Community Highlights: Meet Katie Pankonin of Enkindle Mental Health Therapy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Pankonin.

Katie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
For as long as I can remember, I have found the deepest joy in supporting others. I have always gravitated toward experiences where I am able to simply be there for someone, no matter what it may be. When I began my Master of Social Work program in 2018, I had absolutely no idea that the moment I sat in my first clinical class, I was going to immediately fall in love with the dream of becoming a therapist. After class, I would go home and sit on Google for hours researching questions like: “day in the life of a therapist” and “how to start a private practice.”

Little did I know all of that Googling would soon form itself into a reality. After graduating with my MSW in December of 2020, I vividly remember calling my Mom and asking, “Do you really think I can do this?” My mother responded, supportive as always, that this was indeed my calling, and it was worth the taking the leap of faith. Over the next few months, I began curating and designing an online practice that I hoped would be a safe place for others to be heard, supported, and encouraged. A place to find calm and unconditional acceptance—and thus, Enkindle Mental Health Therapy was born.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My own personal journey with mental health heavily impacted my road to being where I am today. I have struggled with anxiety, depression, and an eating disorder within my life. I admit this so openly because I truly believe it is nothing to be ashamed of—because those diagnoses do not define me. Mental health is the exact same thing as physical health, and it is just as important. We don’t choose these diagnoses, but we do learn to grow from them. I find that my own nonlinear road to healing is my guiding force in supporting my clients. Living in the depths of anxiety or an eating disorder can feel really scary and lonely, and that is why “I am so proud of you for reaching out” is often my first words to clients.

We’ve been impressed with Enkindle Mental Health Therapy, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Enkindle Mental Health Therapy is an online therapy practice specializing in teens, college students, and young adults within the state of Arizona. This population is one that is near and dear to my heart. The life experiences one goes through from the teen years to young adulthood can be a wild ride, and therapy can truly be such an asset of support during this time. I most often work with anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship troubles, school stress, and body image struggles. I am a person-centered therapist, meaning I cater therapy to best fit the unique client. It is my utmost goal for clients to feel as though they can just “exhale” upon entering a session. There’s a reason behind the name “Enkindle”–as the word itself translates to “to cause to ignite; to make bright and glowing.” Enkindling positive change in my clients makes my heart explode with joy just about every time, and I feel so grateful to have the career that I do.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Both professionally and individually, I love the app “1 second every day.” The name itself is quite self-explanatory, as it is a way to record just one second of your day every day. Do not get me wrong, I love a good journal and think it is such an incredible coping skill. However, “1 second every day” can operate as a really cool stand-in for a journal in a way that is both visual and efficient. The app allows for you to record bits about your day and will form a compilation video of all of your clips whenever you would like to reflect back. I often recommend this app for clients as a way to find the small joys in everyday life, those little pieces of gratitude that can make such a huge difference looking back.

Contact Info:

• Email: kpankonin@enkindlementalhealth.org
• Website: enkindlementalhealth.org
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/enkindle_mentalhealth

Image Credits
Photography by Alyssa Maxwell