Why Are We Changing Our Name?

Launching May 11th

As you’ve figured out by now Kathryn Grooms & Associates Psychotherapy will soon be SteadyNYC! I am so excited to launch this re-brand. It reflects our growth, our current state and desires for the future. For years, I wanted to build a practice with other clinicians that share the same values for themselves and their work with their clients. I believe we have done that.  We did this by moving steadily forward, building slowly, learning along the way and being willing to make mistakes, learn and grow. I have chosen to not just change the name of the practice, but to find something that is a more authentic representation of who we are as practice today. SteadyNYC is that.

From Shelby

I think SteadyNYC really captures what happens in the therapy room and within our therapeutic relationships. When I hear the word steady, I think to the enormous amount of growth I have witnessed in clients that happens over an incremental amount of time. Sometimes it’s not until we are at the end of our therapy journey together or have completed the goals they set for themselves, and we take time to reflect that we really notice the strides and evolution of themselves. Steady is what therapy is and what trauma informed care calls for so that clients can find the healing they seeking.

From Kyra

Becoming a therapist has been both a personal and professional journey for me. As a black woman from an immigrant parent the focus was always on survival rather than mental health. I was taught growing up that I needed to work twice as hard to get half as far as my white peers. Additionally, I was taught that I must never show that I was straining or having a difficult time. I learned later in life that this is narrative that many people of color were taught. Throughout my life experiences, professional experience, and studies I have learned that mental wellness can and will increase performance in all areas of life. Breaks and self care are not just for the dominant culture and it is imperative that the stigma surrounding mental illness and wellness is removed from the BIPOC community. I see this rebrand to SteadyNYC as an opportunity to reach a greater number of marginalized groups of people and help them begin their journey to mental wellness.

From Joelle

My favorite aspect of our new branding is the way we now articulate the skills we bring into the therapy room.  During the rebranding process, we spent time getting clear on our therapy styles and specialties – both those that we all share and those that make each of us at Steady NYC unique.  We ended up with a wealth of written information about who we are and what we do, which will help people feel more confident in choosing a therapist.

From Sophia

I understand the name ‘Steady’ in two ways. I aspire to support my clients in their journey to cultivate steadiness. When you experience distress, access to steadiness in your thoughts and nervous system is the epitome of relief and resilience. Furthermore, ‘steady’ describes the pace that allows true healing and growth.

The Vision

I had the initial vision to begin a psychotherapy practice with a culture (as stated in our Mission Statement)  “where awareness thrives and difference is celebrated. We seek to create camaraderie amongst associates that supports sharing of input and wrestling with differing opinions and strategies. We believe we all have blind spots and internalized phobias and that we must all commit to doing the very best we can to pay attention to those and actively practice acts that challenge racism, sexism, sizeism, ableism, homophobia and discrimination and intolerance of all kinds. Throughout all of this we encourage humility and a sense of humor. We are doing hard work and we must be able to laugh with each other to support an environment that maintains a presence of joy amidst the serious issues we choose to tackle.” I feel grateful that such wonderful and talented therapists have chosen to join me to further develop this culture and this practice of providing psychotherapy to foster growth and healing.

Five years ago when I hired our first associate, Shelby, naming the practice after myself felt like the right fit. It no longer does. I feel confident in the leadership and guidance I provide as the Founder and Director of SteadyNYC. It feels more in line with our values as practice to have a name that reflects us a group rather than as myself plus others.  I also cherish the experience of forward movement that has we have fostered as a group. It was only 3 months after Joelle and Sophia joined us, that our worlds changed forever with the onset of the Covid Pandemic. We worked to be patient with ourselves and each other and we continued forward, steadily. Our most recent associate, Kyra, has infused our group with new curiosities and a passion for growth and learning that is inspiring. We know SteadyNYC will continue to grow and we now more clearly see our desired direction and the pace to keep us on track. If you need support to find your path forward contact us at SteadyNYC.