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Ethan and Colette (2.5 years and 6 months)

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Having my children changed me, dramatically. Previous to having them I was immersed in many destructive patterns stemming from traumatic childhood and adult situations. When my son was born I realized I had to change my lifestyle and, unexpectedly, this caused me to realize I needed some help. I turned to professional counseling and from there my life was forever changed.

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My first picture when I started college again in 2017

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From my work in therapy I realized that I needed to go back to school and pursue a profession that matched my internal values. I had been to college in the early 2000's, I had some great professional experiences, but looking to the future I knew I needed to do something I was passionate about. I've always wanted to go into a health centered field. I started at Oakton Community College taking general classes that would transfer to a variety of "health" fields. I didn't realize at the time that counseling was my calling.

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In late 2013 my son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Brining him to all the various therapies he needed exposed me to a lot of different helping fields. He had physical, speech, occupational, music, art, therapies, to name the main ones. Watching the different professionals help him make progress he might not otherwise touched my heart in a way that had me revisit my childhood dream of being a nurse. At first I thought this was the field I would go into, but I wasn't quite sure about it.

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My therapist, and someone I consider a mentor, Dr. Karla Steingraber, helped me sort out my life in a way that I had not thought possible. Gaining confidence, understanding how to manage my emotions, and learning to be driven by my goals, were all things I accomplished from therapy. This, combined with the inspiration I got from my son, caused me to realize I had an internal passion to help people improve their lives and cope with past traumas, so I officially started my journey to become a counselor.

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After I knew what I wanted to pursue I set out the goals needed to get what I wanted. With the help and support of my family, friends, and therapist I obtained my bachelor's in applied psychology from Loyola University in Chicago (online). This accomplishment was a major life achievement for me, not because of the accolade, but because it validated and constantly invigorates me to know I am following my dream to help others.

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After doing a lot of research I chose to apply to Bradley University for a graduate degree in professional mental health counseling. I chose Bradley because of their interest in neurocounseling and was so happy when I received my acceptance! My role as a parent will always be my number one priority but my role in my profession, as a counselor, is at the top of my list as well. I take a lot of pride in my pursuit to fulfill that role and plan to work diligently during my time in grad school at Bradley.