Profile of a Therapist
I have been in practice for two and a half years as a psychotherapist at a non-profit community mental health agency. I recently was granted my license of clinical social work (LCSW) in New Jersey, which would allow me to now open my own practice. I was educated at Rutgers University for my Masters of Social Work (MSW). Additionally, I have a Masters of Divinity (MDiv) from Princeton Theological Seminary.
I have gained significant experience at my current job, particularly because I am working in an impoverished urban setting in which there are high rates of severe mental illness. My caseload is a mix of ages, from children age 7 through adults. Working with a range of problems and demographics has afforded me the opportunity to discover what interests me and develop specialization. I have most enjoyed working with teenagers and women from ages 13 and up. Furthermore, I have realized through my individual and group work that I particularly thrive at working with issues of trauma and abuse, eating disorders, depression, and anxiety.
My goal is to one day open a private practice, though I definitely want to gain more experience before heading out on my own. I have considered either a practice specializing in women’s issues or a pastoral counseling practice.
I have some reservations about getting started, because I have read that it is difficult to be successful, in part because of new challenges with getting reimbursement from insurance companies. I imagine it taking time and much effort to gain enough of a client base to make a living. I would also miss having regular interaction with colleagues to provide support and guidance. But certainly there are benefits, like setting one’s own schedule, deciding which clients to work with, and having the potential for earning more money than is possible at an agency.
About Me
I live in a small Pennsylvania town with my husband. Our first child is on the way, so life is about to change in exciting and wonderful ways. To be honest, I am looking forward to a sabbatical of sorts when I will have a 3 to 4 month maternity leave. Though I never bore of sitting across from clients and hearing their life stories, the pace of the work has left me yearning for a break.
It is tiresome to be in a setting where I often schedule seven clients per day, and also have to find time for paperwork within those seven hours. And it is certainly draining to have a caseload over fifty. There are high rates of burnout for therapists and generally within the social work field, which is why it is essential to have outlets outside of work.
One of my biggest stress relievers is just to go home daily, and see my husband and be in my peaceful and quiet home. It also instantly rejuvenates me to find my goldendoodle dog excitedly waiting at the door for my arrival. Her energy is contagious and reminds me of the joy of living. I have several creative activities, which keep me going and feeling inspired. I regularly cook international foods with lots of ginger, curry and spices. I also enjoy decorating my home and preparing a scrapbook for my little one who is on the way. Yoga has significantly helped me relieve tension, and reading or watching TV also assist me. Plus I like learning about new things, which lately has been gaining knowledge of my husband’s world including websites and technology. I am currently teaching teenage girls at my church on Sunday mornings and really benefit from the unique ideas and perspectives they have on life.
Why I Became a Therapist
If it’s such hard work, why does anyone become a therapist? I get asked a lot how I got into this work. It actually started when I was three years old. I decided at that age that I wanted to be an obstetrician. I guess that it might have emerged from observing how much my mother was helped by her doctor through her pregnancy with my little sister. As it turned out, by high school I realized that I did not like math or science much, and felt a huge crisis of what to do with my future, since I had already spent about 14 years with the goal of a medical degree.
I spent the rest of high school, all of college, and some of my graduate studies exploring multiple interests before discovering the field of psychotherapy. First I thought I might become an author, or more specifically a poet. Then as I had the chance to travel to several other countries throughout Europe and Central/South America, I wondered if I could be a missionary or some type of ambassador-type person. Under that presumption I worked on learning Spanish, obtained an international studies degree, and participated in an internship at the US Department of State. When that field did not completely capture my attention, I began considering ministry opportunities and pursued ordination and a seminary education.
It was actually during seminary that I seemed to land on my true calling when I was a chaplain intern at a state psychiatric hospital. Though chaplaincy was not exactly what I wanted to do, I was deeply intrigued by psychiatric illnesses and felt gifted in the area.
For me, being a therapist is about loving to listen to others, to hear their story, to share their pain, and to be present with them during a small part of their life journey. I feel that I possess many skills that facilitate a therapeutic relationship and that assist me in my work.
I have a calming demeanor and exterior (even when I may feel highly anxious inside), which helps ground clients during our work and is a model of calmer behavior to them. I am naturally non-judgmental, open-minded and accepting. I also communicate a trustworthiness and caring attitude to clients which helps them quickly begin the sharing process. Organization, persistence, and patience come easily to me. Most of all, I am infinitely curious about people and things, always full of questions and possible theories.
