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- Year Of Graduation: 2026
- College/University: Walden University
- Major: Master’s of Clinical Mental Health Counseling
What do you do for a living, or how are you supporting yourself right now? Can you share what a typical day in your life/at work looks like?
While I was in school, I worked as a mental health associate at an inpatient behavioral health hospital. I took online classes, so it gave me the freedom to work during the day and complete my schoolwork in the evenings and on days I had off. My site was only available weekdays during business hours, so when it was time to complete my 600 hours of internship, and I had to be there full-time, I left my job at the inpatient hospital.
The internship was unpaid, so I had to choose between getting a different job working nights and weekends outside of the internship hours to keep income, or living off my savings. I have been blessed with low living expenses and enough savings to choose the latter. Now that my internship is complete, I am awaiting the licensing board’s approval of my LAC (Licensed Associate Counselor) and getting back to work in a different capacity.
Can you tell me about your experience finding a job after graduation? Are you happy with where your journey has led you so far?
I was offered two different per diem positions upon completing my degree: one from my former employer to return to the inpatient hospital in my previous role, and another from my internship site as a Primary Therapist. I was flattered and honored by both offers, though I am finding it a little trickier to find a full-time position. I did not want to accept a position I knew I would be leaving once a full-time offer came through, so I declined. I feel as though I am in a bit of a limbo while I wait for my license to practice under supervision.
I will say I am happy with where I am right now. I feel great about completing my degree and field experience, and knowing I have solid references behind me who appreciated my work. My confidence has increased, my skills have improved, and I have discovered what sparks my passion. That said, I am at a crossroads with how I would like to use my education. I discovered a passion for creating systems-level changes and find my interests align more with organizational psychology than providing individual counseling. I would love to update staff training materials, create a mental health curriculum, educate the community on various topics, etc. As it stands, I am trying to figure out how to have the best of both worlds and take on meaningful projects within the professions available to me with my current master’s.
Why did you choose your undergrad major? Do you feel your time spent in college was valuable? Why or why not?
I chose my undergrad in psychology because I aspired to be an aquatics director at a YMCA, and was often teaching swim lessons to people who were terrified of the water. I believed learning more about psychology might make me more effective and compassionate in my role. Unfortunately, I had a serious back injury that forced me to shift careers, which is how I ended up in mental health. Honestly, I hardly used any of what I learned during my undergrad in either profession. Most of what was helpful to me, I learned through experience, talking to wiser, more knowledgeable people, and doing my own research. Was it valuable? Sure. Worth the cost? Eh…maybe not.
I chose my graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling because I recognized that although raw skill is great, it is nothing compared to refined expertise. I wanted to find a way to apply what I was discovering about people in a way that would help them more effectively and permanently. There’s a lot of information out there, and it provides direction in areas of focus. My grad experience pushed me out of my comfort zone by forcing me to interview people in the profession, explore controversial topics, reflect on my strengths and weaknesses, and practice what I was taught hands-on. I got even more out of my experience by asking my professors lots of questions and connecting with peers to review content and support each other. Grad school was incredibly valuable to my professional and personal growth.
Do you think AI is impacting your role and/or industry, or will start impacting it in a meaningful way?
AI is certainly beginning to make an entrance in the counseling field. I don’t know a ton about it, but I was made aware of some AI programs that help clinicians write their clinical notes and other documentation that is already in use. Apparently, it is also engaging in some low-level interactions with people. I don’t see it taking over the entire counseling experience because of the importance of connection and real relationships between people, but I can see it being used as a tool in other ways.
What does purpose mean to you? Do you think you’re living a purpose-driven life?
I think purpose is doing something with intention. I believe I am living a purpose-driven life because my faith gives me a clear sense of purpose, and I am actively taking steps to pursue that calling. When I am focused solely on myself, I often feel powerless and inconsequential, but taking a “bigger picture” perspective and believing that the decisions I make have a real impact does drive me to do things with more intention. The choices I make often feel meaningful, as they can take me closer to or farther from fulfilling that purpose.
What’s your biggest struggle right now? What led to it, and how are you moving forward?
