t learn in books—and they had a passion you couldn’t teach. (I have found that to be true with my trainees as well). 

I was thoroughly trained in MI, beginning with a semester long course with Bill, weekly lab meetings, and several, 2-day workshops. I also co-authored a meta-analysis of MI studies with Bill and Jennifer Hettema, PhD, and I used MI as my treatment approach for treating substance use in young people at the Job Corps for my doctoral dissertation.  

Bill was also my advisor for my master’s research on posttraumatic growth—not stress.  I wanted to study and understand the stories of people who became stronger through trauma.  I believed with a fair degree of certainty that, with proper coaching, it was possible for everyone to grow because of trauma, if we could better understand the specifics and the non-specifics of why and how. In 2008, I received my Master of Science in Clinical Psychology at UNM.

During graduate school, I treated as many people as possible in our clinic, beginning with my first year of training—largely under the supervision of Dan Matthews, PhD.  Dan believed in creating compassionate, client-centered therapists; and throughout all my years of training, he modeled the tremendous difference a passionate clinician-educator can make in the lives of both clients and trainees.

Besides seeing many clients, studying, and engaging in research, I was also the Instructor of Record for 19 undergraduate courses—General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Abnormal Behaviors, and Human Learning & Memory—receiving very high ratings for my courses, content, and style. 

In 2008, just before Bill’s retirement, Barbara McCrady, PhD, joined UNM faculty from Rutgers University as a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and became the Director for the Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Addictions (CASAA) at UNM, and I was fortunate to have her as my new strong and generous mentor.

As a highly accomplished research psychologist, Dr. McCrady believed in developing and using empirically supported assessments and treatments in clinical practice, and strongly believed in developing her students to become competent and compassionate clinical scientists.

After training with Dr. McCrady for two years and completing my dissertation, I was accepted to a one-year scientist-practitioner, APA-accredited internship on the substance abuse track at a consortium that included collaboration between the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), National Crime Victims Center, and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center (2009-2010). 

Again I was fortunate to have another amazing mentor, John Roitzsch, PhD.  Dr. Roitzsch worked hard to develop his trainees as human beings first, then psychologists—to this day, I carry on his tradition of offering both hugs and tea to each of my honored guests sharing their stories with me in my living room.   Besides learning to drink tea and hug freely, I also conducted research and treated veterans with trauma issues, developed and led groups at MUSC’s Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for substance use, and developed and implemented programs for inpatient psychiatry at MUSC.   

After internship, I finally earned my Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology—I am extremely grateful for the course correction life offered and for the many wonderful advisors, mentors, and colleagues who guided me through this journey.

Afterwards, I completed a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship at Duke University at the Cognitive Behavioral Research and Treatment Program (2010-2012), where I served as a research therapist for veterans with co-morbid substance use disorders and PTSD, and homeless individuals with crack addiction; provided psychotherapy for outpatients; and assisted in clinical supervision for MD-level psychiatric residents, clinical psychology pre-doctoral interns, and graduate practicum students.

In my 40’s

From 2012-2015 I was an attending at the School of Medicine at Duke University and then the lead clinical psychologist at Duke University Health System at Duke Integrative Medicine from 2015-2018.  

I became a highly successful and sought-after psychologist—both as a clinician and educator.  I was privileged to take care of, teach, and learn from hundreds of amazing patients and many graduate students, interns, physician residents, and postdocs.  Many students opted to train with me for multiple years. And I was nominated “Professor of the Year” for the years I worked in the School of Medicine and was asked to speak on behalf of a resident at her graduation. 

My clinical and teaching style is unique, well-trained, honed, and effective—and to say I am sincerely passionate about helping and teaching others to become more effective in their lives and professions is an understatement.  

When we are no longer able to change a situation—we are challenged to change ourselves. —Victor E. Frankl

During my time at Duke, I learned many valuable things. I learned how to properly and effectively care for and teach many patients and trainees all at once, and I really confirmed for myself how important and powerful MI actually was in creating change. 

I also learned I couldn’t improve the culture at Duke regardless of how much I spoke out or to whom I spoke; this realization left me with a tremendous desire and determination to create and work in a healthier environment. So I designed and built this beautiful center and independent practice to better care for my clients, students, family, and self.  

Again, I am very grateful for a determinative course correction—because I can now do what I love, even better.

If you’re going through hell, keep going.  —Winston Churchill

I grew up in a very challenging environment and worked in many others.  I know from personal life experiences—and by the amazing stories of my clients—that life isn’t always fair or just and can be incredibly difficult at times. 

