Show Notes:

Meg’s links:

• Instagram: @Meg_Yingling
• Counseling Website: https://www.crystalcreekcounseling.com/copy-of-longmont
• Guiding, Coaching and Providing SPI Courses through KMAC Guides
• A Thousand Ways To Kiss The Ground

Episode Intro:

Dear listeners of the Female Guides Requested Podcast. Happy Wednesday. I’m your host Ting Ting from Las Vegas and today’s guest is Megan Yingling from Colorado.

Meg came on my radar when I accidentally saw her post on Facebook. In that post, she described her experience with grieving, mental health and climbing. She mentioned that she was becoming a psychotherapist and wanted to help people who suffered similar trauma like she did before. At that moment I also recalled just seeing her name on the new SPI Provider list from an AMGA email. Bing! I wanted her on the show.

So here she is,

Meg (she/they) is a pre-licensed psychotherapist, AMGA certified Rock Guide, and SPI Provider based out of Estes Park, Colorado.

Throughout her two decades in the sport, Meg has learned that climbing and guiding can provide the highest highs but does not come without its challenges and barriers. Meg has dedicated her career to navigating the intersection between mental health and climbing and has a deep passion in helping others achieve their goals.

Meg loves climbing, running, and playful exploring in her home range of Rocky Mountain National Park.

It was a fun conversation and I learned a lot. Meg shared experiences that many of us can relate to and provided great insights on dealing with fear and grief. Hope you enjoyed this conversation just like I did.

Things We Talked about:

• The origin of Meg’s last name: Yingling
• Currently, where Meg resides in, works for, and does
• Take root in Colorado
• Climbing in Colorado
• How did Megan get into guiding?
• Started as a comp kid and then discovered outdoor climbing
• Lots of “firsts” in Black Canyon
• When Meg started outside was often told she was bad at ropes
• Realization: rope skill was a learned skill. No one started as a rope person
• How Meg bugged her mentors
• Her first AMGA Rock Guide Course rocked her
• Climbing and mental health
• Dealing with fear
• 2020 was a tough year for Meg, lots of grieving
• Climbing Grief Fund
• A Thousand Ways to Kiss the Ground (A documentary)
• Went back to school and wanted to be a therapist
• Combining what she learned in school (outdoor education and psychology) and (therapy training) with guiding
• Dual approach with coaching and guiding
• Framing
• Observing people’s body languages and discovering signs for fear
• Nervous system response explained
• How to create a safe learning environment
• The path to become an SPI Provider
• Proudest moments
• Hope listeners to take away