I’ve Struggled Too: Why I Became a Therapist

If you’ve ever felt nervous about reaching out to a therapist, I want you to know something before you even walk through the door:

I’m a real person, too.

I’ve had seasons where I’ve struggled.

I’ve experienced depression and anxiety. I’ve experienced trauma. I’ve had moments when I didn’t know how I was going to get through what was in front of me.

And those experiences are a big part of why I became a therapist.

My Story Started With a Love for Psychology

I’ve always been fascinated by people.

I remember taking my very first psychology class in high school and immediately falling in love with it. I loved learning about why people think, feel, and behave the way they do.

But it wasn’t until college that psychology became something much more personal for me.

Moving away to college was a huge transition. I had never lived on my own before, and the adjustment was much harder than I expected.

During that season, I experienced significant depression and anxiety and reached a point where I needed to move back home.

It was a difficult chapter of my life.

But somewhere in the middle of struggling, I found myself going back to the thing I had always loved: psychology.

I started taking more psychology classes simply because I enjoyed them.

And the more I learned, the more I realized that this wasn’t just an interest.

It was something I wanted to build my life around.

I’ve Been on the Other Side of the Conversation

Going through my own difficult seasons changed the way I think about therapy.

I know what it feels like to have thoughts and feelings that are difficult to explain.

I know what it feels like to wonder whether someone will judge you for what you’re experiencing.

And I know how intimidating it can be to reach out for help in the first place.

One of the biggest things I learned is that therapists are human beings, too.

We aren’t sitting across from you with all the answers.

We’re people who care, who listen, who learn, and who get the privilege of walking alongside people during some of the most vulnerable seasons of their lives.

That’s how I approach therapy.

I’m not here to judge you.

I’m not here to make you feel like there’s something wrong with you.

I’m here to listen, understand, and help you figure out where you want to go from here.

And Then There Was Birth Work

My love for psychology eventually collided with another passion I’ve had for as long as I can remember: pregnancy, birth, and babies.

Seriously. I’ve apparently been a birth nerd for a very long time.

My mom used to tell me that when I was little, before preschool and kindergarten, I would ask to watch my birth video over and over again.

Yes, you read that correctly.

My own birth video.

On repeat.

Before school.

😂

In elementary school, I remember watching A Baby Story before leaving for school.

Looking back, it probably shouldn’t have surprised anyone that I eventually found my way into birth work.

In college, I discovered the world of doulas and became fascinated by pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and the transition into parenthood.

It felt like two things I deeply loved—psychology and birth—were coming together.

And over time, I became increasingly passionate about supporting women and families through the perinatal season.

Why Perinatal Mental Health?

Becoming a parent is an enormous life transition.

There is so much joy, but there can also be fear, anxiety, grief, identity changes, relationship challenges, birth trauma, overwhelm, and so many emotions that people don’t always feel comfortable talking about.

I think one of the reasons this population became so meaningful to me is because I know how much it matters to have someone who can sit with you in the uncomfortable parts without making you feel ashamed for being there.

I truly believe God put this passion in my heart.

My work allows me to bring together things I care deeply about: mental health, pregnancy, birth, babies, motherhood, families, and helping people feel a little less alone.

What I Wish Someone Had Told Me

When I was struggling, I wish someone had told me that some of the thoughts and feelings I was experiencing didn’t make me broken.

I wish someone had told me that I wasn’t alone.

I wish someone had told me that I wouldn’t be judged for being honest about what was going on inside my head.

And, especially because my faith is an important part of who I am, I wish someone had reminded me that God was still with me—even when I couldn’t feel Him.

Sometimes, when we’re struggling, we don’t need someone to immediately fix everything.

Sometimes we just need someone to sit beside us and say,

“You’re not alone. I’m not judging you. We can figure this out together.”

That’s the kind of therapist I strive to be.

You Don’t Have to Have It All Together Before You Reach Out

Maybe you’ve been putting off therapy because you’re worried about what a therapist will think.

Maybe you’re afraid your problems aren’t “bad enough.”

Maybe you’re worried you’ll cry.

Maybe you don’t even know what you would say.

That’s okay.

You don’t need to have the perfect words.

You don’t need to have everything figured out.

And you definitely don’t need to show up with a perfectly organized explanation of why you’re struggling.

You can just show up as yourself.

That’s what I hope Blooming Roses Counseling feels like: a place where you can take a breath, be honest, and feel like you’re talking to an actual human being.

Because that’s what I am.

I’ve struggled, too.

I’ve had hard seasons, too.

And I genuinely care about the people I work with.

If I can help make someone’s life a little lighter, help them understand themselves a little better, or simply remind them that they aren’t alone, then I feel incredibly grateful to get to do this work.

If You’re Ready to Reach Out

You don’t have to wait until things get unbearable.

You don’t have to know exactly what you need.

You can simply start with:

“Hey. I’m struggling, and I think I might need some help.”

That’s enough.

I’d be honored to hear the rest of your story.