MY STORY

“What made you want to become a therapist?”

“How do you do your job?”

“I couldn’t do what you do…”

I am NOT a superhero. I have no cape, no super powers, nothing that makes me more than human. These types of questions are well-intentioned, but they come with an inherent bias that I am somehow better, more-evolved, self-actualized. The reality is that I am a human being who was born into a family, culture, society of human beings.

That may sound self-critical or as if I am putting myself down. I am proud of my story and my roots. I have come a long way with grit and determination, and—most importantly—with lots of help. I would not be where I am today without the assistance of mental health and medical professionals.

I was born with a predisposition for mental health and medical illnesses. I also experienced my fair share (and then some) of childhood trauma which led to the development of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. I dealt with a fair amount of depression and suicidal thoughts as well. I thought this was all normal. It was not until college that I found professionals who were interested in and capable of helping me.

I thought that I always had a strong will to live based on my personal experiences around death. In recent years that started to change. Between personal trauma, the global impact of COVID-19, awareness of the violent atrocities which happen daily in my city, state, country, world, changes happening to wildlife and the planet around me… it was all too much and was caving in.

I found myself wondering why I was here if I was powerless to change all of these things as well as my suffering. It became so helpless that I needed to reach out for help. Unfortunately, the experience of reaching out was incredibly challenging and fraught with obstacles. I was able to check myself into a hospital and find rest mentally and physically in order to jumpstart myself and rebound back into life.

Following that experience, I made a wish (in the photo above) that I would do everything I could with the breath that I have to make mental health resources easier to access. I feel that I owe a debt of gratitude to my fellow mental health professionals as well as to those who believe that therapy or even just support is out of reach for them or is not for them. If you are reading this, then my birthday wish is for you.