Identity

Gender Identity

While I am not a Certified Gender Therapist, I have experience counseling older teens and adults exploring their gender identity.

I am a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a gender-affirming therapist, and I support my clients on their journey every step of the way.

Together, my clients and I explore gender as a pivotal and contributing piece of their identity, whether they are in the early stages of discovery, struggling with self-acceptance, or transitioning to a new phase of growth and development.

Career Identity

Whether you’re 16 or 61, your life will be more rewarding if you’re making a living doing something you love. Or at least feel good about doing it!

You are not what you do, but if you want a career and not just a job or a paycheck, it makes sense to tie your interests and passions into an occupation.

One of the biggest questions facing a young person is

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Maybe the best response is, “What are my options?”

The biggest challenge for high school students when deciding what to do after graduating is that their exposure to career options is limited to their knowledge. Most kids who love animals want to be Veterinarians or marine biologists because that’s what their life experience or exposure to books or movies has taught them.

They know next to nothing about all the opportunities for supporting roles in those fields. The trick is to get exposed early to all the other possibilities, including creating the career of your dreams.

Instead of asking students, “What do you want to major in?” a better question is, “What do you want to use your time in college to learn more about?”

Be Like Dora – An Explorer

We don’t spend enough time and energy helping students prepare for what they might want to study in college. Most kids feel like they need to know which major they want before they choose a school, and given the cost of higher education, it’s no wonder there’s pressure not to waste time exploring in college.

To college or not to college? – What happens if college is not for you, and you’re over it after 12 years of school? Learning a trade or getting certified training in a specialized skill is as viable a career path as getting a degree. You’ll be able to enter the working world faster, and if you decide you hate having a boss, you can take the time to set up your own business.

Do your homework on yourself – The teenage years are the best time to explore your options and enter adulthood with your eyes wide open. The key is to get exposed to as many career options as you can before you have to start applying to colleges or post-high school training programs. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Get curious. Ask people what they love and hate about their job. Figure out what interests you most, your strengths, where you want to live, who you want to work with, what work settings you want to work in, where you find meaning, and what brings you joy. And define success – for yourself.

Let’s explore together – You don’t have to make all these discoveries alone. Working together, we will uncover what lights you up and helps you let your light shine bright. You will learn life skills that will stay with you as you navigate your path into adulthood, personally and professionally. We will explore which road you want to take – following your passion(s) or finding a problem that you want to help solve and creating a career option that makes sense for who you are in the mix.

Let’s get busy! (973) 433-5770

What’s next?

So, you have almost completed college or entered the working world, but you’re unsure how this “adulting” thing works. There are so many questions.

How do I know the right career move for me? What if I’m not sure I even want a job doing what I got my degree in? Do I have to get a 9-5 job? None of the adults I know are happy with their jobs. What’s the point in trying?

The biggest challenge for young adults making career choices upon entering the workforce is that their exposure to career options is limited to their knowledge. If you love numbers, you may want to be a financial planner or an accountant because that’s what your life experience or exposure to books or movies has taught you.

You know next to nothing about all the opportunities for supporting roles in those fields or entirely different areas that involve the same skill set. The trick is to obtain early all the possibilities – incorporating your interests and creating the career of your dreams.

Gain Insight and Exposure

Make time for creating a vision – Not enough time and energy go into helping young people prepare for how they might want to apply what they studied in college to a career. Most feel like they chose their study area before they had a chance to explore their interests. And now it seems like it’s time to get a job and repay those loans. But if you don’t envision a successful future, how will you know when you’ve arrived?

Do your homework on yourself – If you have yet to take the time to explore your options and head into adulthood with your eyes wide open, then now is the time. The key is exposure to many career options before applying for jobs. Ask questions, get curious, and ask people what they like and don’t like about their job. Gain insight into your interests, what makes you happy, what types of strengths you have, what kind of work environment you envision, and where you might like to be. And consider what you see as a successful life.

Let’s explore together – Don’t think you must make discoveries about your future without help. I can work with you to help you identify what excites you and allows you to use your skills meaningfully. Through our work together, you will gain life skills to help you find the right path to your personal and professional life as an adult. This path will lead to identifying a career option that suits your interests and capabilities.

Let’s get busy! (973) 433-5770

Happiness and Success Don’t Always Equate

Maybe you’ve succeeded in your career, but why aren’t you happy? You like what you do, and the people are great, but something’s missing. It’s not easy to go in daily, and you feel drained. Is it wrong to want more for yourself?

It’s hard to justify making a career move later in life when your family depends on you financially. Besides, you’re not a kid anymore, and you have no idea what else you might do that would make you happy and pay the bills. You wouldn’t know where to begin thinking about doing something different. But it must be something financially responsible that speaks to you.

Perhaps you never invested enough time and energy into discovering what kind of work would be most meaningful and rewarding. And it’s never too late to create a vision for a successful future.

Explore Other Options

Do your homework on yourself – If you are ready to take the time to explore your options and head into your next chapter with a clear vision, then start now. Before making that change, consider various career options that interest you. As you investigate those options, ask others questions and learn more about their jobs, including the good and not-so-good parts. The change you make should fit your interests and strengths, and you should consider the type of work environment you seek and where a new job might take you. Finally, consider what defines success to you, personally and professionally.

Let’s explore together – Nobody says you must do this alone. I am here to walk with you as we identify new areas that excite you about this next chapter of your life. Imagine the excitement of learning new skills that will make the journey more meaningful and rewarding. Finding the right path will enhance a renewed passion for your professional and personal life – making you feel alive rather than drained at the end of the day.

Let’s get busy! (973) 433-5770

Resources to get you started:

Try out the career roadmap tool here:
https://roadtripnation.com/

Try out the interest profiler here:
https://www.mynextmove.org/

Check out 700+ occupations here:
https://www.onetonline.org/