Graduation/Degree:
B.A. Clinical Psychology, Philosophy & Professional Communication supports, Alverno College, May 2001
M.S. Clinical Psychology, WSPP
WI School of Professional Psychology, January 2006
What I do: Substance Abuse Counselor, Meta House
How I got my job:
After doing my practicum as a Lead Group Facilitator at Meta House in their Inpatient program for three years, I had finally obtained my Master’s degree. When I saw that they were hiring, I jumped at the opportunity to get paid for a job I loved doing for free.
Prior to starting my career as a Substance Abuse Counselor at Meta House, I was a Clinical Intake Coordinator at Aurora Healthcare in the Employee Assistance Program. I found out about this job while networking with colleagues at Alverno — Meg Pledl, Director of Counseling to be specific. She knew someone at Aurora and told them about me. I was interviewed within a week and offered the job right away. In this position I provided intakes, answered crisis calls, conducted assessments for clients, and assisted them with various services such as locating therapists, daycare, financial counseling and housing. As a graduate student at WSPP, I was the Lead Group Facilitator for Stress & Anger Management groups at Meta House’s Inpatient facility for three years. I have worked with Milwaukee youth and their families in various volunteer positions over the past eight years and also had individual therapy clients at Wisconsin Juvenile Corrections. I currently co-facilitate groups at The Healing Center, which is for women battling addiction and sexual abuse. I also facilitate a monthly Divorce Workshop called “Children in the Middle” in which I teach parents how divorce affects their children.
I recently completed my class work for my doctoral degree and I am currently working on my dissertation.
How I use my Alverno education:
I know it probably sounds a bit cliché, but I am sure I use all eight abilities daily, whether in my professional life as a Substance Abuse Counselor or my professional life as a Graduate school student. Alverno prepared me not only to be an excellent communicator, but also an astute listener. Examples include the individual work I do with clients or work in group settings and the numerous papers and presentations I have done for graduate school. (Note to future Alumna: SAVE EVERY PAPER!!! They come in handy when you’re writing your thesis or dissertation. It’s helpful to look back at your professor’s feedback...Don’t be afraid to grow. I remember learning that we had to e-mail our assignments to our professors my first year at Alverno and I was so overwhelmed and felt so out of touch, now in Graduate school I look forward to online assignments that can be e-mailed back to professors.)
The analysis ability is critical in my career as others (my clients) use me as an example of what is the correct way to communicate and interact with the world.
I help clients problem solve on a daily basis. I’ve learned that all situations have a solution, it just takes an open-minded person to calmly figure out what needs to be done and if they can do it alone, great, or if they need help, that’s fine too. I also learned how to ask for help at Alverno. I used to think I could do everything, but I learned the value of social interaction from group work conducted at Alverno and now I teach that to my clients. We don’t have to be Superwoman all the time!
How I define career success:
I define my own success by looking back at life’s obstacles and reveling in the joy of all I’ve overcome. My brother and my mentees are all attending college and they say it’s because they saw me do it. Nothing feels better than that!! I also feel successful because I am setting the bar for those who look up to me and I want all young women, especially minorities, to remember the sky is the limit and our opportunities are endless. If you want it bad enough, you’ll fight till the end for it and that’s what I’ve done all this time. My fight’s not over yet, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!
I also believe my success is being able to say I’ve had three professional jobs in the last eight years and I loved each job. When I found it was time for me to move on, I waited until I found the next job I would love and always kept communication with my old co-workers (great networking opportunities, letters of recommendation, and future job opportunities). My opinion is that money’s not everything, especially if you hate what you do. The money shouldn’t be what keeps you getting up in the morning and if it is, you need to be searching for a new job right after you get off work!!
Tips from the field:
Here are my career insights/suggestions to help someone who wants to do a job like mine…
You truly learn more when doing. VOLUNTEER (at as many places as possible) at a place that does what you think you’ll want to do or shadow someone who is already in your chosen profession.
Never burn any bridges and always try to make friends with everyone from the janitor to your favorite professor as you never know who can help you.
