My Becoming a Mental Health Counselor Journey

So, I guess I’ll start at the beginning. About 6 1/2 years ago, at age 35, I decided I wanted to go back to college. At the time I was working full time as an accounts payable associate, while raising 3 children on my own. I loved my job, so I decided on getting a degree in accounting. After 2 very, very long, tough semesters, I decided, I’m not good at math. I’ve always been someone who enjoys helping people so I decided on psychology. I also have a sister and nephew who are both Meth addicts, so I decided I would get a Bachelors in mental health and addiction. I loved my classes, and After 4 years of working full-time, being a single mom to 3 amazing children and attending college online full time, I received my Bachelors in 2019 from SNHU. I was elated but I felt like I couldn’t stop there, so in 2020 I decided to go back again, this time for my masters in clinical mental health couseling. At the time I was living in a hotel, none of my family would speak to me and they managed to turn 2/3 children against me, all because I was dating a guy they didn’t like.

Let me tell you something about my family. They all live together on 60 acres in what everyone calls “The Valley.” They each have their own houses but my mother is the ruler, it’s like a cult not a family. My brother runs a business there as well. If my mother doesn’t like someone, no one there likes them. If she doesn’t like what someone’s doing, no one there likes it. She knows how to manipulate and plays the victim always. She is a control freak. When I lived there, I was the only one to pay rent, even though I was the only 1 income household. My brother has never paid rent. My mother monitored who came and went from my home and monitored when I came and went. if it wasn’t a workday, the minute I pulled out of my driveway she was calling me asking where I was going and when I’d be back. My brother was allowed to live rent free, came and went as he pleased, and his house was a party house with people in and out freely all the time. It did not seem fair. When I met my now husband, he convinced me to see the truth, and we moved out of the valley. My mother was not happy about this, disowned me, spread terrible rumors to the community about me, and turned my 18 and 19 year old at the time daughters against me. I felt like my world had crumbled. Now it’s much better, we own a farm, have 2 vehicles, own a business, and she still hates me. When I say my journey has been rough, it’s an understatement, but I persevered.

This journey has been hard and almost unbearable at times but I have loved this journey. It has been amazing, rough, tough and fulfilling. Within the last 3 years I have endured losing a job that I loved, a heart wrenching breakup, meeting a new man that turned my life upside down, my family disowning me, moving twice, and having to build my life all over again, and still I managed to be in the final stretch of my degree. This adventure has taught me so much about myself. I am strong, resilient, determined, self sufficient, etc… now begins my journey with practicum and internship. I hope you will continue on this journey with me.