Today we’d like to introduce you to Raven O’Rourke.
Hi Raven, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
As an undergraduate, I got involved with Peer Health Advocates and started educating my classmates on consent, healthy communication and pleasure in sexuality. I was amazed at how little any of us had learned prior to college. I enjoyed the candid conversations that resulted from this education. In graduate school for social work and public health, we had little choice in where we interned, but I knew I wanted to intern at the local HIV-service organization. It had opportunities that paired social work and public health along with sexuality education. Because HIV is a chronic condition, I got to have longstanding relationships with clients. I knew that I would continue working in HIV in some capacity.
I got a job at Nashville CARES right out of graduate school in 2011 and provided in-home rural mental health treatment to people living with HIV. The work was incredibly rewarding and the relationships were rich. Being invited into someone else’s home is much more intimate than doing therapy in an office. It also gave me an idea of what their home lives were like to inform their mental health treatment.
After CARES, I went on to be the social work team lead at Vanderbilt Comprehensive Care Clinic. I had lots of opportunities to practice social work generally, but I most enjoyed my work as a counselor. Sexuality education was a significant part of my work with clients and I decided to pursue sex therapy certification.
Working in healthcare during the pandemic was challenging, to say the least. The providers at VCCC were closely involved with COVID-19 research and treatment in addition to continuing to provide care to our patients. I had 12 patients who I knew well that died during that time–many of those deaths would have been prevented if they had been vaccinated. It was emotionally taxing and hard on my spirit, so I decided to make a change. I would continue to work at VCCC in an advisory role, but would start my own private practice.
I decided to pursue a telehealth-only private practice for several reasons. 1. The experience I had working in-home gave me so much clinical information that isn’t available when I saw people in the office. 2. I want to provide care for people who have full-time jobs and telehealth offers them the flexibility to see me from anywhere in Tennessee. 3. I want the people I care for to be totally comfortable in an environment of their choosing.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The pandemic was a dark time. So many people died, lost loved ones or continue to have the consequences of COVID-19 infection. If it were not for burning out, I don’t know that I would have leapt to private practice as soon as I did. I’m grateful for the push it gave me.
As a small business owner, income fluctuates from month-to-month. I am grateful for my husband’s unconditional emotional and financial support especially during lean times.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Between the Lakes Therapy?
I am a certified sex therapist. I specialize in working with professional high-achievers as individuals or with the relationship. Sex therapy is a specialized kind of mental health therapy that focuses on sexual function or satisfaction. It targets not only the behavioral symptoms, but also the feelings that might be creating a block to better sexual functioning. Sex therapy never involves any sexual activity or nudity with the therapist.
As a telehealth-only provider, clients have the convenience of meeting me from anywhere in Tennessee. I can accommodate clients who live in rural Tennessee, have demanding jobs or who are fearful of the stigma that might come from seeing a sex therapist in person.
I’m proud to be a reliable, consistent provider for my clients. I love that clients work with me on a particular issue for a short period of time, then go back to regular life without therapy, and then sometimes come back to work on another issue. I take people however they come to me without shame or judgment and we work together as a team on their sexuality-related issue.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love all the creative food offerings. My list of restaurants to try is a little out of control.
Traffic is the worst. I wish we had public transportation that was efficient.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.betweenthelakestherapy.com
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/raven-o-rourke-373b5529
