You can find anything online. Replacing a sink? Want to get into yoga? Need to know what plants will work in the shade of your backyard? It’s all there, right at your fingertips. That’s exactly why Renison alum Rachael Fowler wanted to go online for an educational series about therapy. Since graduating, Rachael has been working with a wide variety of clients, including some who are hesitant to try therapy. So she wanted to introduce clients to therapy to prepare for sessions, make the concepts accessible, and get to the heart (or mind) of the matter.
Rachael says that Renison is one of the reasons she has gone down this road. Her studies at Renison began with an undergraduate Social Development Studies (SDS) degree, and continued through a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree and a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. The content of courses got her interested in trauma and investigating what happens to the body, and equipped her with tools to see things from a variety of different lenses, and “meet people wherever they’re at.”
The concept of “meeting people where they are at” was the central focus when Rachael began designing her video series. Clients can use the series to ease themselves in, learn and reflect before or after a session, and even save financial resources. “We can expedite the process,” explains Rachael. “It takes 6-8 sessions sometimes to get through the foundations, and then we might be at the end of the sessions covered by benefits or EAPs.” It can also help families navigate when one or more members are seeking therapy. “Everyone in the family can be using the same terminology, and understand the tools being used,” Rachael points out. It all stems from the desire to make therapy accessible, and “meet people where they’re at.”
Renison Alum Rachael Fowler
Rachael presents her work on screen as part of Fowlers Teachings and Wellness.
The idea for a video series came about just after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when therapy and counselling were still largely being conducted online. After a speaking engagement where Rachael described the tools she used in her practice she sat down and created a PowerPoint presentation with all of the things she wished clients knew before walking through the door. Filming on her own at first, Rachael got support from others to complete filming, and had her website designed pro bono.
The videos are now out for everyone to see, but Rachael sends them to individual clients. “The biggest success is that family members of some of the teenagers I work with say ‘I finally understand,’” says Rachael. “People have their own understanding of, or experience with, things like anxiety and this helps them all get on the same page.” She also uses the videos to supplement her work with clients, particularly those who may only be able to afford a few sessions.
Since beginning this project, Rachael has launched Fowler’s Teachings and Wellness, continues to do speaking engagements, and has begun to work with athletic organizations to bring a mental health perspective into sports. She’s also the newest co-host of the Social Work Me podcast, which aims to connect social work professionals with tools and resources, and provide a space to have conversations about mental health.
Rachael plans to continue to expand the series to make more and more videos available, knowing that each of these pieces can make a big difference for clients; “each client is a beautifully intricate mosaic,” she explains. “Small shifts can create an entirely different, and equally beautiful picture. My job is to help clients build the life they envision for themselves, piece by piece.”
This is part of the 2024 Renison Reports publication. Return to the Renison Reports page for other articles.