Not long ago I restarted my life after divorce. When it came time to reinstate my maiden name, I realized that I couldn’t return to Stacy Beth Watnick. I wasn’t that person anymore. I couldn’t keep Stacy W. Buhbe because I wasn’t that person either, though it would have been easier professionally to keep my married name. No, I needed something else. I had learned and grown so much through the divorce. I needed a name that represented that process and redefined me as the woman I have become today.
I chose Stacy Tikvah Watnick because it incorporated all the parts of me. Stacy is my given first name, and is the name people closest to me use. Watnick is my family name, and represents a carrying forward of tradition, ideas, connection and culture that I value. I chose Tikvah as my middle name because it means “hope” in Hebrew. It signifies a conscious choice to focus on my hopes and dreams going forward, and allows me to carry a positive, growth-oriented frame of mind in my moniker every day.
I tell this story here because this model is one I often use with clients. Therapy is a collaborative process. Together we can ask the questions:
- Who are you?
- Are you who you wish to be?
- If not, what would it take to get there?
If exploring those questions seems of value to you, please feel free to contact me via the contact page, and let’s get started.
Talk to you soon,
Dr. Stacy T. Watnick
Stacy T. Watnick, Ph.D. 