From an early age, I felt compelled to move into leadership whenever there was an opportunity. I was also called to help others, meaning I was an ambitious helper. That’s not an easy path. I’m sure you relate. Helpers are supposed to be humble and give out of the goodness of their hearts. I felt all of those things, but I also wanted to excel. I was willing to step up and manage others. I was willing to claim my successes and shout out loud when my teams won awards. I put my voice out there when others were not able to speak. I threw myself into the fray, time and again, because my passion and vision were bigger than I could contain.
There was success in that willingness to do things differently. My first management position was for a struggling mental health program that was getting ready to close its doors. I worked with my new team and we created innovative clinical programs that won awards. We were able to engage our clients and increase attendance (and clinician productivity), billing more than had ever been billed before. We became super-efficient, adding administrative team members and putting systems in place that streamlined a complex bureaucratic process. I loved managing this team, leading them to success and increased work satisfaction while preserving services in a community that really needed them.
As I continued my journey in management, I learned how differently each team must be run. I became well-versed on the hiring process, learning the unique challenges of managing helping professionals. I trained countless service providers, supervisors, and managers, providing mentorship and guidance at every career stage. I moved into the role of director, managing a large team and a multimillion dollar budget.
And then I burned out.
I knew I needed something different, but found that I would get tired just reading the job descriptions in employment ads. I was still called to help and lead others, but I needed to figure out what that meant.
I began working for myself and have now crafted a career that I truly love. I consult with professionals who are called to help others, providing strategy, accountability, and practical support for them to succeed. I maintain a private practice, providing therapy to those who have complex pasts and know they are capable of so much more. I speak on Embracing Leadership and overcoming Sacrificial Helping Syndrome (that pesky tendency many of us have – to give more than we have). I have a podcast, The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide, and have co-founded a movement to reimagine therapy, providing workshops and conferences for therapists. I am a Board Member at Large for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, which gives me a platform to support and advocate for California MFTs. I have found a way to step into my own leadership and I love supporting others to do the same.
