If you'd told my younger self I'd end up being a therapist, I would probably have lost my mind. I saw a counselor for the first time in 3rd grade. She wore thick makeup, had big hair and talked too much about how we shared the same birthday. I didn't go back to counseling again until 25 years old as a struggling young mother. I wasn't sure what to expect as I walked through the doors of the unmarked building and into the waiting room. What I discovered was nothing short of magical: someone genuinely listened to me for a full hour, seemed to sincerely like me despite my emotional mess, and engaged me in new ways of thinking and problem solving. My therapist, Deb, played a pivotal role in transforming my life. I wanted to do what Deb did.

When the time was right, I completed my bachelor’s degree and went to graduate school for Marriage and Family Therapy; one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.