A Career Change That Adds Up

There’s something refreshingly radical about walking away from a successful career to pursue work that feeds your soul. Real estate had given Andrea Fine her financial security and professional credibility, but it had also taken her further from her family and deeper into a role that never quite fit. “I reached a point in real estate where the sales side never felt like ‘me,’” Fine says. “I’ve always loved psychology, and my own therapy journey shaped so much of who I am. I knew I wanted a career with deeper meaning—one where my life experiences and empathy could actually support people in a real way.”

Building Presence

The skills that make someone excel at guiding clients through seven-figure property decisions translate remarkably well to therapy. Fine discovered this herself, recognizing patterns between her past and present work that outsiders might miss entirely. “Real estate is full of emotions—fear, excitement, conflict, and big decisions,” she explains. “I learned how to stay calm, read people quickly, support couples who communicate very differently, and hold space when things get overwhelming. In a funny way, it was great training for therapy, just with fewer home inspections.”

Having shepherded people through both buying homes and beginning therapy—two experiences that routinely top lists of life’s biggest stressors—Fine brings an unusually grounded perspective to her practice. “When something matters, people show you their most vulnerable selves,” she says. “Stress brings out old patterns and magnifies communication differences, especially for couples. Those experiences taught me to lead with patience, empathy, and grounding—because underneath the stress, people just want to feel safe and understood.”

A New Foundation

One of a group of diverse therapists at Presence of Mind Therapy, Fine has created something that feels entirely authentic. Her approach blends mindfulness, somatic techniques, and practical tools, helping clients navigate relationships, transitions, anxiety, and identity questions. “My goal is to make therapy feel human, comfortable, and empowering—like you can show up exactly as you are,” she says.

Fine is also determined to challenge outdated assumptions about whom therapy is for. She’d most like to retire the misconception that you need to be in crisis to go. She says, “Therapy isn’t just for when things fall apart—it’s also for growth, clarity, and learning how to feel more grounded in your life.”

SIDEBAR

How to Focus on a Fresh Start

As 2026 begins, Fine shares these actionable approaches to intentional living:

Reframe Your Goals: Set intentions that come from care rather than pressure. Ask yourself, “What would genuinely support my well-being this year?” When goals are rooted in kindness instead of self-criticism, they become far more sustainable.

Protect Your Morning: Give yourself a gentle buffer before the world comes rushing in. Even 20 to 30 minutes in the morning without your phone can change your whole day.

Reset Somatically: Check in with your body at least once a day. Notice your breath, your shoulders, your tension. That tiny moment of awareness pulls you out of autopilot and back into yourself—and presence always starts in the body.

Create Micro-Pauses: Even a one-minute reset between tasks stops overwhelm from snowballing.

Practice the Grounding Breath: Inhale for four, hold for two, exhale for six. It signals safety to your body and brings you back into the moment in under 10 seconds.

Embrace “Good Enough”: Perfection is exhausting—consistency and compassion are what keep you well.