Meet Dr. Courtney Legge, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Meet Dr. Courtney Legge, Licensed Clinical Psychologist at Shift Healing | Health Psychology
How did you first get interested in becoming a therapist?
I first knew I wanted to be a psychologist when I was about 10 years old. I looked up to a family friend who was a psychologist and knew I wanted to help others navigate the ups and downs of life like they did. As I got older, I recognized strengths of empathy and listening which further solidified my interest in pursuing psychology. I also knew I wanted to be connected to healthcare and the relationship between mental and physical health. I have had the incredible opportunity to work in different medical settings from family medicine, internal medicine, geriatrics, and neurology. These opportunities ignited a passion of working with individuals who are living with acute and chronic health conditions.
What types of issues do you address and how?
My previous training in primary care clinics has set me up to be ready for a wide range of concerns from mental health struggles like depression, anxiety, and trauma but also for individuals navigating living with health concerns like chronic pain, diabetes, and neurological disorders. I particularly enjoy working with patients who are navigating a life transition, grief, chronic pain, stress, and insomnia. I am passionate about helping others understand themselves better and take realistic steps towards what is important to them in life. Regardless of what a person may be coming in to work on, it is essential to see the whole person and their individual context.
What is the most challenging part of your work?
The most challenging part of my work is witnessing the suffering of others; however, I feel this also provides the opportunities for people to learn how to be with their emotions. Although it can be difficult to share their pain, I believe that making a non-judgmental space to explore all of our emotions helps people move forward in their lives.
