Get to Know Katie Schmitten, LSWAIC, CSWA

Willamette Wellness Center is home to many talented professionals. I recently chatted with Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Sara Anderson, to learn more about her career and life outside the profession.

What brought you to this profession?
Ultimately I came into this profession with hopes of healing my own past conflicts and traumas. I really connected with a couple social work professors in undergrad; I loved the psychology behind social work and connecting theories to my own lived experiences. Being able to healthily focus and heal my own past has shaped me into who I am today, and with that, I also love helping people. So really, the social work profession was a no-brainer and a win-win for me.

What does a win in a session look like?
A win in a session is when I see clients’ eyes light up after a great aha moment. Sometimes those moments involve some tears of happiness and relief; sometimes it involves some sorrow and connecting more dots to whatever it is we’re working on. But really, a win is when the client is able to safely and vulnerably lean into their thoughts and feelings and positively move forward in a different way than before. 

True healing from a client comes when they find their own, genuine voice and their own respect and love for themselves. I truly believe that every individual yearns to be heard and respected by others; but when people can find this within themselves, that’s when healing starts to transform. 

What brought you to WWC?
A dear college friend, and now coworker, Lynsey Smith, brought me to WWC. She was recruiting me for about a year before I officially signed on, but what I’ve come to really appreciate about the company is their strong foundation and values. They align with my own and I think that’s really important in a place of employment. 

What do you do in your free time?
In my free time, you can find me with my husband and kids. We have a toddler and, at the time of writing this, four month old twins, so life is a bit crazy right now. But we love spending time with our extended family too, having them over for weekly family dinners, play dates with friends, walking and hiking, gardening … all things outdoors. We also love a good movie night snuggled up on the couch with some popcorn and each other. 

Word for 2023: This year I’m focusing on the meaning of my kids’ names – wisdom (Sophia), enlightenment (Bodhi) and happiness (Asher) – and what those deeply mean to me.

Learn more about Katie’s professional background and specialties.