Licensed Therapist & Private Practice Owner, Kylie Lambert Counseling
Which of the Delta Zeta shared values resonates with you the most?Belonging
Tell us about a defining moment in your career so far – how did it impact your future and what did you learn from it?
The moment that changed everything was leaving a group practice that handled all of it, from billing and scheduling, to the whole back end — and walking out to run my own. I’d wanted this since I was applying to colleges, but registering the website domain was the second it stopped being a distant dream. Most people heard ”leaving a stable setup” and thought I was being risky, and part of me agreed. What I learned was no one hands you permission to call yourself an expert, so I claimed that voice out loud while still figuring out the business in real time. I had to become my biggest cheerleader first.
What advice would you give Delta Zeta sisters pursuing leadership roles in your field?
Be softer with yourself than you think you’re allowed to be. You are doing this for the first time, and the part of you that wants to lead and build is real, so trust that voice even when it’s shaky. Leadership in mental health means using your voice and betting on yourself.You do that more easily when you’re actually kind to yourself. Don’t let your inner mean girl talk you onto the sidelines before you’ve started. Find the people who root for you. The roadblocks don’t disappear, but they’re easier to move when you’re not facing them alone.
How has being a Delta Zeta influenced your professional journey or approach to leadership?
I served as Vice President of Recruitment, which meant I was responsible for the whole chapter while also bringing in our new class. We landed one of the strongest recruitment outcomes in years, and I learned how much of that came down to connection rather than polish. Recruitment is really just sitting across from someone you’ve never met and helping them feel safe enough to be real, which turned out to be most of what I do now as a therapist and a practice owner. I led with respect, curiosity and compassion, and the chapter felt it. That’s still how I show up at work.
