Three Years as a Certified Counselor: My Thoughts and What's Next

Wow, it's already been three years since I got my National Certified Counselor and Certified Career Counselor certifications! It's been a journey, and I've learned a lot. For anyone who isn't familiar, these certifications basically show I'm serious about practicing ethically and competently in the career counseling world.

Here are a few key takeaways from my professional life so far:

1. Always Be Learning: Getting certified keeps me accountable. It pushes me to stay current and always try to be better at what I do.

2. It's About Being Real and Good at Your Job: Certifications prove I know my stuff, but let's be honest, people often look for a counselor who seems authentic, sometimes overlooking the expertise part. We counselors need to help the public understand what to look for when finding a qualified professional.

3. My Theory Keeps Growing: Every counselor starts somewhere. For me, it began with being professionally curious and using foundational practices. To really sharpen your skills, you have to keep developing, practicing, and learning—solidifying your core theories while also being open to new approaches. I started with a social justice focus using cognitive behavioral methods, and I’ve since brought in narrative theory, somatization theory, and even Emancipatory Communitarianism.

4. Confidence Comes from Up-to-Date Knowledge: Staying in the loop with ongoing learning has really boosted my confidence. It gives me current, real-world insights that help me better guide clients as they navigate their lives.

5. Healthy Detachment is Key: My worth isn't tied to whether a client "succeeds." Early on, I felt responsible when a client didn't make progress, but I've learned that having caring detachment is essential for long-term, sustainable support.

6. Real Success for Clients: I know I've succeeded when I help clients build the skills and self-belief they need—when they finally don't need me anymore because they have the internal tools to thrive on their own.

7. Finding My Niche: Professional development has really helped me zero in on what I specialize in. I now know exactly who I want to serve and need to focus my energy on reaching them.

So, What's on the Horizon?

I'm excited to share that I've applied to work toward my Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) license! Career counseling will always be my main thing, but this next step is going to challenge me, expand my skillset, and give me more confidence in helping clients with broader mental health hurdles—which is becoming more and more important these days.

I also plan to get more visible and spread the word about my work within my network, community, and profession. Seriously, feel free to reach out and ask me about what I'm working on right now!

Finally, a big thanks and shout-out to the National Board of Certified Counselors Foundation and the Mental Health Academy—they're where I've gotten most of my continuing education. Keep up the great work!