July Clinician Spotlight: Maggie Baynham (she/her)
Introducing, Maggie!
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
Hi! My name is Maggie and I am deeply passionate about stories: the ones we tell ourselves, the ones we tell others, the unspoken ones we tell no one, and the untold ones we’re just figuring out. I specialize in neuro-affirming care that hinges on truly understanding the person sitting across from me, fully attuned to who they are without assumption. My therapeutic process is equal parts playful and serious with elements of nature, art, and the personal interests and passions of my clients as we navigate alongside each other. When I am not sharing space with clients I am likely on my couch (homebody!) binging the same show I’ve watched 100 times before with my animals, thrifting, FaceTiming my bff for too many hours, rescuing cats, or speed walking a nature trail.
When did you first know that you wanted to pursue this career path/how have your interests and passions developed over time?
More than a decade ago I came across an image with the quote “love and serve the world through your work.” I knew in that moment it resonated deeply in my bones but what was unclear to me was how that would manifest. From an early age, I was called to protect and tend to the natural environment. Thanks to an elective course in college entitled “Sociology of Happiness,” that passion began to evolve towards a call to tending for the people and communities that exist in this natural world of ours. Being dealt my own hand of worry worts (and many of them), I was no stranger to the importance of mental health. After nearly 15 years in a career unrelated to mental health, I opted to find meaning in advocacy work outside of my 9-5 which is how I got involved in cat rescue. In rescue work, my purpose fully manifested, and I was finally ready to listen to the calling of: counseling. During my clinical internship in graduate school, I had the fortune of working with autistic adults and knew this was the work that had been waiting for me for all these years. This was how I was meant to love and serve the world.
Do you have any creative outlets or interests? Tell us about them!
Do memes count? No, but truly nothing makes me happier than the love language of sharing memes back and forth with friends. Running a cat rescue and the advocacy that comes with that has become a core part of who I am and the way in which I show up for the misunderstood and the underdog (read: cats and the people who care for them). Animal welfare is tied so deeply to human welfare. Aside from memes and cats, I live for all things thrifted, antiqued, and artist-made and pouring my love into my friend’s children. Is there anything better than tending to the beings your loved ones created? Cue weird Aunt Maggie! There are a lot of things, outlets, and people that make me happy.
Which of GWB’s values do you feel connected to? Why?
Reclamation + community – through community + connection we are able to reclaim collective joy + space and through joy we heal, accept ourselves, and make meaning in this world.
What is your go-to coffee or tea order?
Iced coffee black or iced matcha with oatmilk - but don’t put it past me to order a fun seasonal drink, too, especially if it has some element of pandan, miso, or raspberry (can’t a girl dream?!).