‍ ‍My journey as a counselor has been both a professional and a personal calling. I first felt drawn to counseling at the age of thirteen. As an eighth grader, preparing to graduate middle school, I wrote a letter to my future self, stating that I wanted to become a therapist when I grew up. I rediscovered that letter several years ago, and it reminded me that my path into the counseling profession has been deeply meaningful and purpose driven. Reflecting on my growth in Liberty University’s doctoral program, I believe it has strengthened both my clinical identity and my leadership development as a counselor and counselor educator.
       Throughout my doctoral training, my clinical skills have continued to mature as I transitioned from an associate-level clinician to a fully licensed Mental Health Counselor. This experience has strengthened my confidence in clinical practice while also shaping my aspirations for professional leadership. One area of strength that has developed during this program is my ability to mentor and support developing clinicians. During the North Carolina Annual Conference, our licensing board presented on Supervision and the need for Supervisors in North Carolina. I was hesitant to see if I qualified, and it turns out that I will meet the Qualifications in a few short months (October, 2026). I submitted my application and received an email informing me that I had not yet met the five-year mark; however, I will soon! I am very excited about the potential opportunity to train and help clinicians and students alike gain more knowledge and bring good counseling to the world. An area of growth that emerged during my doctoral training relates to evaluating counseling effectiveness and implementing outcome-based practices. Prior to entering the doctoral program, I did not routinely utilize post-treatment assessments to evaluate clinical outcomes. Through the training and research expectations within the PhD program, I developed a deeper appreciation for the role of outcome measurement in counseling practice. As a result, I have begun implementing post-test measurement and outcome assessments within my private practice. Continuing to refine my use of evidence-informed evaluation methods will remain an important goal as I work toward excellence in clinical practice and counselor supervision.

My Christian faith is also deeply connected to my counseling practice and professional identity. As a Clinical Mental Health Counselor, I often view my work through the lens of service and calling. I frequently pray for guidance in serving my clients and seek to integrate Christian values such as compassion, humility, and care into my clinical work. At times, when appropriate and aligned with clinical preferences, I incorporate faith-based elements such as prayer into the counseling process. I believe that each client encounter provides an opportunity to serve others in a meaningful way, and my faith continues to shape how I approach counseling with purpose and responsibility.

Overall, my development throughout this doctoral program has strengthened both my professional competence and my commitment to serving others through counseling. I believe the combination of clinical experience, doctoral training, leadership opportunities, and faith integration has prepared me to continue growing as a clinician, supervisor, and counselor educator.