The moment pictured above was a very special one for me, as it was the culmination of a wild journey of diving headfirst into the unknown.

I wanted to share a little bit more about my journey into the field of mental health and becoming a professional psychotherapist. It was a long and winding road for me to get here, and if you have aspirations for learning more about the field or maybe joining it yourself, please let me be the first to tell you that it is possible at any age and with any professional background. In fact, I think having a unique history allows you to bring added benefits that will serve both you and your clients well.

I didn't start my career in mental health. I studied political science in undergrad and wanted to work in politics to help change the world. I got my start working in political media before transitioning into government relations, and along the way I had the opportunity to explore other areas like grassroots advocacy and non-profit management. It was an exciting path I was following, but deep down I also had other interests that seemed to call to me more and more as the years went on. I had been working in politics for almost a decade when the scales tipped towards finally taking a giant leap of faith.

I had always been interested in mental health, and after working with a really special counselor while I was in college, a seed was planted in my mind. Talking to her helped glue me back together during one of the most painful and anxious chapters of my life, and I was amazed at how our simple work together changed me. I remember thinking about what an incredible gift I had been given, and the idea that I might learn how to give this gift to others ruminated in my head from then on. Over the years, I stayed curious about becoming a therapist and would investigate it from time to time, but it always felt a little too far out of reach. I had ideas that held me back…like I had gone “too far” down another path, I “couldn’t afford” to give up my job and pay for grad school, I was “too old” to start over…the list went on.

Then, as I was working in an amazing government relations job with a team of wonderful people who I still miss dearly, the stars aligned and gave me an unmistakable call to action to go back to school. A little while earlier, I had gotten in touch with the University of Tennessee College of Social Work, and I pretty much knew upon meeting with a professor there that this was my path. But yet again, a ton of logical, illogical, and financial worries set in that held me back just enough from committing.

That’s when opportunity came calling, and even the most skeptical side of me wholeheartedly believed I had to follow through with this dream. I received an opportunity to partially fund my first year of social work studies through an internship grant position at the Vanderbilt Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities program. Knowing I would get to study such a fantastic part of the field and receive financial support illuminated the path for me, and there was no turning back!

Any leap of faith is hard, but I can tell you that this one was worth it in ways that words fail to capture. I loved working in government relations and politics, but the persistent voice in my head calling me to mental health was there for a reason. If you have a voice speaking to you like that, I hope you listen, even if it is asking you to go on a crazy journey that perhaps many around you won’t understand. When I look back on my graduation pictures, it confirms the worthiness of making wild and life changing decisions when your gut tells you the time is right.

Is there a part of you that you're ignoring because it seems to risky or outlandish to follow your desire? Consider giving that side of yourself 5 minutes to speak this weekend and journal any thoughts or insights that arise.