If the word Milestone means marking a significant event in a person’s career, then Linda Solie is the definition of the word. Linda is a licensed psychologist who has been a full-time client at Park OffiCenter for the past 21 years. That’s a milestone that both Linda and OffiCenters are proud to have achieved. Thanks Linda, for 21 years! We look forward to serving you and your clients for the next 21!
1) Who are you and what do you do? I am Linda Solie, a licensed psychologist in solo private practice. My specialties include depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and marriage counseling. I provide counseling services to children, adolescents, and adults.
2) Which OffiCenters location does your business call ‘home-base’? Park Officenter.
3) How long have you been an OffiCenters client? Since January, 1991.
4) What is your ‘elevator speech’? As a former high school English teacher, I have a teaching approach to counseling. I am a cognitive therapist and believe that our thoughts create our emotions and significantly influence our behavior. During the counseling sessions I teach people skills that they can independently use to change the way they think and in the process, overcome painful emotions and problem behaviors.
5) Where did you get the idea for your business? After completing a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota I served as one of seventeen staff psychologists at North Memorial Medical Center for three years, working half in Child & Adolescent Psychology and half in Adult Psychology. At a staff meeting in 1990, the seventeen of us were surprised to learn that the hospital was shutting down our department. Although initially frightening, this layoff provided me the opportunity to pursue my dream of private practice, for the hospital asked us to start practices in the area so that their physicians could refer clients to us. I had always wanted the independence of a solo practice and the layoff became my ticket to realizing my career goal!
6) What are the keys to your success? My goal in counseling is to equip people to independently take charge of their emotions and the challenges in their lives—to empower my clients. Usually the work is short-term. Physicians, pastors, and former clients have appreciated this and referred family and friends to me.
7) How has officing with OffiCenters changed your business? I started my business with Park Officenters and throughout these twenty-one years, Officenters has provided competent, friendly receptionists to answer the phone and greet my clients when they arrive for appointments. Officenters offers an attractive, professional environment for my practice that my clients and I appreciate.
8) What would you like people to know about you? Bethany House is publishing a book I have written, to be released in January, 2014, that teaches readers to take charge of their emotional health through psychological tools, the Christian faith, and satisfying relationships with other people. The title is yet to be decided!
9) Do you use social media to attract clients? If so, which services do you use? I do not use social media.
10) What is one of your favorite quotes? “Do to others what you would have them do to you.”
11) Who has been an inspiration in your life, and how? An author and former professor of literature at Oxford and Cambridge universities, C.S. Lewis has been a tremendous inspiration in my life. I admire his intellect, faith, insights, courage, and interest in and concern for other people. Additionally, he models for me logical thinking expressed in a straightforward manner.
12) When you have 30 minutes of free time, how do you use it? I love to read and play the piano.
13) If you could be any fictional character, whom would you choose and why? Harriet Vane, a detective from Dorothy Sayers’ murder mysteries. She is wise, insightful, brave, and marries her dashing partner in sleuth, Lord Peter Whimsy.
14) If you could be any animal, what would you be and why? A Peregrine Falcon, the fastest flying bird, because they don’t have to bother with the TSA lines at the airport.
15) What is your favorite restaurant in Minnesota? The New Scenic Café on the North Shore Scenic Drive between Duluth and Two Harbors—phenomenal food with a beautiful view of Lake Superior.
16) What is your favorite place to visit in Minnesota? Until last year when it was sold, I spent most free weekends at my family’s cottage in Wisconsin, so I’ve actually explored very little of Minnesota. The North Shore of Lake Superior ranks at the top of what I’ve seen of Minnesota thus far.
17) If you could paint a picture of any scenery you’ve ever seen before, what would you paint and why? The Geiranger Fjord in Norway is one of the most beautiful and dramatic sites I’ve ever seen, with steep, rugged, snowcapped mountains rising out of a narrow body of deep blue water.
18) What is your favorite part of being with OffiCenters? The kind, friendly, reliable, and competent staff.