We recently had the chance to connect with Lindsey Castleman and have shared our conversation below.
Lindsey, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
So my 10 year old son, Wesley is really, really funny. He has a great sense of humor and great timing. He has grown in to someone that other people want to be around and enjoy being around. Just knowing him more is a perfect combo of laughter and healthy pride!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Lindsey Castleman and I run a faith-based counseling center in Brentwood, TN that focuses on helping people grow in to who God created them to be. I work with amazing counselors who are not trying to ‘fix’ people, but longing to be with them in their pain and help lead them to a place of freedom.
CounselingatFellowship.com
CastlemanCounseling.com
inRelationship.us (podcast and marriage intensives and online courses)
We continue to grow and are about to bring on a new counselor for couples and women, as well as a new intern. Just excited that there is such a demand to continue to grow.
We also run a marriage intensive for couples who want to improve their relationship, couples who are in distress and/or couples who were just never taught how to be a couple. inRelationship.us/intensives
We also began a podcast for Christian Therapists and it is fun to do! inRelationship.us/podcast
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
When I first began in my career, I didn’t quite have a lot of empathy, grace or understanding for people who were walking through addiction. When I began to be in and lead small groups, I had the privilege of hearing people’s stories and when I heard what they had endured alone, their ways of coping started to make sense and God visibily lifted a veil from my eyes so I could see people how He sees people…..with compassion and understanding (and challenge for more!). This was a pivotol moment for me.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
As a woman, I had jobs in several organizations where there were some leaders who would prefer men in higher paid positions than women . I also had some women leaders who found other women doing well in the organization as a threat. I remember feeling like I did not have a voice and that no matter how hard I tried, it would not be enough. I still showed up with integrity and working for God and not man, but in that pain I remembered thinking that if I was to run an organization or a team, I would want to hear their voices and cheer on their successes. I believe that the suffering taught me how to better run a team than any success ever did.
Also my own personal sufferings taught me more about how to be with people in their pain better than success. I better know the feelings they are feeling and I can put words to it because I have felt it before. I am grateful for the goodness that has come out of the suffering, even though I didn’t (and still don’t) like the suffering.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
We are not designed to do life alone. We are designed for connection.
I get push back on this all the time– people want to do things on an island, they believe that we have everything inside of us to make ourselves better. And we don’t— we need others. Not in a surface level, social media kind of way, but in a deep knowing and being known of each other… spiritually, emotionally and mentally.
Learning not to cry is not brave, it is actually suppression. Independence is not the gold standard, but healthy inter-dependence is….. and let me tell you… learning how to coordinate healthy inter-dependence takes more strength, bravery, vulnerability and risk than anything I have ever encountered. It also yields the greatest and sweetest relational rewards when both parties are willing to do the work.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What will you regret not doing?
In the privilege of building a business, building a family and building community, I have put my self-care last. I wish I would have started self-care habits from the beginning and not sacrificed those as much as I did and still do. I am leaning in to learning more about how we are designed, what our body need and how to care for our body so we can do more. I wish I would have learned that a long time ago! Yet I am grateful that I am hearing it and leaning in to it now.
Contact Info:
- Website: counselingatfellowship.com, castlemancounseling.com, inrelationship.com
- Instagram: lindscastleman
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindseycastleman/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InRelationshipwithLindseyCastleman/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@christiantherapistpodcast
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-christian-therapist-podcast/id1366007692
Image Credits
Laurinda Steinmeyer took the headshot