My biggest struggle right now is self-discipline. Washing my dishes after every meal, exercising every week, reading my daily devotionals, etc. I struggle to maintain healthy, good-for-me habits consistently. And these things may seem small, but they have a huge impact on my larger goals. I start to view myself as lazy and incapable. I think part of it is that I have grown accustomed to having immediate access to basically anything. I can instantly search the internet for answers to a question, eat out-of-season fruits and vegetables any time of the year, ship an item to my house within a week, grab a coffee at a convenience store a mile away, see messages from friends instantly, etc. There are advertisements for all sorts of get-rich-quick schemes and having six-pack abs in two months. Instant gratification has become my norm, and sometimes I expect things to just happen with minimal effort. The truth is, we have to work hard for most truly good things.
I’m moving forward by giving myself grace, refusing to fall into the “why bother” attitude when I falter, and asking close friends to hold me accountable. I am not lazy or incapable, and I tell myself that. I reflect on what’s getting in the way and make the changes I need to set myself up for success. I work on one thing at a time, start with the easier ones, and build on my habits. Small achievements build momentum and motivation.
What do you want to spend more time working on, either personally or professionally? What’s stopping you?
Professionally, I want to spend more time studying organizational psychology and how I can apply my clinical knowledge to improve mental health organizations. Nothing is stopping me, per se, but I am slowed down by two things: self-discipline, as I mentioned earlier, and feelings of overwhelm that sometimes paralyze me.
To help, I am breaking it down into steps. So far, I have gathered information on articles to read, topics to research, websites to check out, etc. I also gathered some old textbooks that were recommended as helpful resources. I am seeking to network with current or former administrative fellows working in healthcare who have experience with research and application. My next step will be to create a specific plan for myself, dedicating time to work through the materials.
Lastly, I will seek out a professional mentor. In addition to many other benefits, a mentor can help me refine my skill set and guide me in its appropriate application. Some goals can be achieved in multiple career paths, and others might be achieved in other ways, such as volunteering in my community. My passion goes in many directions, and someone wiser and more experienced helping me determine where to focus my energy will likely help lessen the pressure of choosing “the perfect job” and lead to a more fulfilling career, regardless of where I end up.
How do you define being a successful person?
In my mind, to achieve success is different than being a successful person. To achieve success is to reach one’s goal. Being a successful person requires so much more than that. It is beyond the box of financial and vocational status that Western society might suggest. It encompasses one’s relationships and emotional well-being. Caring about grades but not so much that one neglects their friends, working to make money without sacrificing a marriage, and learning a skill for fun without letting it become all-consuming. Eating one’s fruits and veggies, and an occasional slice of cheesecake. Getting off the couch and away from screens to exercise, but not refusing the usefulness of technology or taking steroids to perfect an image. Going to church and believing in something bigger than oneself, without judging others and forgetting to love. I believe being a successful person means being at peace with oneself and finding a healthy balance in all areas of wellness.
If we traveled three years into the future of your life, what do you want to achieve? What would you hope has changed?
I want to achieve systematic change for people in some capacity or another. I want to be involved in creating or improving training resources, developing program curricula, and/or providing community education on various mental health topics. I would love to be working in a capacity that empowers people and promotes positive change. What I hope will be different is people’s receptiveness to doing just that. Change is difficult, and even when all the research points to how something can be improved, people don’t always want to make the adjustment. I hope there is an increased desire and drive to invest time, money, and effort in making workplaces thrive, families healthier, communities stronger, and the world a better place.
What’s the biggest lesson or piece of advice you wish you’d known earlier?
I definitely needed more financial guidance before pursuing my undergrad degree. I had no idea how “cost per credit” could vary so dramatically from one college to another, and did not consider that at all when choosing a school. During undergrad, I worked nonstop and still couldn’t afford my classes. Also, I was aware of scholarships but did not apply to any because I thought they were all highly competitive and had zero faith in myself that I could possibly win one. I found out years later that there are thousands of dollars in unclaimed scholarships because people don’t know about them or bother to apply. I am still paying off debt from my bachelor’s.
Fortunately, I did learn that lesson for my graduate degree. I used tuition assistance from my employer, which covered $8,000 per year toward my master’s. I had to pay taxes on the tuition assistance, but overall, it saved me about $27,000. I also found a scholarship through Walden that took off an additional couple of thousand from the total cost. I paid the rest as I went, and slowed down when I needed to catch up financially. I came out of the program with zero debt.
In summary, the biggest lesson was to compare costs when choosing schools, apply for scholarships, and take advantage of tuition assistance programs if the opportunity arises. It makes a huge difference.
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