More Changes

A lot has happened in 5 months time...for starters, I got a new job! I work in utilization management now and so far I like it. I still do therapy in the weekends. I was also in a car accident a couple of months ago and it's been a nightmare! My mind is all over the place right now trying to do many things. I'd still like to write...not going to promise when but when the ball starts rolling you'll know for sure!

The honeymoon is DEFINITELY over :(

Well that didn't last...

The high of being licensed I mean.

Making my next moves is proving more difficult than I thought. Because of *private insurance*...they want you to be licensed for 5 years otherwise you have to be under the supervision of someone licensed longer than you have. I'm newly licensed so finding work in private practice will be kind of difficult.

They don't tell you any of this on graduate school. They sure as hell didn't in mine.

They say anything not easy is worth it...only time will tell.

I'll just keep on swimming :)

What is it Like to be Licensed?

Hello There!

It's been almost 3 months since I've been licensed and the excitement as worn off (unfortunately).  People have asked me this a lot over the past several weeks and honestly, it feels like this:

1. It feels like I've joined a secret society of mental health professionals.  I'm treated differently as soon as I say I'm licensed.  It kind of makes me mad that's the case because all mental health providers should be treated the same because we're here to serve individuals with mental illness.

2. It's a relief and rewarding to achieve a goal you've been working on for 6 years when you've been told it's take 3-4 years.

I have a NPI number and I'm working on coming up with a different counseling business name to put on my business cards.  I've also started working as a therapist on the weekends at the psychiatric hospital I work PRN for.  As usual, I'm a busy body but I need to re-engage in doing my online stuff. I'm getting there slowly mentally...I'm getting there :)

Be on the lookout for more updates and posts!  I have Blogger on my phone so there's really no excuse for me!

Take Care,
Kimmy :)

I did it!!

After many years of hard work, I'm a LMHC!!!

I'm so relieved that the process is over and proud of myself of this accomplishment.

Mind you that this is a much more subdued reaction from when I was notified two weeks ago.  LOL!

Lately, the question of the day is "What are you going to do now????"

The answer to that is, I'm figuring that out now.  A few things I know for sure:

• I want to re-engage in online therapy so I'm going to work on my e-therapy certification as well as redesign this blog, my website, and work on writing.  I'm going to have to schedule time to work on these things.
• I want to work on my CAP.  MUCH easier once you're a LMHC.  Shouldn't be to difficult...
• Get my finances back in order.  The aftermath is a Federal Disaster Area.

If something comes along, great!  If not, I'm okay (except for my commute but that's in my "things I cannot control" pile).  I've made things work for this long, what's a little bit longer?

I also want to add that I have the best friends, family, and co-workers a girl could ask for.  The congrats I received made me feel really good.  Anything is possible when you have good people around you.

If you're a registered intern, associate counselor, whatever, in mental health, my advice to you is...

“Never, never, never give up.” ― Winston Churchill

You'll be hearing from me a lot more :)

Take Care,

Kimmy

Just Keep Swimming

Right now I'm on autopilot...waiting for February to come. 

My LMHC Supervisor has agreed to meet with me the minimum of biweekly, which will help the finances some. Now I have to submit my application for licensure and complete the trainings the state wants me to complete. My LMHC supervisor resigning and my employer not honoring the LMHC internship contract I signed has me disillusioned however I'm going to keep it moving...that's all I can do...

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving.  I ate and slept a lot, which was nice. I continue to write, brush up on my Spanish so I can move to South Florida, and learn Korean. As usual, I'm a busy lady.

Just Keep Swimming...

Take Care,
Kimmy

Crisis Mode (WTF?!?)

These past two weeks have been one thing after another...

To make a long story short, my LMHC supervisor resigned. Next week is her last week. Now I'm spending $800 I was not anticipating on spending. I don't know how that's going to work out because I'm supposed to be paying my student loans and I'm slowly but surely being pushed out of my PRN job (I call it how I see it). I've been submitting my resume but only God knows when something will pop up.

I'm very frustrated and questioning my decision to get into mental health. My credit report cannot allow any more hiccups in my LMHC...I have long terms goals I'd like to achieve in the next couple of years (e.g., buy a house, start trading stocks again) but it's not going to happen on my current income/debt ratio...but I digress...

I have no choice but to keep on truckin...

I'm working on my book...it's going to be a relationship book...a compilation of posts. My goal is to have it published between the end of the year and my birthday, which is in March.

It's time to focus on making money on my writing. I suppose I can spend my weekends working on the app and book.

Initiate plan C!

It's good to vent...

Take care,
Kimmy

I've Been Working on Some Things...

Hello out there! :)

I've been a busy bee over the past month or so...

I've written two LinkedIn articles.  I'll post when I figure out how to do so.

I developed an app.  eTherapist...look for it in Apple or Android.  It's a work in progress...I just wanted to snag the name.

I'm also working on an ebook.  It'll be a compilation of some posts.  Be on the lookout for that.

I've been going to the gym during my spare time...I've gained a lot of weight.  Sucks but I'm working on that too.  Gotta do the self-care.

That's all I got for now...

Take care,
Kimmy