Therapist Spotlight - Rachel Mercedies Beihl, LPC-MHSP(temp)
Rachel Mercedes Beihl, LPC-MHSP (temp), received her M.A. in Mental Health and Wellness Counseling from New York University, and her B.S. in Sociology from Belmont University. Her work is grounded by the belief that humans are complex beings that deserve to find a healing practice that honors their entire selves, both seen and unseen. Rachel actively works to ensure therapy is a space where clients develop a sense of comfort while walking through their healing journey.
Rachel was previously part of NCCC’s intern program, as well as our former scheduling specialist, where she helped support our scheduling team in scheduling new and current clients with their appointments. Now, after being on our team as a therapist for the last year, we asked her a few questions to get to know her better.
Q + A with Rachel:
What are you most passionate about when it comes to being a therapist?
I feel most impassioned by presence. Whether a client is meeting me for the first time or the hundredth, I am always thinking about how my presence impacts their experience. I believe it’s a privilege to sit in a space where someone chooses to trust you with the most vulnerable parts of their life. That trust needs to be earned, and I think it all comes down to the work I do behind the scenes. “Embody what you teach” is my motto. In a world where we all desire to be seen, I believe providing someone with my full presence is the best way to say, “ I see you, and I am with you.”
If you weren’t in your current role, what would you be doing?
If I wasn’t a therapist, I would probably be an actress. There’s never a day when I am not finding creative ways to express myself. I find acting interesting for the same reasons I love working in mental health–learning character development and understanding what is happening behind the scenes. When learning a role, actors work on placing themselves in the context of that character’s life. They learn about the character’s upbringing, how they react to the world , what they think about themselves and others, and then the actor brings a piece of themselves into that character to help bring it to life. I love it!
What 3 words best describe the type of therapist you are?
Flexible. Grounded. Wholehearted.
What’s your favorite type of food or cuisine?
I grew up with arroz con gandules y pernil. I could eat that any day of the week! Hispanic and Caribbean cuisine is my love language. Puerto Rican and Dominican dishes are my favorite of all. But if someone brought me food from any Caribbean or South American country they would have a permanent place in my heart.
Q + A with Rachel’s Team Lead, Marie:
What are Rachel’s strengths when it comes to her role?
Rachel has a warm and welcoming energy, is perceptive and inquisitive, and shows skill in attuning to her clients. She has a thirst for knowledge and is regularly reading, learning, and seeking information in self-development to grow as a therapist and to learn more about the challenges her clients may be coping with.
One of her greatest strengths may be in advocating for those clients that need someone on their proverbial 'team' in the world, as she has gone to great lengths in this manner in a school system and with medical professionals that work with her clients when needed. She is willing to go the extra mile to assist a client without any indication of encouraging dependence. As a newer clinician, this is a quality I see getting even better with time.
In what areas does Rachel shine?
She speaks up and does so eloquently and diplomatically. What has been your favorite thing about knowing Rachel and having her on your team? I enjoy her sense of curiosity and positive outlook, and she has great ideas and perceptions when in case consults or reviews in team meetings.
