Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan.
Hi Megan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in the Central Valley in two loving households. Looking back with an adult perspective, I struggled intermittently with symptoms of depression and anxiety but didn’t have the words to describe what exactly I was experiencing. I came from a “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” kind of family, so I learned very young to push aside uncomfortable emotions and focus my energy on things that felt productive like volleyball, school, and friendships. I knew I didn’t like the way this felt, but also wasn’t aware that therapy was even an option. I truly thought it was just in the movies or for “crazy people”. When it came time for me to graduate high school and decide what was next, I took a big leap and moved to Monterey, Ca to attend CSU Monterey Bay. It took a while, but I eventually found my community and learned a lot about the world and my own values through relationships with people who grew up in different situations than I did. I graduated in three years with my BA in Psychology knowing I wanted to find a career where I could help people, but not necessarily knowing what that could be or a path to get there.
Shortly after graduating, I was hired at a residential treatment center working with teens and their families. There, I was exposed to very intense presentations of mental health and felt such purpose being able to support those teens through some of the lowest points in their lives. While working at this facility, I saw the role therapists can play in people’s lives and knew this was a way I could make an impact. This is the job that inspired me to pursue a masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.
While completing my master’s degree, I found myself working for a community agency supporting individuals on the Autism Spectrum and their support systems. Here I learned how advocacy and education are essential to dismantle stigmas against people who may think or act differently than the social norm. This role helped me to refine my passion for helping people into more specifically creating space for people to be their authentic selves. Even as a kid I would strive to make everyone feel included, but what became more clear while working with this population is that I really value social justice and will always try make the world more safe for people with differing abilities.
After obtaining my master’s degree, I moved into a group practice setting where I got to hone in on 1:1 counseling skills. At this practice I received incredible supervision and more specific training in modalities like Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). When I found out I was pregnant with my first baby, I decided it was time to branch out and start my own private practice–crazy decision thinking back on it! I welcomed my beautiful daughter in January while also starting my business. This year has been a bit chaotic with so much transition, but I’m so grateful for the stability and freedom private practice offers. I’m loving being able to be at home with my baby, while also being able to show up and support my clients in this season of their lives!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One wrench life threw into my path to becoming a therapist happened during my master’s program. I started my program in January of 2020, so essentially completed most of the program virtually. Like most people during this time, I really had to adjust to distance learning and often worried about the quality of the learning. Thankfully, the school I attended was very straightforward about the bumps in the road they were facing as they adjusted to distance teaching, so there was a sense of teamwork and grace while everyone was getting the hang of things virtually. While it was definitely a bummer to not meet most of my peers or teachers in person, it was still great exposure to telehealth as a platform and I think put me in a great position to feel confident as a clinician offering telehealth services!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a practice owner, I am proud to offer inclusive, accessible, high quality therapy for individuals and families that find me. People typically reach out to me for a variety of reasons including: identity exploration, learning coping skills to support with emotion regulation, executive function coaching, trauma processing using EMDR and/or Brainspotting, and support with relationships. I offer a neuroaffirming approach and genuinely strive to meet each client where they are at. I have no agenda other than to support each client with their self-identified goals. Sometimes, this looks like gentle challenging of engrained narratives or unhealthy choices. Other times, this looks like drafting a scary text together.
I want potential clients to know, I do actually care about you and your life! On our initial consultation call, part of what I’m assessing is whether our personalities would be a good fit in addition to whether my clinical experience is relevant to support you with your needs. I don’t accept new clients just because, I really value the therapeutic relationship being built on a foundation of trust and compatibility. If it’s not me, I’ll help you find the right fit!
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I work alongside a lot of other professionals in the field to support clients in all aspects of their wellness. This can look like consulting with a psychiatrist to learn more about a medication a client is on and provide a clinical presentation from my perspective. This can also look like collaborating with a client’s couples or family therapist to ensure our recommendations are aligned and following a similar path. When working with teens, I will sometimes connect with school counselors to talk about accommodations that may be helpful for them to be more successful at school.
Pricing:
- $190 for individual sessions
- $220 for family sessions
- Some sliding scale spots available
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mhcounseling.info
