Rachel Fusco
A bit about my journey…
When I was In my twenties, I wanted a tattoo. I was a rule follower, a perfectionist, and I always prided myself on taking care of others. I wanted to shake things up and do something for me. I thought a tattoo would help me channel an edgy and bold energy. While the tattoo artist inked my body, I noticed the design looked different than we discussed.
I hesitated.
I rationalized why I shouldn’t say something: “He is an artist, this is a process, we did a mock up. Maybe the design looks differently on paper than on my body.” Then, when it was clear the design was different, I thought to myself: “Should I say something? What do I say? What if I hurt his feelings? What if he gets mad and stops and I have an unfinished tattoo?!?”
My thoughts raced on for the next thirty minutes. I mustered up the courage to ask for a minor fix but ultimately stayed quiet.
I went home and cried for about a week. And then, I realized that
my people-pleasing ways never included me
my inner critic wasn’t serving me at all
not speaking up for myself will always be worse than stumbling while trying
I know the loud inner critic and anxious thoughts. I know the struggle to feel good enough. And, this tattoo launched me into a new relationship with myself that revolves around kindness, self-care, and compassion. This tattoo challenged my perfectionism to the core and I began to recover from these impossible standards I set for myself. Now, I love what my tattoo has taught me. And, for the record, I still don’t love the design - the shading looks like dirt! But, this tattoo serves as a daily reminder that being my best self is messy, hard, and imperfect but worth doing every single day!
I love helping clients find their “tattoo” moments where they learn to feel proud, brave, and trust that they are worthy of love and kindness.
(she/her/hers)
My professional background
Nearly 20 years ago, I started my career in college access (admissions + student support) where I saw how much mental health can impact our educational and professional performance. Recognizing that coping skills aren’t just fluff, I transitioned from education to psychology. While in graduate school, I fell in love with career counseling and helping clients navigate the ways that work impact their mental health and how their mental health (anxiety, burnout, self-doubt) impacts their work performance and even impacts their aspirations.
After graduating with my Master’s, I pursued the CA PPS credential in school counseling and worked in Los Angeles public and private settings as a school counselor, helping foster wellness and resiliency for grades K-12.
In 2020, I began teaching and advising therapists-in-training for the graduate Psychology and Counseling programs at Antioch University and San Francisco State University. My favorite courses are clinical practicums, career counseling, and applied therapy skills coursework.
Now, after relocating with my family to the East Coast, I focus my private practice on working with people who struggle with a loud inner critic.
I love supporting folks who want to believe that change is possible. Please email or call.
My educational background
BA in Sociology, University of Michigan
MA in Clinical Psychology, Antioch University Los Angeles
Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling, Brandman University