Meet Our Team - Katie Johnson
Katie Johnson
Position at the Hallowell Todaro ADHD Center:
Child Therapist
How long have you been working at Hallowell Todaro ADHD?
One week!
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Houston, Texas in a town called Clear Lake (where Nasa Mission Control is located).
What are your favorite books / TV shows / movies?
Some of my favorite books are “Women Who Run With the Wolves,” “Catcher and the Rye,” and “The Alchemist.”
My favorite movie is “Almost Famous,” and I’m a big fan of “The Office,” “Sharp Objects,” and “Chef’s Table.”
What’s your favorite sport and/or sports team?
Growing up in Texas I was oversaturated with football and don’t find myself at sporting events too often!
Complete the following sentences:
When I’m not at work, you can find me...
in the woods, the ocean (or at home with my pup).
When I want to de-stress, I...
spend time in my garden, practice yoga or meditate.
My favorite time of year is...
summer! I’m a beach girl at heart.
My favorite thing to cook is...
Pad Thai and Breakfast Tacos!
The best gift I ever received was…
when someone told me to move to Hawaii.
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d go to...
New Zealand is next on my list!
What led you to pursue a career helping others?
I began working directly with underserved populations in Oakland, CA with Girls Inc.; a non-profit organization that teaches empowering life skills, financial literacy, and health education to girls of color. I then moved into Wilderness Therapy or outdoor education with Outward Bound in Maine where we sent groups of adolescents into the wilderness to create space to heal and grow within nature. This led me to move to the Big Island of Hawaii where I began to work in horticulture therapy with adolescents struggling with mental and behavioral health issues. This is when I decided to pursue my Masters of Social Work to create space for children and adolescents to learn to own their stories, let go of what no longer serves, and incorporate adaptive skills into their lives.
What education, skills, and expertise do you bring to your role?
As a Master of Clinical Social Work student at the University of Washington, I obtained an education in evidence-based group and individual psychotherapy including Motivational Interviewing, TF-CBT, and DBT. This education also provided a strong foundation rooted in social justice with an emphasis on creating racial equity across all realms.
I have focused my career on improving the mental and behavioral health outcomes of children, adolescents, young adults, and their families. In my Fellowship with the Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities at the University of Washington Medical Center, I was a part of a cohort trained to become leaders in the field of neurodevelopmental disabilities, including ADHD and Autism. As a member of an interdisciplinary diagnostic clinic, I was able to learn how to incorporate a trauma-informed, multicultural and whole-person perspective into the rigid medical diagnostic model in order to meet the children, youth, and families in the clinic. As a high school counselor assistant with Communities in Schools, I was able to gain direct clinical experience providing one-on-one motivational interviewing and short-term group/individual interventions to provide social-emotional and academic support.
As a Therapeutic Guide and Wellness Coordinator at a horticultural therapy program in Hawaii, I was able to gain skills in trauma-recovery, crisis intervention, and sustainable life-skill development with adolescents & young adults experiencing mental and behavioral health problems. This included ADHD, ASD, Bipolar Disorder, ODD, Depression, and Anxiety. When working with the patients, I gained the knowledge and skills to utilize a holistic, “whole-person” framework in order to develop and implement individualized support for each patient through individual and group therapy. I most recently worked at the University of Washington Autism Center as an ABA Certified Behavior Technician where the well-being and life-skill development of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder are developed and nurtured.
Who/what inspires you?
I’m inspired by the clients I’ve worked with who are able to transform their suffering into growth and healing. It’s inspiring (and a privilege) to walk alongside those who are working through their trauma, self-identity, learning differences, or mental illness and fostering self-acceptance and resilience.
I’m also inspired by clinicians such as Brene Brown who encourages us to be more vulnerable to live whole-heartedly.
What’s your personal philosophy/approach toward the work you do?
My clinical practice has been founded on the belief that each person has the innate ability to heal and grow amidst challenge if given the proper tools and support. I also believe nature can be used as an environment to foster growth and connection.
As a clinical Social Worker, I believe in addressing the social injustices with and on behalf of vulnerable and marginalized individuals and groups. I believe in treating each person with dignity and respect, creating equal opportunity, and being mindful of cultural and ethnic differences.
What is one small thing people can do to improve their lives and increase their happiness?
Inhale for 4 seconds-hold for 4 seconds-exhale for 4 seconds (learn to breathe!)
We provide a range of support for people with ADHD.