Who’s Writing These Things Anyways?

Hi, I’m Kristen. Thanks for engaging in this awkward internet handshake.

I would best describe myself as a chaotic neutral. I aim to please, but don’t shy away when that is not the result. I crave organization and order, but the process of achieving either of those things can significantly stress me out. As does trying to decide which topic to write about when, and if it matters that it is or is not related to a previous blog. Which is why we’ve got a random ramble about me tossed in here.

In high school I attended Governor’s School which landed me an Associate's Degree at 18 years old. I didn’t think I could go to college because I don’t come from money, but it turns out that having no money made it easier to go to college. So I did go. I went to James Madison University for a year before transferring home for a boy (don’t do that, folks). I spent my first semester retaking prerequisites for a degree I already had because JMU’s teaching program didn’t accept my Associate's Degree achieved through Governor’s School. This was frustrating for me so I switched tracks from Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies to Communication Sciences and Disorders. I ended up there for one main reason: anatomy and physiology was only from the diaphragm up, no arms and legs like occupational or physical therapy (the other professions I was considering). Luckily, I fell in love with the path. Communication Sciences and Disorders, a mouthful for the mouthful that is Speech Language Pathology, is really neat.

Let’s circle back to before that. Honestly, there isn’t too much to report. It’s always been my mom and me. We moved around a bit, following and living with her sister’s family for a few years, but that was short-lived. And thank goodness because I definitely have only child syndrome or whatever you want to call it when you enjoy your own space. I played tennis in high school and was doubles partners with my best friend. We went to states our senior year and got smacked, but it was neat to make it that far–the girls we played were truly a different caliber of athlete. Interestingly, jumping back to now, I currently coach our girls’ tennis team. Yes, at the same school I graduated from. This is more than likely my last season. I love those girls a lot and they have taught me more than I’ve taught them, hands down. Three is a good number, three years is a good run, but I really want my after school hours back to focus on my therapy practice.

In true chaotic neutral fashion, let me add in that transferring “home” meant to Longwood University, where I completed my Bachelor’s and also obtained a Master’s of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Longwood was “home” because I spent much of my life in Buckingham, VA, save the three years following my aunt’s family around, which was 30 minutes from Farmville, home to Longwood University and the closest Wal-Mart.

But how did you end up in private practice? Good question. By this point I have worked in in-patient rehab (this was a clinical rotation, but the one where I was most “on my own” and ran sessions for the whole day with a supervisor observing), out-patient clinic, assisted living facility, and public school system. The short answer is someone from my cohort did it and I caught the bug. The long answer is that I have never felt super happy or satisfied under someone else’s management. I even took a break from SLP and worked my way to assistant manager of a restaurant for about a year and a half. And I promise that I play nice with others. But I really don’t thrive under micromanagement, nor do I feel fulfilled in my work if therapy doesn’t feel useful or necessary to my patient/client. So private practice enters the chat. What better way to work the way you want, do the therapy you want, and work with the clients you want than to work for yourself? Easy enough, right? Wrong. Sort of. Just that it isn’t easy. But it does feel right and I am so proud of myself for sticking it out. I know there are people who didn’t think I could do it because they were brave enough to tell me. I don’t have a booming practice just yet, but one day I will. I started in 2021 travelling to my clients, and now (since August 2024), I have access to an office space courtesy of Cville Family Therapy, so clients can come to me. Travelling to client’s homes really works for some folks, but truth be told, I hate driving and always have. I love having my own space, my own SLP think tank, if you will. It’s where the magic happens.

Lastly, as a therapist, I am passionate about connection and empowering kids to be their true selves. I love working with language delays and gestalt language processors, and I’m pumped to start flexing my feeding therapist muscles. As the person behind the therapist, I am passionate about finding the good. I’m naturally sort of pessimistic, so it isn’t an easy path, but it is important to me that I stay on it. I have a fiancé (a better man than the one I foolishly transferred universities for) and a dog and two hermit crabs. I crochet. I paint. I write poetry. I make things. I guess my chaotic neutral leads to creativity. That’s how this blog was born in the first place. Creativity and a desire to share what I know with those who might need it. Thanks for being here.

If you have any questions, and I’m sure you do because who wouldn’t after this ping pong machine ride of an ‘about me’, as always, send me an email at kknowsley@cradletotable.com or comment below. I’d love to connect with you!