Amber MizeLCSW

From as far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a teacher. I use to play "school" with my childhood best friend and stuffed bears. Homework was even assigned. This dream continued until I took my first psychology class as an undergraduate student. During that semester I struggled with the desire to change my major. What happened to make the decision is that I realized that despite my own struggles I was experiencing that semester my college friends still continued to come to me to talk when they had a problem. I realized through this that counseling was my true passion. As a result, I changed my major to psychology. During an internship in my junior year, I talked with my field supervisor about the various options to achieve this goal. He encouraged a degree in social work which I agreed with after discussion. This led me to applying and later obtaining my masters in social work.

As in any relationship, I believe honesty is a key component of the therapeutic relationship. I only know what you tell me. If you tell me information that is not correct I will be hindered in my ability to help you. Therapy is a judgment-free zone. As such, I know it can be scary telling someone something you find embarrassing or feel a lot of guilt or shame about but in sharing these things the healing begins.

• Georgia, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, CSW006101