Growing Into the Woman I Wanted to Be

Brittany Proxmire, MA, LCMHC

Psychotherapist & Community Outreach Coordinator

March has always felt like a special month to me. Not only do I celebrate another year around the sun this month, but I also love the shift from winter to spring. The longer days, the warmer air, the sunlight. It feels like the world is waking up again. The sun brings out all the serotonin and somehow wakes up my soul, too.

More recently, I realized that March holds another important day, International Women’s Day,  which feels especially meaningful at this point in my life. I’ve been surrounded by strong, intelligent, and impactful women for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a female-dominated home, and now I work for businesses that are also largely female-led. When I really stop and think about it, the influence of these women has shaped so much of who I am today. There’s something deeply empowering about that kind of environment. A sisterhood where each person’s strengths, weaknesses, and individuality are welcomed and embraced.

When I applied to work at Banyan years ago, the fact that it was a woman-owned business really resonated with me. At the time, I was still shedding parts of my younger self. The timid, people-pleasing version of me that often stayed quiet or followed the lead of others. But deep down, I knew I wanted to grow into someone stronger. I wanted to be someone who could be unapologetically themselves. Someone who stands up for others, empathizes with people’s struggles, and leads with confidence rather than feeling the pull to simply follow. At 30 years old now, I can look back at who I was in the first few decades of my life and smile, because I know little Brittany would be so proud of me and would truly see me as an inspiration. I’m still growing and evolving, and am proud of it.

Looking at where I am now, I know that so many women before me helped make that possible. Women like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Maya Angelou, Dolly Parton, and Rosa Parks, just to name a few. Their courage, creativity, and determination created space for others to find their voice.

If you ever visit our offices, you might notice that many of our therapy rooms are named after influential women throughout history. It’s a small but meaningful reminder of the legacy they’ve left behind and the paths they helped create for the rest of us.
​
Who are the women who shaped you? The ones who modeled courage, compassion, resilience, or strength in ways big or small. For me, the most influential figures were the ones sitting beside me at the dinner table, cheering me on from the sidelines, or quietly reminding me that I am capable of more than I realized. Maybe they were the same for you.

And maybe that’s what International Women’s Day is really about. Not just celebrating the icons we read about in history books, but also recognizing the everyday women who inspire growth, encourage authenticity, and remind us to keep becoming who we are meant to be. I can confidently say that I’m surrounded by many incredible everyday women: my sisters, my friends, and my colleagues, who continue to inspire me in ways big and small.

---

Brittany Proxmire

Author Brittany Proxmire, MA, LCMHC is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor specializing in pediatric therapy. With a warm and playful approach, she engages children and adolescents, providing evidence-based techniques like play therapy, art therapy, talk therapy, Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP), and other modalities. Brittany collaborates with families, offering insight and support, while empowering clients to make positive changes and discover their authentic selves. In Brittany's work with teens and young adults she utilizes cognitive-behavioral therapy and humanistic approaches to foster behavioral change and self-awareness. Brittany's ultimate passion is helping children, teens, young adults, parents and families find happiness, peace, and harmony.