The most rewarding part about being a counselor is being able to positively make an impact on another human being’s life and journey. Giving hope when people feel hopeless. Inspiring others to be all that they are capable of being, so that they can go out into the world and be the best version of themselves. It can be very rewarding work!
This month, we asked our team of clinicians why they wanted to become a therapist. What drew them into the field of mental health and counseling? We received a flood of replies! Here is part one of our “Why I became a therapist” series. Enjoy!
As long as I can remember I have always had a passion for helping others. As time went on that passion continued to grow. I love seeing the “aha” moment look on a client’s face when helping them tackle a difficult task. My ‘why’ is I love being able to provide clients with the tools needed to be the best versions of themselves and having a better understanding of their emotions.
As a therapist for children under ten, I spend a lot of time working with and thinking about deeply feeling young kids (and their families). As a matter of fact, I was a deeply feeling young kid myself. Anxious, school-avoidant at times, and known to be quite tearful – it was hard for me to identify and talk about my feelings, and I had a LOT of them. It could be confusing for the adults in my life who supported me. And it was confusing for me, too!
Deeply feeling kids and their families often wonder – where do these feelings come from? Does this mean something is “wrong?” Will it always be like this? Is there a way to feel better? Nothing, nothing nothing nothing is wrong with your deeply feeling child. Deeply feeling people make the world a more vibrant, beautiful, and interesting place. But that doesn’t mean having strong feelings isn’t difficult, lonely or confusing at times.
Throughout my academic career, I was fascinated with learning about what emotions are and how they serve us. I couldn’t think of a more exciting job than partnering with children and families in gaining knowledge and skills to support them in their own journeys with emotion. While I can’t make having strong feelings EASY for the children and families I work with, I can share information and skills that help all of us make sense of, cope with, and feel less alone in our feelings. It is rewarding work, and I am grateful I get to do it every day!
I feel this profession chose me before I chose it. I have always recognized my passion for serving others. From a very young age, I often found myself having a different perspective than my peers or the people around me. I have always been focused on the solution while also understanding the problem. As I got older, I recognized that I was the “go-to” person for people who had problems. I wondered why that was. It became clear to me when at a very pivotal point in my own life, I sought therapy for myself and that space felt very familiar to my “spirit”.
My own personal experience with therapy confirmed what I now believe is my “calling” to this work. There remains a hunger and desire to help people look at their lives and situations from different perspectives, while at the same time supporting them as they journey to find their own solutions. I remain excited and energized by the ability to share other people’s life journeys. I am confident this profession made the right choice in choosing me.
Entering into your last few years of high school sure does an interesting thing to 16, 17, and 18 year olds. Suddenly, after all of those years of answering playful versions of, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” we are thrust into feeling like we ACTUALLY need to make that decision. And so, for me, came a long period of reflection… Before I even knew of the Japanese concept of “Ikigai” (or “A Reason for Being” — look it up, it’s interesting!), I pondered those exact concepts.
And the one truth I kept coming back to was that I was good at helping people feel seen and heard and that people almost seemed to naturally be drawn to me (and me to them) in life’s hardest moments. Now, over a decade later, I can’t even believe that I get to do this as a job. Younger Grace would be so relieved she finally figured it out… and so proud.
Until next time, Be Wise!
“This is my 1st visit at WISE with my son. So far I am very thankful and impressed by the space. I feel light and comfortable here while my son works on his growth. I appreciate that you curated the process well.” ~ WISE Family parent
— Thankful and impressed by the space“I don’t think we could survive our kid without The Wise Family. Our clinician is so patient and such a compassionate person. She helps our child feel so in control of his body, and us so in control of our parenting.”
— Parent of 6 year old client“Dr. Amy brings together the best emotion-focused strategies with cutting-edge brain science to change the lives of children and families”
— Parent of adopted twin girls“Dr. Amy knows how to relate to children and make them feel comfortable. My son was shy in the beginning but Amy asked him a couple of questions about what he likes and immediately found a connection with him. He happily followed her into the office (just after a 3 min of conversation) and performed the test. He wasn’t nervous or scared and it’s because of her ability to relate to kids.
We had a great experience and he wants to go back! Thank you very much!”
— Dad of 5-year-old assessment client
