Chapter 5 – Building a Career in a Helping Profession

It never made sense to me that those who victimize others were themselves victims. Others like me can empathize with what others have experienced and feel motivated to help them.

Things had changed when I moved to Wilmington, not just in that I found love again but I got my life back on track. I started graduate school at the University of South Carolina - pursuing the Master of Social Work degree.

Upon my graduation, I almost immediately had a job as a Therapist at Brynn Marr Psychiatric Hospital.

I had the first experience of providing a direct intervention for a survivor of rape, who I will call Karen. She looked literally dead when I began the intervention, and at the end of the session, she was smiling. It was the most amazing thing imaginable.

This would not be the last time that I provided treatment for someone who had been traumatized in many ways, including sexual assault and rape.

Eventually, I got what I needed to be credentialed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and I could open my own private practice as a therapist.

I had been able to grow my practice fast despite having been in a “saturated market.”

This was success and joy, beyond my wildest dreams. I had gained name recognition in the field. I had truly come a long way. People were paying me to help them with a wide range of disorders and couples came for my therapeutic support.

This wasn’t just about success in a career but it was rewarding to be able to help others as I had healed so much.

Who could have imagined that the person with no social skills when starting college would some day be doing these things. More importantly, I had discovered love.