I first thought about becoming a counselor when I was going on fifteen. At that time, I was going through a painful period in my life because I was experiencing some confusion about my sexual orientation. I was also having some bizarre thoughts that scared me which I now recognize as symptoms of OCD. While dealing with all of that, I felt alone, ashamed and helpless. I learned at that point about the importance of good mental health and I felt inspired to take on a career that would allow me to be in a position to help others find it.

That whatever they are struggling with does not make them less worthwhile than other people.

I have been working for community agencies for most of my career. I chose Thriveworks because of the greater amount of compensation, flexibility and autonomy that Is provided by this company. Counselors who are better able to take care of their own needs are in a better position to meet the needs of others.

I was brought up in a religious home and have carried the gift of faith with me throughout my life. My faith in the afterlife provides hope in the face of all the death, suffering and injustice that takes place on earth. My faith assures me there will always be someone (God) who loves and cares about us, who we can turn to for help. It gives me a sense of purpose and inspires me to be the best person that I can be.

Before discussing the issues that brought him/her into treatment, I would want to make sure that we are both on the same page about such things as what counseling is and how it works, the rules and limitations about important things such as confidentiality and dual relationships, what to do if you're not satisfied with your counseling, and what to do if you need to cancel your session. I would then want to get an overview of the issue or issues that he or she is coming into therapy to address and the outcome that he or she is hoping for. Last, I would want to work on developing some overall goals to start with.

I have cats that I need to care for, who love to curl up with me on the couch. I enjoy going out to eat with family and going to the movies. I love going to amusement parks and getting on rollercoasters. My favorite hobby is creative writing. In the past I wrote plays, stories, poems and brief reflections. It has always been a dream of mine to become a published author. I don't have much time for writing now, but I plan to devote more time to it someday when I retire.