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FAMILY THERAPY MAGAZINE
In August 2016, I moved to the state of Kentucky. I was required to apply for licensure in a new state with new policies and requirements. My old supervisor once encouraged me to review licensure policies in states in which I was interested in living after graduation. This was great advice. Unfortunately, I never thought I would move to Kentucky! I was required to provide proof of active Ohio licensure, clinical hours, supervision hours, and passing the national exam. I had to contact old supervisors, review old clinical logs, and contact my former state board. It was a tedious process and my application was deferred initially for lack of appropriate documentation. I remembered more advice from my former supervisor: save everything! Luckily, I had done a good job at maintaining my records and was able to provide required documents to the state board. In October 2016, I was fully licensed as a marriage and family therapist (LMFT) in the state of Kentucky.
Finding a job
I grew up believing that finding a job was the ultimate goal of education. As a first generation Black college student, and the first person in my immediate family to attend graduate school and obtain a PhD, I was constantly being asked what I would do when I finished school.
What kind of job would will you have? How much money will you make? Would all these years in school actually payoff? I remember being extremely frustrated by these questions as a student. I was taking classes, working on multiple research projects, seeing clients in two locations, and working part time and the main thing people asked about was when I would get a “real” job. I had a real job, being a student, being a therapist in training, and working part time...these are real jobs! I wanted to put it on my Facebook page or leave it as my voicemail message, anything so people would stop asking the same questions and invalidating the hard work I was doing in the moment. Still, I realized their concerns were also valid.
One day I would finish school and need to be employed.
I couldn’t be a student forever, but I was not sure exactly what path I would take post-PhD. Would I be “just a clinician”? A researcher? A professor? As I was making
this decision, I remembered a piece of advice I received
at a career retreat for minority graduate students: “You should have more than just a job, have a vocation—a calling.” It was a difficult decision. One that boiled down to what I wanted to be able to do, not simply what my “title” and pay would be. I knew that I wanted to advance the profession. I had a strong desire to make therapy accessible and relevant to those who did not traditionally attend therapy. I also wanted to provide good therapy and help others provide good therapy for clients. These goals pushed me to consider a career in academia. I applied
to faculty positions in marriage and family therapy and human development and research positions focusing on youth and family mental health.
“I have always believed
that context was important.
It is impossible to separate an individual and their circumstances from the context in which they are embedded. Families are one of the most important contexts in which people are embedded, especially young people.
Being in the job market was consuming and required a
lot of time. However the hard work paid off. In August 2016, I began my new position as an assistant professor
of marriage and family therapy at Louisville Seminary. Currently in my position, I teach and supervise master’s level students in MFT. I love my job. I am training the
next generation of clinicians to help focus on holistic wellness—mind, body, and spirit. My position also gives me the opportunity to set aside time to continue to engage in scholarly work and research, which I also enjoy. As a new professional, I am excited to begin my career at an institution that is dedicated to training leaders to serve others. I am also excited about future opportunities to continue my own clinical practice in a new state.
Why I chose marriage and family therapy
I chose to become a marriage and family therapist because families are the primary context in which we develop. From the beginning of my academic career, I have always believed that context was important. It is impossible to separate an individual and their circumstances from the context in which they are embedded. Families are one of the most important contexts in which people are embedded, especially young people. For this reason, the field of marriage and family therapy resonates with me in a very personal and profound way. I shared at the beginning that I did not want to be a therapist. More specifically, I did not think I could be a good therapist, especially not a family therapist. My personal
life and family history made me think I had little to offer struggling families. However, throughout my academic and professional career, I have learned that those experiences have served to shape me into the woman I am today and allow me to bring a sense of authenticity into the classroom and the clinic. The mental health field has grown to be very diverse, full of multiple disciplines and approaches to help promote the overall health of those we serve. I am grateful to be a part of this field. I am even more grateful to hold
a professional identity that honors the relational nature of humanity and works to promote both individual and collective well-being.
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