Dr. Beatriz Craven

The story.

I was born in Lima, Peru and although I moved to Houston when I was 8 months old, I spent my formative years in Caracas, Venezuela, only to whip right back around to Texas. Can you tell I was an oil & gas industry baby? It’s why you’ll see this Latina rocking it out in her boots more often than not. My early life was mostly a smattering of cultures, identity, and the unavoidable angst that goes with coming of age. As an adolescent I struggled to find my voice and confidence while I navigated the world as a highly creative female who was encouraged to follow a very specific life path. My authentic self struggled beneath polished dresses, body image issues, and rules about how to be and behave. Be confident! But not too confident. Voice yourself! But don't be so loud. Sit properly! But don't be stiff, people don't like that. Shame ran rampant as I apologized to make room for myself as I was: passionate, overwhelmingly curious, highly intuitive, and insanely wild with love for the world, (and a bit of a sailor mouth if I’m being honest — my bad). I dedicated my life to creating a unique space for people like me: high functioning folks that just wanted a secure, nonjudgmental space to make the most sense of themselves, their relationships, their lives, and get the most out of their time in this world before it’s gone. Basically, I wanted to be an ally for my clients’ lives. From love to life to career, I wanted to be in their corner to do it all. I knew all too well that life doesn’t care if you’re successful as the world defines it. We’re an easy population to miss because we can keep our human struggles silent and put a good face, even when we’re feeling differently inside.

As I stepped (and continue to step) into myself throughout my life, I have harnessed an enormous sense of humility as I remain committed to life as an ongoing process of growth. The farther I move into the world and meet people from all walks and all positions of life, it has fascinated me that NONE OF US ARE FREE FROM BEING HUMAN. In my own growth, there was a point when I was getting to know so many CEOs and high level executives and quickly realized: "Oh hello there, you are also just a person. And I can totally see how hard you're trying to work this puzzle with a hand tied behind your back." It was immediately followed by a, "I can help you with that." It's what led me to build on my skills as an expert in psychotherapy (particularly within existential humanistic depth work) and broaden into executive coaching as well.

I believe that everyone has their part in the world when it comes to making a difference. It wasn’t until some of my executive therapy clients were asking me to be their coach as well that it hit me: I’m uniquely equipped here as a psychologist and leader of a transformative company. I absolutely LOVE therapy work. It’s hard to describe the kind of honor it is to be witness to someone’s truth. I don’t take that lightly. So you might imagine the gratitude that leaves me with when I get to hold supportive space for a female CEO balancing motherhood and the demand of her callings. Or a male VP that’s confronted with questions of love as he battles ghosts of his father’s past and wanting to create something different for his life. Nothing makes me feel as utilized in my purpose as being able to spread my psychological wingspan from the depths of therapy work to the most practical side of coaching. I just love getting to meet my clients literally wherever they need that day.

I'm a believer in making change and being the best versions of ourselves. My value and life mission to help create a positive impact with my life left me deeply pulled to help our leaders move with greater support and outcomes as they touch the lives of many. It's a privilege to lead and make waves. It means everything to me to help others do that better and not lose themselves in the process, but rather the opposite.

My training.

I went to Texas A&M University for my education: bachelors all the way to PhD. People tend to be surprised when they find out I'm an Aggie. I guess I don’t really fit the image of my Texas country college town. I’ve always had trouble fitting in boxes so I guess I’m consistent if nothing else. I will say, I pride myself in my capacity to empathize with and connect to people with all kinds of perspectives and experiences. I think the environments I grew up in helped enormously in my capacity to not judge people. I am capable of seeing past the exterior and witnessing the complexities that make us human. My formal training through Texas A&M taught me to think with a scientifically-minded lens that I'm very thankful for. That's why everything we do at Modern Therapy is grounded in empirically validated approaches even though we show up as our super personable, authentic, and open selves that feels like talking to a trusted friend.

During my graduate school years I couldn't help but feel that the research supported interventions weren't enough. Sure, they helped tame symptoms which was huge, particularly in the immediate moment, but my intuition told me it was something very different that produced the deep, profound change I saw in my clients. It was the relationship (and it turns out the research supported this too). It was the way my client's could express themselves within the non-judgmental, exploration-friendly space I provided. They could slow down and trust me enough to experience themselves more wholly and thus, more capable to make clearer, more empowered decisions. My clients knew I cared for them deeply and they trusted me with the most hidden parts of themselves. Within the unique security of our relationship, my clients were able to explore new ways of relating to themselves and others. The work and process would allow them to free themselves from old patterns, scars, and self-defeating beliefs that had followed them for decades. My intuition turned into an in-depth study of person-centered therapy and existential-humanistic therapy. I sought additional post-doctoral training and supervision from master clinicians that knew the art of therapy: how to "be" with another person. How to attune to them in a very special way that's capable of bringing forth all kinds of insights that benefit them in life and relationships. I'm thankful for the balance I have in art and science.

True to my commitment to growth and wanting to do things in informed ways, I took my coaching education further as well. A graduate of Rice University’s Coaching program, I’ve been given a rich, thoughtful, and thorough training that greatly complimented my previous work in how to support the needs of the leader and executive. So for my folks wondering about what kind of leader they want to be, I say: let’s find out. I want to hear your thoughts on who you want to be.

My commitment.

I believe the relationship you have with your therapist can bring about life altering insight and perspective. It's why I truly dedicate myself to my clients and only hire the most passionate, intelligent, and committed therapists out there. I trust the special role that a therapist is in a person's life. I'm committed to looking out for you, helping you see and gain new understanding, and challenge you to move with and through the barriers that keep you. You can count on me to be real with you from a genuinely supportive, smart, and non-judgmental place.