My coach Donnie died unexpectedly at the age of 64 in May 2017—he was my coach, mentor, friend, and father-figure. 

And my partner died at the age of 59 in April 2018; he was an amazing, brilliant, and passionate man and we dreamed of sharing a long life together.  His death was declared a homicide. The only person on the scene was charged with first degree murder and released on an unsecured bond but those charges were recently dropped. Hopefully Attorney General Josh Stein will now intervene, pursue a new investigation of the person and/or people responsible for his death and their involvement before and afterwards, bring charges, and try them in a court where there is hope for truth and justice.  Injustice anywhere, is a threat against justice everywhere. —Martin Luther King, Jr.  In this case, it appears there has been injustice everywhere—for now. 

In other bad news….

My stepfather of 37 years died in March 2019—he was 70.

And my mother died in June 2019 at the age of 67 after a long, four year battle with cancer that resulted after a medical mistake; she was one of the strongest people I have ever known, my life-long hero, and my best friend. 

In the span of 14 months, I helped my partner, stepfather, and mother transition out of this life with dignity and love. 

In just over two years, I lost all the most influential people in my life. 

I know loss, and yet I keep going.

My life began with little, gained much, and has suffered extreme loss, repeatedly. 

So I believe, teach, and practice posttraumatic growth—life has made me a bit of an expert in finding the blessings of trauma.

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined.”  ―Henry David Thoreau

I am a single mother to a wonderful daughter and to my greatest teacher.  Our family motto is “Work hard and be kind” —regardless of what life brings.

I’ve traveled the world and just summited Mt. Kilimanjaro in December 2019.  Patagonia (the “W”) is scheduled for March 2020, and Everest Base Camp will be next on my list.  I am starting a small safari business, “Live Life Well Safaris,” to provide scholarships for private education for poor children in Tanzania and hope to open a school one day.  Over the past nine years, I designed and built three homes.  And over the past fifteen months, I have worked daily on designing and creating this beautiful new office space and practice. 

In search of dreams…

For all I have gone through, I am grateful because I am better skilled and more determined to help others.  I am extremely blessed for all the wonderful people in my life—many of them now gone—because they taught and showed me how to be a better person.  I am also blessed by the number of people who have made bad decisions—because through their bad examples, they too taught me how to be a better person.  I am honored to have worked with so many strong and beautiful people—my coach, 12th SFG(A) soldiers, the majority of my mentors, and all of my clients and trainees—who, through their determination to Live Life Better, have also taught and continue to teach me how to become a better clinician, educator, and person. 

Now with this new practice, I will continue to learn, coach, and teach.  I will only offer the services of others who are also highly qualified, effective therapists, and professionals with proven results to care for you and teach me—and if you are one of those people and interested in working together, please contact me.  

I want change—change in you, change in my profession, and change in myself for the better. 

That is my commitment to you; that is my commitment to myself.

I am a very passionate person.  I am transparent, hardworking, and productive.  I believe in dreaming and achieving those dreams.  I work hard to create change for the better.  I don’t give up or go away easily.  I stand up and speak out for what I believe.  I have real-life experience dealing with real life on the best and worst of terms with the best and worst of human behaviors.  I am a person with integrity, character, and a willingness to pay the price—whatever the price—for those without a voice, here and gone, and especially for those I love.  And, I don’t like bullies—never have, never will.

People have described me as very relatable, reliable, direct, quick-witted, disarmingly honest, strong, undaunted, comical, confident, easy to be with, quick to understand, compassionate, and effective—and not your typical psychologist in experience, style, passion, or results. 

Perhaps I became this way because my life required, and continues to require, me to be not typical to not only survive, but to thrive in a very not typical life. 

My passion in being an effective clinician-educator is to help people Live Life Well.

For those who struggle, remember, you are the storm.  The author of that poem is “unknown,” but known—because all those who wake up daily, struggle and suffer greatly, but choose to continue to live courageously, are the greatest warriors. 

Let’s redirect your energy so you can thrive and see the powerful warrior that is you!

You now nearly have my full story, and it cost you nothing but the rest of your day, all your ADHD medication, and several cappuccinos.

I appreciate your kindness and interest.  I hope to hear your story soon; if so, the rest of our time together will be about you and creating your next best chapter—so let’s make it an exciting one!

With gratitude, determination, and love,

Live well,

Julie