An Open Letter to 2025 — A Year of Opportunity, Growth, and Lessons

This was a year I had been waiting for, for a long time.

2024 ended with me graduating with my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in December. Which meant that 2025 began with me as a full-on graduate. Who would’ve thought?

From being a struggling student in high school, to not knowing what I wanted to do, to going to college — and now earning a master’s degree. That wasn’t an easy feat. And because it wasn’t easy, I gave myself permission to pause. To breathe. To celebrate.

At the beginning of 2025, I took some time off from the mental health field. I wrapped up the Student Counselor podcast, stepped away from the business-focused social media mindset, and honestly didn’t have a concrete plan for when or how I would return.

What I did know was this:

I wanted my own business one day.

I had already worked on my logo, branding, and business formation long before school ended. I knew what I wanted — I just didn’t know how I was going to get there yet.

And I knew I deserved a break.

So I took one.

Taking a Pause Before the Next Chapter

The months went by. I rested. I traveled. I had a hair transplant. And before I knew it, April was here — and it was time to think seriously about my future and my career in mental health.

Before starting to work as a therapist — whether through an agency or in private practice — I decided I wanted to take my licensure exam first.

Licensure requirements vary by state, but in Florida, mental health counselors must take the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) in order to become fully licensed after completing 1,500 supervised post-graduate hours.

Most therapists take this exam after they’ve already started practicing. Taking it earlier doesn’t change the supervision requirement — but for me, it made sense to do it first.

I wanted to take it while the academic material was still fresh. Before client work became more intense. Before life felt even fuller.

So in April 2025, I scheduled the exam for June 28th, giving myself about three months to prepare.

I studied 1–2 hours a day, about 4–5 days a week. I had a plan, and I was determined.

On June 28th, I took the exam — and I passed.

The relief was overwhelming. I remember screaming and crying when I got the results. Passing on my first attempt meant more than I can put into words, especially considering that I had failed the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) by one point the year before and had to retake it — a test I was required to pass before graduating.

This time felt personal.

I felt accomplished.

I felt ready.

I felt like the next chapter could finally begin.

Choosing the Path That Always Felt Right

So what came next?

Given my experience with the Student Counselor podcast and my presence on social media, I knew I wanted a business and a brand of my own. That had always been part of the vision — even back when I first decided to become a therapist.

But I also knew that going fully independent right away wouldn’t be easy. Florida has very specific regulations for therapists under supervision, and finding the right supervisor and office setup felt intimidating.

I explored options.

I spoke with my former internship site and supervisor. The doors were still open — which meant a lot and spoke to the work I had done there. I looked into other group practices and job postings. I was open to working for someone else, as long as I could maintain my own website and online presence.

But then I asked myself something important:

If I’m going to do all the work of building a website and marketing myself…

why not go all the way?

I wanted to learn the business side of therapy. I wanted autonomy. I wanted the freedom to make clinical and professional decisions aligned with my values.

So I took the leap.

Building It Piece by Piece

I started posting in local Facebook groups looking for office space. I reached out to multiple qualified supervisors. I asked questions. I trusted my gut.

By the end of July, everything aligned.

I found an incredible supervisor who believed in my vision and wanted to support my growth. I secured an office space with onsite supervision during my practice hours.

The pieces came together.

I already had my LLC, branding, and vision — so I built the website and launched.

By the end of August, Pro Counselors was officially live.

And I already had my first client.

All of this unfolded while I was also working full-time in a leadership role at a staffing firm — balancing the responsibilities of my career while preparing for licensure and laying the groundwork for my own business. It wasn't easy, but I did it.

Learning, Marketing, and Trusting the Process

The last four months of the year were filled with learning, marketing, and showing up consistently.

I transitioned my Student Counselor Instagram into the official Pro Counselors page. I launched a TikTok. I created content. I marketed both online and locally — meeting physicians in person, sending out flyers, and even “ducking” Jeep owners with business cards (if you know, you know).

And in just four months, with a small but growing caseload, I earned more than I would have working for someone else — based on the offers I received.

More importantly, I gained something even more valuable:

freedom, growth, and confidence in my direction.

I’m not where I want to be yet.

But I know I’m on the right path.

A Reflection on Dreams, Doubt, and Direction

I decided I wanted to become a therapist back in 2012, when I was graduating high school. I saw a psychologist for the first time then and took a career assessment that confirmed what I already felt — that this field fit who I was.

That same assessment suggested I’d likely want my own thing one day.

I didn’t know what that meant back then.

But the seed was planted.

It took years for me to even become a therapist — working full-time through undergrad and graduate school — but I made it happen.

It still surprises me how often some therapists (and even supervisors) discourage new graduates from pursuing private practice because they feel they “aren’t ready.”

Private practice isn’t for everyone — and that’s okay.

But discouraging someone from following a path they feel deeply called to isn’t empowering.

My entrepreneurial spirit led me to self-publish a book at 25. It led me to create the Student Counselor podcast and community — which even brought me therapy clients while I was still a student intern.

So why wouldn’t I trust that instinct now?

Final Thoughts and Invitation

My point is simple: chase your dreams.

Even when others doubt you.

Even when the path isn’t clear.

Even when it takes longer than you expected.

You are the pilot of your life.

You may not always make the right choices — and that’s okay. Sometimes that is the lesson.

What’s harder is living with regret.

So, 2025 — thank you.

Thank you for the pauses, the confusion, the spirals, the anxiety, and the uncertainty.

But most of all, thank you for being a year of opportunity, growth, and lessons — a year I had been waiting for.

Cheers to 2026.

If You’re Navigating Your Own Season of Uncertainty

If you’re an emerging professional feeling overwhelmed by career decisions, transitions, or the pressure to “have it all figured out,” therapy can be a place to process that — honestly and without judgment.

➡️ To learn more about therapy services for young adults and emerging professionals in Florida, visit the

Therapy Services page.