We were lucky to catch up with Becca Ferguson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Becca, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

I didn’t know that I was going to work in the mental health industry. Actually, I had no idea that mental health existed until I was in college. I was raised in a very conservative, Christian environment where we did one of two things: 1. Pray about it.
2. Pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and get over it.
There was not any room for processing the effects of trauma. We were meant to be self reliant in every aspect our lives.

When I graduated college, I was struggling hard with my depression. I started going to therapy to help with a recent trauma. While I was in therapy, my therapist suggested that I explore the idea of becoming a therapist. Shortly after this conversation, I had lost my job and found myself having to move back home into my parent’s basement. When I told him that I was going to have to move and had no idea how I was going to pay my therapy bill, he told me – “Go back home, apply for graduate school in counseling, become a therapist, and when a young woman sits on the couch across from you and tells you that they can’t afford therapy, you tell them that it’s paid for”.

It was an incredible and empowering experience having a person believe in me and see the power that I had in myself.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Becoming a therapist was never in the grand scheme of things. When I was in grade school, I was very involved in the church and planned to go into the ministry as a career. After college, I tried to go into ministry, but found that my passion for helping people was limited in that environment. I discovered that my personality was being blunted and that I couldn’t help people find their true autonomy.

When I was working as a youth minister, it was suggested that I go to therapy to work through some of the past trauma that I had endured. In therapy, my therapist challenged me to find my autonomy outside of the church. During our sessions, he asked me how I could imagine helping people. I remember telling him that I wanted to be an authentic human being that helped people discover the person that they truly wanted to be.

It’s difficult being a therapist, but so rewarding! I hear people’s darkest stories and brightest hopes. Throughout my time as a therapist, I’ve discovered that I can’t help everyone that wants to work with me. I knew that I could make more of an impact through educational online courses, my writings, podcast, and group coaching programs. I want to help as many people as possible and let them know that they aren’t alone.

Out of this grew “Tough Talks by Becca”. A nationwide coaching service to help people navigate difficult conversations about tough to talk about topics. I offer online courses, group coaching programs, continuing education, book clubs, and more!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

When people ask me who I am, I tell them, “I’m just a real life human being.” It’s a pretty simple statement, but it’s true! Who I am as a therapist or mental health coach is the same person that I am at home.

Starting a business can be a vulnerable thing and I thought that if I wore dress clothes and put on the face that people wanted to see, that I could get the business that I needed. I discovered that there were a lot of people out there like that and I knew that people needed something different.

People need another human that is vulnerable and raw that doesn’t mind talking about the tough stuff. My reputation was built as a person that is a human, therapist, and coach. I don’t hold back with how I talk or react to things.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, being a therapist is difficult. As a therapist, I hear the tough stuff that no one else really wants to hear. Sometimes it can be a lot to manage and can become overwhelming. I have learned what I need to do before I start to reach burnout and how I need to take care of myself to be the best therapist and coach I can be.

To answer your question straight – yes. I would choose therapy over and over again. I think that my whole experience has been wild, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything!

Contact Info:

• Website: toughtalkswithbecca.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toughtalkswithbecca/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toughtalkswithbecca/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/beccafergusonlpc
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/toughtalkwbecca
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@toughtalkswithbecca

Image Credits
Monica Ray Photography