A Compass For Families

Beatrice McMullen never pictured herself crisscrossing Connecticut’s highways each week, but as the full-time family therapist at Causeway Collaborative, each mile is worth the journey. Bringing her direct, concrete yet wholehearted approach to her practice that helps young men and their families navigate adolescence and early adulthood, she’s embraced her commute between Brooklyn and Causeway’s Westport-White Plains-Westchester offices in a way that transcends rush hour convenience. “I love it at Causeway,” Beatrice beams. “It’s really the only place I would do it for.”

Roots in Psychology and a Love for People

Beatrice’s path to family therapy wasn’t linear. Growing up in Westchester County, she’s deeply familiar with the community she now serves. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology in Washington, D.C., but her adventurous spirit led her elsewhere. “I really wanted to improve my Spanish,” she says. “I’m part Cuban, so I decided to move to Spain and teach English.” What was supposed to be a year abroad stretched into three as Beatrice fell hard for the culture and the people.

Returning to the U.S., Beatrice detoured into the corporate world, working in public relations for major beauty brands like L’Oreal while becoming a certified yoga instructor. (“Corporate life wasn’t exactly for me….Teaching on the side kept me sane.”) But Beatrice felt pulled back to her psychology roots during the pandemic and pursued a marriage and family therapy degree from Fairfield University in Connecticut. “I realized I didn’t want to teach full-time. I was more interested in the psychology side…the dynamics of relationships and families,” she reflects.

The Family Connection

Beatrice’s own family experiences have significantly influenced her professional journey. Raised in a multigenerational Hispanic household and having witnessed her parents’ difficult divorce, she developed an interest in family dynamics from an early age. “I was curious about the family piece because that’s been my whole life,” she explains. “My parents are both educated, loving parents, but they just did all the wrong things when they went through that. They’re still not in touch…so I think I was interested in how families navigate challenges..”

Drawn toward working with children, Beatrice soon discovered her real passion lay in supporting couples and parents. “Kids don’t have a lot of control over their lives. It’s their parents or guardians who shape their world,” she notes. “I found I could make a bigger impact by working with parents on how to co-parent, whether they’re together or not.”

While she doesn’t often share her personal story, Beatrice’s experiences lend her unique empathy and insight into the struggles of the families she supports. “I think parents appreciate knowing they are not alone in their experiences, even if I don’t explicitly share mine.” 

Finding a Home at Causeway Collaborative

Beatrice joined Causeway after being recruited by Nicole O’Brien, Ph.D., Causeway’s chief clinical officer and Beatrice’s former supervisor from her Marriage and Family Therapy master’s program. “I would have followed her anywhere,” Beatrice smiles. “When I interviewed at Causeway, I felt right at home. The team is wonderful…the guys are really great at what they do.”

She’s especially excited about Causeway’s openness to growth and change. “The fact that Causeway made this shift to incorporate family work in a more concrete, organized way told me everything I needed to know about its commitment to doing really good work,” she says.

Boundaries as a Love Language

Beatrice staunchly advocates for the power of boundaries in fostering growth and independence. (“Boundaries are love,” she says with conviction.) She encourages parents to set clear, consistent ones, focusing on their own comfort levels rather than their children’s behavior. “Your boundary has nothing to do with the other person. It’s about what you’re willing to put up with,” she explains. This approach helps parents stay grounded while providing a stable environment for their kids.

Oh, and navigating differing parenting styles? She’s got that covered, too. “Usually, the more harsh one parent is, the more the other feels they have to overcorrect and be softer,” she notes. Her goal is to help parents find a middle ground that supports their child’s development without falling into conflicting approaches.

Empowering Families for Lasting Change

For Beatrice, success in therapy is often about the little changes that lead to big improvements. She’s thrilled when young men realize the benefits of healthier routines. “Once they have a healthier, more consistent daily routine, they’re like, ‘Oh my God, I feel so much better,’” she says. Implementing strategies like reducing screen time or sticking to a regular sleep schedule can make a world of difference.

She’s also focused on equipping families with tools to handle future challenges independently. “The idea is that we help you shift things in a way that’s helpful to you, and then you can take that and run,” she explains, empowering families so they don’t need long-term therapy. “We want to set you up for success so that we’re not needed,” she adds.

Building Trust and Encouraging Openness

Ultimately, Beatrice aims to foster a sense of openness and collaboration among the families she counsels. “I want families to know that they are the experts on their own lives,” she emphasizes. “I’m here to support them in figuring out what they want for their family and how to achieve that.” Her advice for those considering therapy? “Be open to collaboration. Real change is only possible when everyone is truly a part of the process.”

To book a free introductory call with someone our team to see if our services could be right for you, your son or your family, please click here. We’d be honored to help.