Working Mom Spotlight: Alicia Hartman
Name: Alicia Hartman
Occupation: Mental health counselor
Number of kids: 1
Favorite candy bar: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Tell us about your family, and what’s your childcare solution? I met my husband Andy while we were both serving in the U.S. Army in New Mexico. We just celebrated our 14-year wedding anniversary! We have one son, Alex, who is eight-years-old, and we have lived in various states due to my husband’s military career. We moved to North Carolina four years ago and are happy to call it our forever home. In some ways, the pandemic helped us with our childcare solution. Before the pandemic, Andy and I both worked. I was fortunate in that I could make sure Alex was on the bus before school, but we both worked well into the evening. Alex went to after school programs until the pandemic hit. My husband is still working from home, so Alex is no longer in after school programs. We also have a great network of local babysitters in our neighborhood who help when needed.
Where do you work, and what is a typical workday like for you? I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate. I do a mixture of telehealth appointments and in-person appointments. I primarily work with adolescents and emerging adults. This age group brings me joy to work with because this generation is proactive about taking care of their mental health and finding a good balance between obligations and free time.
Share some of your goals – personal or professional. One goal is to be more organized in my personal life. This is the first time since having my son that I am working full-time outside of the home. I have found it difficult to keep up with my tasks outside of work at times. Professionally, I am working on full clinical licensure in the state of North Carolina. I have had to start the process over with each military move we made. With the stability that we now have in North Carolina, I am close to completing this goal.
What motivates you to work? I struggled as teenager with working through family dynamic problems. My parents had us all in therapy and the process was horrible, honestly. I felt like there was too much judgement on the side of the therapists that we worked with. It never felt like a safe place to share information, and it caused a lot of resentment. I never thought that this would be a profession that I would enter until after I joined the Army. I witnessed too many of fellow service members struggling with mental health with nowhere to turn. Once I decided that I was not going to continue my military career, I narrowed it down to counseling. I wanted to provide that safe place for those who need help in their lives. I strive to make sure that my office is one where trust, comfort and safety propel others to share and process their struggles.
How do you like to relax? I like to crochet, read and be around friends and family. A hot bath and great book are the best combination for relaxation.
What is your favorite part of motherhood? The bond that my son and I have is my favorite part. We love spending time together, whether it is snuggling on the couch and watching TV or discussing our day over dinner. I believe that I have fostered an environment where he knows that he can come to me or my spouse for anything and we will always be there. I pray that this bond will continue as he grows and navigates the challenges he may face.
What does Restored mean to you? How has it impacted you personally? Restored means community. It is hard to build a community when you move so often. Developing relationships with other Restored moms has helped me build a great community and support network with some amazing women. It has helped provide a social outlet with others who understand the challenges that working mothers face on a day-to-day basis. It has provided women who I can turn to in a time of need with never having to worry about judgement.
What is one of your favorite Restored events to date? Why is it your favorite? This is difficult as I have enjoyed several events. One of my favorite Restored events was Stephanie Farley’s Table Talk on leadership. While I am not in a leadership position at work, Stephanie’s talk about trust, emotional intelligence and emotional safety resonated with me. These are the principles that I work with daily to create a warm and safe office space for my clients.
Can you share how you overcome challenges related to the “mom chaos” that settles in when you feel pulled in 100 directions? I take time for myself, whether it is a walk alone, sitting on my deck or running errands. Time alone gives me the ability to process my thoughts and emotions without others around to interfere with the process. Sometimes removing myself from the chaos gives me a better picture of how to proceed and move forward. I also rely heavily on talking to friends about the challenges we face and how we can overcome them.
Besides your faith and family, what are you passionate about? I am passionate about mental health advocacy. I believe that there needs to be greater effort made to end the stigma of caring for oneself mentally. Struggling with mental health can be isolating, and this should not be the case.