02/26/2021
I was displaced from my job on January 8, 2021, and my husband was forced to shut his business down fully in March of 2020 due to Covid19. Finances have been tight, but we have been talking recently about how perhaps my career path, while providing an income, was not providing a great work-life balance or a feeling of fulfillment or purpose at the end of the day. Ultimately, it became clear that a career change was on the horizon, and with that a lot of soul searching.
I have always felt a strong urge to help others, with the coursework from Liberty, I can take this urge to the next level and, I hope, make transition years for my clients a little less murky and a little clearer. From just sitting and listening as a client talks through everyday projects, to helping them weigh the pros and cons of a new relationship, job or even college, I hope to be not just a counsellor to them, but someone they can confide in, trust, and open up to just like a friend. I am looking to become clinical mental health private practice provider specifically; I am looking to work with youth between the middle school ages through their early 20’s. I hope to gain from Liberty’s program, the ability to help navigate through this period, while providing a fun, non-judgmental atmosphere, where younger adults feel comfortable to open up.
Looking at my long-term plan, I feel called to provide a niche-like approach to counseling. From opening a practice that looks and feel like a home, to being able to provide an ear without having a pre-determined answer, I hope to make my future clients feel like they are interacting with a trusted friend, rather than a doctor, in a home rather than a sterile office environment.
I have been the sounding board for my bonus-kids, a 16-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter, and their friends, for over a year now. Being in their parents’ generation, a cultural difference is present due to heavy social media influence. Being someone who does not rely on social media for near-constant contact with my peers, I respect the fact that “times have changed” and with that a lower expectation of wait times and patience. I have learned the differences between TikTok and Snapchat, as well as how to curb my hurry up and wait perspective due to the near instant communication seen with these platforms.
With utilizing the newer social media platforms, I have been able to engage deeper with my target audience and learn more about what is going on with them on a day-to-day basis, rather than just one crisis at a time. And even jump in and help when they need that extra hand with their latest social media endeavor. When they come to me for advice about something they do not want to talk to Mom or Dad about, I am more able to see their points from a peer level, rather than an out of touch adult, simply by spending a little bit of time and learning that their pressures, while the same as when I was there are, are really more the adult version of them due to the social media platforms. With this comes the ability to give them a kind ear, useful advice from someone that tries hard not to say, “When I was your age…”, and the tools to work through their real-world issues with some positive reinforcement.
Be it one on one, or in a small group, I show the authority of an adult, yet I jump right in and help them make their latest TikTok, or Snap back when they are just need someone. I have learned, both from my own experience and from my step-kids, that each teenager is different yet seems to know everything and sometimes they have difficulty asking for help because they want to prove themselves. I hope to be able to bring the knowledge I gain from Liberty to them to help them transition through to a well-rounded young adult finding their way in the world, rather than someone just floundering about trying to find their footing.
