About Katie

Katie Schulze, CMHC, LCPC, NCC
Founder, Ponderosa Practice

I first applied to graduate school to pursue mental health counseling after teaching in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans. I had become a teacher because I wanted to be a secure adult for children who needed that steady support that, outside of the home, teachers are especially positioned to give. But quite frankly, I felt tethered by the context of having to teach math to test scores.

10+ years later, I find myself sitting in the counseling seat for more reasons than I could probably name. It is a job that I find endlessly interesting and one that genuinely connects me more deeply to my own humanity, as I sit presently in the humanity of others. It is a job I feel immensely privileged to have; sitting with others in their deepest pains or most vivid dreams is an honor I don’t take lightly. And, put simply, it makes me feel alive in a way I’m not sure another profession could make me feel.

What draws me day in and day out to this work is only further anchored by my belief that it is through an individual’s intentional self-evolution that the world becomes capable of changing too. When a person intentionally evolves into a more authentic, more accountable, more capable version of themselves, families are impacted, workplaces are impacted, communities are impacted, and maybe one day the whole world will be impacted.

Perhaps you can see that I’ve got a bit of a philosophical, dream-driven part of myself. And you’ll see that in the room at times. Without trying, I will become one of your greatest cheerleaders. The more I get to know you, the more, I know, I will believe in you doing whatever you set your heart on.

And, at times, I’ll challenge you. In ways that may make you uncomfortable. There may be moments when you feel angry with me, or feel like I’ve got it wrong, and the healing can happen when we’re able to talk about that in a productive way and continue forward toward your goals. Often, therapy is one of the best places to experience what healthy rupture and repair can look like. I’m human; there’s no way for me to get it perfect, but I’ll stay humble and open to those moments and be ready to take accountability for where I may have messed up too. I think that’s part of what makes a healthy, collaborative relationship.

Practically, we’re probably going to do a lot of experiential work together. At first, it may feel awkward. Over time, it often starts to feel more natural as you get used to noticing what is happening internally rather than only talking about it from a distance. Work like EMDR and DBR can feel like unfolding and unwinding yourself. It’s pretty powerful stuff.