Joanna Sena LPC

I love this question, it allows me to share my own personal experience with my mental health journey. I know the stereotype with counselors is that they go into the field because they have issues of their own, and I do not disagree. We all need support, even therapists. I sought out help for myself when I was in college because life was becoming unmanageable for me. I could no longer run from my issues that seemed to be worsening over time. The difficulties stemmed from my experiences growing up caught up with me and were impacting every area of my life, to the point where I was unraveling and barely able to function and struggling with health problems. There were times in my life where I was unsure if I was going to make it or not. I often wondered if I was ever going to get better. I struggled severely with anger, reactivity and impulsivity most of my life and I have had many rock bottom moments wishing things were different. Through the therapy support I found along the way, my support system and amazing peers in my counseling program and the intention with meeting myself I have found more peace and liberation in my life than I have ever had before. I often tell people that mindfulness saved my life, and I truly mean that. Because I know it is possible to get the kind of support that can lead to a more freeing and meaningful life I find it to be my absolute joy and privilege to help others on their path to more healing. I know for certain I would not be the provider I am today if I did not take the necessary steps towards my own healing and getting mental health support. I am a better person for it and a better therapist.

There are two things that come to mind. One being that things are just increasingly expensive and it makes it harder for people to access the care they need. I understand the difficulty of barely getting by so I try to be very understanding with my clients when it comes to payments, and make flexible arrangements with them as necessary. I offer sliding scale and reduced price options with the intention of making things just a little easier. A little help can go a long way. The other thing, though I love that openness to mental health has increased so much over the years I understand that there can still be some hesitation to starting the therapy process. There can be a lot of emotional barriers and viewpoints that prevent a person to seek help. I try to make my process as easy and welcoming as possible. I believe mental health support should be an open invitation to all and an uncomplicated process.

When I started out as a novice counselor I was eclectic for the most part as I navigated my own professional development, trying to figure out what I like but took a lot of what I learned from my training in school working in a hospital setting, such as mindfulness, existentialism, mindful movement, experiential, holistic therapy and end of life care and dignity, with me into private practice. I ended up informally becoming the "mindfulness" go to person at my workplace and people would make referrals to me for that reason. Over time, I ended up getting more training in understanding the nervous system and working with the body, simultaneously while working on my own body healing and exploring with energy work and meditative body awareness. It has been such an enjoyable and meaningful process that has naturally evolved into the work I do now with my clients. I am currently expanding into more alternative spaces like Ketamine-assisted therapy and exploring more interventions there. I am excited to see where things will go. There is more still to come!

• Arizona, Licensed Professional Counselor, 23553