I was only 23 years old when I started my own digital marketing agency. At the time, the only real-world experience that I had came from my internship and a year of working at the Google company. However, since I had a no-fear policy back then, I did not hesitate to get a loan from my parents and create a startup business right from my apartment.
Since I was independent-minded (borderline stubborn), I told everyone that it would be a one-woman show. Apart from being the CEO, I would also play a digital marketer, customer representative, designer, accountant, and everything in between. My parents were like, “Uh-oh, baby girl. You might be chewing more than you could swallow. Perhaps get an assistant at the least.” However, I insisted that I could do it independently, so they did not push the matter and merely supported my goals.
Getting Hit By Reality Hard
The first challenge came when I was creating my website. (Yes, I took on the role of a web developer, too.) I had never made one before, but I assumed it would be easy, primarily if I used WordPress. The basic content was not too tricky to add, yes, but then there was also the logo, the professional images, the testimonial sliders, and other things that required coding. I had to give up on that in the end and hire a web developer so that my website won’t look like the work of a three-year-old kid.
The first project that I got was pretty big for one person. In my old job, it would take a team of three people to get it done in a week. However, since I wanted to prove myself in the business, I agreed to take it on without getting more digital marketers on board. The more I focused on it, the more I realized it was doable. And when it turned out well, I decided to accept more projects at once.
That’s when everything started going downhill. I found out soon enough that I was not good at multitasking. I was juggling three projects and failing miserably at them. Sometimes, I would even mix up the information, causing me to recheck everything multiple times. Then, whenever I would present my work to the clients, I would always feel rushed.
The next four months went on like this. I was making money and getting my name in the marketing world, but I was too exhausted to feel happy. Once I began to feel burnt out, I decided to see a mental health counselor.
1. What is the role of a mental health counselor?
A mental health counselor is expected to do the following:
- Help individuals, couples, and families deal with current issues.
- Encourage people to open up about their worries and thoughts.
- Assist clients in finding their life’s purpose and getting through their problems
2. What does it mean to be a mental health counselor?
Being a mental health counselor means that you help patients develop positive mental well-being and improve their lives.
3. How long do you have to go to school to be a mental health counselor?
If you want to become a mental health counselor, you will most likely need to spend more than 8 or 9 years at school. That does not include the number of years required for all the internship and training that you must accomplish in between studying.
4. What is the difference between a mental health counselor and a therapist?
A clear difference between a mental health counselor and a therapist is approaching a client’s problem.
For instance, a wife has been complaining about her husband’s anger management problems. If you go to a counselor, they will help the man find ways to curb and manage anger issues in business, life, and relationship immediately. But if you see a therapist, they will take a moment to assess why the husband cannot control his emotions.
5. Should I see a counselor or therapist?
In mental health awareness, it depends on what kind of mental help you need. In case you have new issues at work or home that cannot be resolved on your own, you may see a counselor. They can listen to your woes and sentiments and help you get through life, relationship, and business startup issues.
If you have been diagnosed with a mental disorder, though, you need a therapist in your life. They have been trained to talk to troubled patients in a way that they can improve their thought processes and behaviors. If you’re not comfortable with traditional in-person therapy, online therapy services can be a good option.
6. Is mental health counseling a good career?
Yes, mental health counseling is a good career. Aside from being one of the world’s rising professional jobs, it also allows you to help improve others’ lives and relationships.
7. Is Counselling a stressful job?
Yes, counseling can be a stressful job. The reason is that some patients may not be ready to open up about their problems from the first day. Worse, others may continue to lie about their progress when you talk to them, thus making your job more challenging.
8. What skills do mental health counselors need?
The primary skill you need to possess as a mental health counselor is having extensive knowledge about psychology or psychiatry and various techniques used for counseling and therapy. Your emotional intelligence should also be high since many patients cannot always communicate their issues verbally. Of course, you should be able to think critically and make people comfortable around you quickly.
9. How much does an LPC make an hour?
An LPC can make approximately $48 per hour.
10. Where do LPCs make the most money?
Licensed counselors make the most money in Texas. Their average wage goes over $60,000 per year.
11. How do I get into counseling?
A Bachelor’s degree in counseling is your introduction to the field. After that, you can obtain a master’s degree in whichever area you want to work in. For instance, if you wish to be a school counselor, you can go for a master’s degree in education. If it’s professional counseling, it can be a master’s degree in psychology.
It is also essential to do an internship in your chosen field and earn various counseling credentials in and out of state. Considering you want to further your career, you may obtain a doctoral degree.
Final Thoughts
Whenever I look back at that hectic part of my life, I cannot help but shake my head and feel embarrassed about my silliness. Did I think I was Supergirl who could do everything back then? Heck, even Supergirl enlisted the help of her friends most of the time to achieve her goals.
The mental health counselor I saw shed light on the fact that I wore myself out by trying to do everything independently. I won’t forget something she told me: “Even if you can do it all, you shouldn’t. Let other people share your load.” After a few sessions, I felt comfortable loosening my tight grip on the agency and hired competent individuals. I also earned enough money to rent an office space and buy a few desktops for my employees, so everything went uphill from there.