The Career
Every day in the sanctuary of my office, I listen to clients share their stories of overcoming and becoming. As a mental health professional, I have a supporting role in my clients' "movies."
Considering that the United States spends more on treating mental disorders than any other disease or medical condition, there's a tremendous opportunity to make a difference in countless lives.
As a psychologist, I'm engaged in the scientific study of the mind and human behavior. I rely on evidence-based practice in helping others—providing care supported by research. I have extensive training and experience in psychological testing and the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.
There are subfields in psychology as well as other careers in the mental health field, including psychiatry, social work, mental health counseling, and marriage and family therapy. I encourage people to understand the fundamental differences.
Counseling and psychotherapy are two common roles of mental health practitioners. Counseling generally refers to short-term intervention for acute problems. Psychotherapy is often of longer duration for chronic problems and involves changing an individual's thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and, ultimately, their overall functioning.
By conceptualizing counseling and psychotherapy as playing a part in peoples' movies, I love my work. There are occasional unpleasant and stressful situations, yet I feel truly privileged—every day.
One of the many realizations I've had as a psychologist is the unlimited number of hats one can wear. And as you will see, I've tried many.
There is a shortage of mental health professionals in the United States and worldwide. I created The Greatest Career presentation to inspire a new generation of mental health practitioners.