My Personal Journey: Who I am, Why I’m Qualified to Help, and Why Helping is My Passion

Once upon a time, not all that long ago, I was a media arts professional who had her life turned upside down and wanted to give back in the same way others had been there wholeheartedly for me during this time. I was so humbled by the outpouring of love and support I received, I was determined to pay it forward and help others struggling…I just didn’t know exactly how.

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Then, one day, out of the blue, an ad appeared as I was browsing the web for a writing assignment, and I just knew it was calling out to me. It was an ad for a mental health counseling program at a major university. Four years prior, I had completed an MBA program, pregnant when I started and completing when my daughter was two years old. While I’ve always had a passion for school, and learning in general, I vowed that after graduation, it would be the last time anyone would find me in a classroom. After all, I had entered the next stage of life, and it was time to “grow up,” and use my degree to support my family, right?

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But, oh how I love school! And the ad reignited this passion inside. The ability to pursue this passion and help others in a major way? So very tempting.

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I had just gone through a divorce and was a newly single mom of two. Everyone asked if I were “sure…like really sure.” My life had been turned upside down, and with so much change, perhaps this desire would quickly pass, so I could focus on rebuilding. Many doubts of my own surfaced…How will I afford it? How will I find time? Shouldn’t I just focus on myself and the kids right now?

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Yet, the idea persisted. I knew I just had to make it work. So, I eventually filled out an application and hit send. No turning back.

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What I’d soon find is that this journey would be more than a thirst for knowledge – it would steer me into an entirely new direction full of life-changing milestones as I attempted to navigate solo without a map, figuring out the complexities of deciding to pursue a career in mental health. I personally didn’t know anyone in this field and had to start and end the journey entirely from scratch.

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I decided to take this program as slowly as possible to balance my responsibilities – healing, rebuilding, reconnecting with once-exiled parts of myself along the way and making sure to spend quality time with my kids. There were many fears, uncertainties, and hurdles. I even started my practicum and internship right when COVID hit, closing down my original site three days into the semester, leaving me to scramble to find a new site while also learning an entirely new way of delivering services. Around that same time, the professional counselor license was being challenged in Michigan, too.

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Despite all of this, five years later (yes, it took me a whole five years), I had my graduation certificate in hand, and a couple of months after that, I officially became a Limited Licensed Counselor…then, soon after, a National Certified Counselor.

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In early 2022, I opened a private practice. In 2023, I also entered the world of community mental health, working in homes, schools, and wherever else I was called to serve, to help those battling severe mental illnesses and co-occurring disorders. And in 2024, I received my full counseling license and became an LLC supervisor. I also decided to secure my CAADC – having found a passion for substance use counseling along the way – as well as an NPT-C certification.

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What I’ve learned thus far from this experience extends well beyond my clinical knowledge. More than anything, this was a journey of personal growth. I learned to practice persistence while putting on my research hat and challenging myself fully, even during a time when I was most vulnerable and had lost so much confidence. This career change was nothing sort of life-changing...no, life-saving...even though it was difficult to navigate for some time. And now I get to help others, often in their most vulnerable moments. There is nothing more rewarding. 

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Section C.3 of the ACA's Code of Ethics, Professional Responsibility, asks that counselors encourage other counselors to contribute to the profession's knowledge base while supporting colleagues and students in their professional development.

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Are you up for this challenge? Are you already attempting to tackle it? Could you use some guidance?

 

Reach out today! I'd love to support you in your journey either through clinical supervision (coming 2026) or mentorship (available NOW!). If you're ready to become a mentor yourself, I hope you find the resources we have here helpful, too. Welcome!