Rebecca DeMello Egan

LMHC

I love this question because I love the path of how I got where I am today! I have always been interested in understanding why people are the way they are. In my youth, that interest manifested in things like criminal profiling, law enforcement, FBI books, and movies and TV shows of that nature. I was determined to follow that passion, so after graduating from undergrad, I worked and interned at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Georgia in the Behavioral Sciences Division, in hopes of becoming a Federal Agent. I then began my Masters in Criminal Justice and during that year while going through the extensive federal hiring processes, I worked and interned at the Department of Corrections Massachusetts Treatment Center with state and civilly committed sex offenders. Through that experience, I had the unique opportunity to get to know some people that society would deem as "the worst of the worst humans". I got to know many on a deep level and realized two things: 1) that I had a capacity for compassion and empathy that a lot of people may not have and 2) that nearly every single individual I came in contact with had dealt with some form of trauma in their life that contributed to who they became. That's when I decided I wanted to shift focus and work with young people to help make an impact and help guide towards a better life. So I got a job as a Residential Counselor working on a 24/7 locked unit with teens that had trauma histories, as well as severe emotional and/or behavioral issues. I was privy to a little of what the Mental Health Counselors did in their roles there and decided where my journey was headed next. A few months later, I enrolled in the Mental Health Counseling Masters program.

I spent five years working in the public school system with adolescents. I worked with a range of issues, presenting problems, and diagnoses. It allowed me to utilize evidence-based, solution-focused treatment modalities and become somewhat eclectic in what I've treated as a counselor, but also allowed me to find things I prefer to specialize in and clients I just generally vibe with more. I enjoy working with clients who are motivated for and engaged in the counseling process. I specialize in anxiety, navigating life transitions (like college, graduating, starting new jobs/careers, moving, parenthood, etc.), enhancing coping skills and emotional regulation, relational/interpersonal/peer issues, and managing stress. Since going through seasons of infertility, pregnancy after loss, pregnancies, postpartum, and transition to motherhood myself, I have gained a passion in these areas as well. This led to me pursuing certification as a perinatal mental health counselor.