What’s in a Name? How Thestral Therapy Came to Be.

Brittney Rademacher, MA LICSW

The first thing I started to think about after I had decided to go into private practice was what I would call it. Using my name would make things easy and sound professional but using my name just did not fit with how I perceive my role. For me, I want to be as personally removed from the therapeutic process as I can, since therapy is not about me, it is about the person sitting (or on the screen) across from me. I wanted to have a name that spoke to the therapeutic process, was slightly weird, would have a kick ass logo, and would be memorable.

I was talking to my son about my plans to start my own practice. I jokingly asked him if he had any name ideas and without skipping a beat, he suggested Thestral Therapy. One thing I should note, my son and I share a love for all things Harry Potter. My son could easily win any trivia contest about Harry Potter, he knows the most obscure facts about the characters. I am ashamed to say, I did not remember what Thestrals were and asked him to tell me. He informed me that they are the winged creatures that only could be seen after one has “been touched by death” according to wizardingworld.com. I was intrigued so I went to the Potterverse to find out more. I found Thestrals are cleaver, loyal, helpful, initially scary at first sight but are gentle, and have a strong sense of direction as described by harrypotter.fandom.com:

They also had quite a useful sense of direction. The Thestral could understand exactly where their riders needed to go, even if the beast itself might or might not be familiar with the terminus in question. If their riders had a certain destination in mind, they only needed to say the destination and the creature would diligently carry them to the intended location…

The last two characteristics are what sold me on the name. Often as one embarks on their therapeutic journey it can be scary but with time and an open mind one can find healing and growth. Just as the Thestral looks, well…creepy and intimidating, after getting to know the creature you will find they are good and helpful. I also felt connected to the sense of direction the Thestral is known to have, I do not feel that I alone can find the direction my clients need to go, but instead feel that together we are able to find the destination.

I love what the Thestral represents, how it looks, and that my son came up with the idea. It is just as I hoped the name would be, it speaks to the therapeutic process, is slightly weird, has a kick ass logo, and is memorable.

***** I would like to note, I in no way support the transphobic views or comments made by JK Rowling. Thestral Therapy is about the Potterverse and the lore, a world that for many, was the first time they felt seen and represented. ****

-Brittney