How it Started vs How it’s Going
You will not be surprised to hear a therapist say they have a passion for story. I have a passion for story! The human story in particular. It’s the common task we all have on this earth - creating, following, receiving, sharing the story of our lives. I’d like to share a bit of my story, if only related to my work life.
Early in my life, sixth grade to be exact, I realized as I took call after call from a rotating blur of friends with need for advice and dream interpretations, that I was gifted and designed to walk alongside others as they sorted through their story. I plowed through all the educational formalities and got to the doing part as quickly as I could.
The end of my schooling and first few years of my career was spent doing both individual counseling as well as day program groups of all sorts. What a sweet spot for me! I loved the practice I worked for and the group therapy modality. I imagined myself there all the days of my future. My story, though, was pulled in another direction. Due to some painful dynamics within the practice, I eventually decided to leave. After much looking and one quick blip in a terribly fitting hospital role, I started Morgan Counseling Services in my living room in 2004. I grew into my Grandma's church basement. Then finally I was able to rent my first office.
The problem was that I was an island. And I felt it. I missed laughing and playing with friends between sessions. I missed seeking accountability and bouncing theoretical ideas off another human. Then someone approached me after a public speaking engagement and asked if I’d supervise her. My supervisee got licensed and with time and attention, became my friend and eventually my companion. She and I do better work with you because we were just able to unload last night's burdens on each other before opening the waiting room door. I laugh easier, connect more deeply and grieve harder with you because she and I hold each other's feet in the ground. Over the years we’ve welcomed other supervisees, interns, renters and finally more licensed providers and developed a sweet group of women to love each other well as a foundation of loving clients well. And just this year we’ve introduced our first male counselor to the group - a much needed addition!
What I want you to hear is that I’ve been careful and intentional with every MCS decision, partly because I want a positive work environment but mostly because I want myself and other counselors to love coming to work and love working with you. And I put the same care and intentionality into the therapeutic environment I create for you in my office. I’m an Enneagram 2, which if you’re not familiar, means that relationships are the #1 most important thing in my life. My highest priority in life is being a safe person for others to find shelter in as they sort through the overwhelm of the grocery store or the profound depths of identity loss and meaning seeking. My approach to being human but also professional, is making myself available to connect with other humans. And I want you to feel blessed by receiving and taking part in that kind of connection.
I also know things. Things about life and coping and brains and human bodies. So it's OK to come for the skills, but I hope you stay for the connection! ;)
Jennifer Morgan M.A., LPC
