We had the good fortune of connecting with Heather Kuhl and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Heather, how do you think about risk?
I must admit, I am not a fan of taking risks. In fact, like most people, I prefer to feel comfortable. However, life taught me an important lesson about risk and it is one that has significantly changed my perspective. My dream was always to have a private practice where I could specialize in conducting psychological evaluations and carry a small case load of therapy clients; however, the idea of having this as my sole source of income terrified me. In 2013, I decided to secure a full-time position working at a substance abuse treatment program which was always a passion but also a comfort of mine. I told myself I would maintain this job while I built my practice. While I was able to pick up a few therapy and testing clients throughout the years, I was so tired after working my full-time job, I had no energy to grow my practice. In 2018, when the treatment center I was at closed suddenly and laid off all the employees, this was the push I needed. I was too fearful to take the leap of faith on my own, so life decided to give me a shove. I learned that by taking that leap of faith, I finally had the time and motivation to dedicate to myself and my practice. It was this risk that drastically changed my course. I have a thriving practice and now, and whenever I have a slow week, I simply notice the thoughts and remind myself that the calls will come if I stay committed, and they always do. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I am a licensed psychologist and licensed marriage and family therapist in the state of Florida. I specialize in conducting psychological evaluations. I work with children, teens, and adults and assess for a variety of concerns including Mood Disorders, Learning Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, among others. I also provide gifted testing and specialized testing for pilots and air traffic controllers for the Federal Aviation Administration. I believe my background in family therapy sets me apart from other psychologists who offer testing. I approach my evaluations from a systemic approach and consider how each client functions as part of their environment. In addition, I believe in collaborating with all those involved for each testing client to provide insights into each person’s life and circumstances that may be contributing to current difficulties.

I am most excited about opening a second location in Coral Springs. I have found wonderful success providing services to individuals and families in East Fort Lauderdale. I am thrilled about growing my practice and offering services to those in West Broward County. While my journey has not been completely easy, it has been incredibly rewarding. Between earning my master’s degree in marriage and family therapy in 2005 and then returning to school in 2007 for my doctorate degree in clinical psychology, I spent nearly 8 years in post-secondary schooling. While in school, I often worked one or two part time jobs and participated in research with the aim of making my resume look impressive to ensure I secure a pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral residency. I made it work by doing my best to find balance. I often worked long days and nights but always found time to engage in my hobbies and spend time with family and friends. As an equestrian athlete, getting to the barn and spending time with the horses truly kept me sane! I also learned to accept that I cannot finish everything and I learned to get comfortable with things being left undone. These challenging years taught me that hard work and dedication always pay off. Not to mention, I have come to value my downtime and appreciate moments to pause and be thankful.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I feel blessed to live in South Florida where there are countless spots to explore and enjoy. In Fort Lauderdale, I love to visit downtown and Las Olas. There are several delicious options for fine dining while enjoying nature and people watching. As a horse enthusiast, I also love spending the day in Wellington at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. From January to April, they have the Winter Equestrian Festival where you can go to watch the top equestrians from all over the world compete. Not to mention, there are places to eat and shop, and it’s pet friendly.  Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First, I credit the endless support and encouragement from my mentor Dr. Kate Campbell. Her guidance and willingness to question my choices and motivations has helped me feel better about taking risks. She has taught me to have faith in myself and more importantly, faith in the process. Secondly, I credit my husband Dwight Kuhl, who has believed in me from the beginning. Especially as I transitioned from working as an employee to running my own business, he gave me pep talks and offered me infinite words of reassurance.

Website: https://kuhlpsychology.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kuhlpsychologicalservices/
Linkedin: Heather Kuhl, PsyD, LMFT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kuhlpsychologicalservices
Youtube: https://www.bayviewtherapy.com/dr-heather-kuhl

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.