We recently connected with Cameron Gonzales and have shared our conversation below.

Cameron, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I’d have to say the biggest risk I’ve ever taken was choosing to shift my career path to something completely different than what I went to school for. In high school, I loved math, and solving number problems just made sense. When it came time to send interest letters to colleges as an assignment in 10th grade, I thought schools with good engineering programs would be a good bet. Engineering was never really my choice, it was my dad’s, but my 10th-grade self needed guidance and welcomed the suggestion. My 3rd year of college was when I really started noticing the disconnection between what I wanted out of life and what engineering had to offer, but I didn’t know what to do about it. I decided to stick it out and graduate, though, at that point, I knew I would never be fulfilled as an engineer. It was challenging after school; I felt like I’d spent years and money on something meaningless. I didn’t know where I was going. The hardest part of this period was feeling like I let my parents down, like all the support they provided me was for nothing. The most significant push for me to keep moving forward was knowing that I didn’t want to settle; it was about being happy. I thought back a lot to high school and being fascinated by learning about psychology. High school was the starting point for my love of understanding others; my childhood community was diverse and presented many different perspectives. What high schooler wants to be a psychologist, though, you know? It just wasn’t what I was taught to strive for. I also thought back to my job in college working with first-year students in a student counselor role and how so many students were nervous about a new life stage. I found comfort in realizing that I wasn’t alone in the world. I also kept thinking about how much I enjoyed helping those students transition to a home away from home. I loved the intimacy and connection we shared, which was so different from the cold and calculated life of engineering. Looking back, these experiences were major influences in my choice to take a risk and become a therapist. I had to accept that life is not a straight line but a road with twists and turns. Even during times of uncertainty, when I felt I was heading the wrong way, it was part of a much bigger life plan. When others might not have believed in me, I believed in myself, and I’ll never regret that.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My background is in engineering, but I decided to switch to therapy after finishing my undergraduate degree. I found therapy very similar to engineering in that it’s essential to understand the whole system and not just the presenting problem. What I didn’t enjoy about engineering is that it is very mechanical and impersonal. I love being a therapist because I work directly with people to help them find their own version of happiness. As an individual and family therapist, I work with individuals, couples, and families in a relational approach to life’s challenges. In addition to recognizing psychological impacts, it’s important to look at present-day and childhood experiences and connect them to current issues. I also put a big emphasis on working through trauma and incorporating this knowledge into future treatment. If I had to sum up my focus in a few words, my goal is to help people realize the connection we share as humans and how this connection can influence our lives. My work intends to confront the all-important question, “what’s stopping me from achieving more fulfillment in life?” While each client I see is unique, their search for joy is universal. What helps my clients achieve this goal, which I see as a unique trait to myself and my coworkers, is that we’re not afraid to bring our authentic selves and honest views to treatment. Therapy is not meant to be long-term; my unique approach often helps accelerate the work. My proudest memory would be my work with a couple on the brink of divorce. Our time together was not easy, but it has been extremely rewarding. They have grown into such a communicative and emotionally intelligent team that works together, not separately. Beyond my work, the biggest misconception I’ve noticed about the therapy field is that therapists only try to tell their clients how to live the “correct” way. My job is to help you actualize YOUR goals and desires. When I meet with clients, they are the expert of their own life, not me. I’m here to provide support for the life path they choose.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Genuinely listening to the client when they talk is an extremely powerful learning tool. Complementary to training knowledge, real-world client work teaches us one-of-a-kind lessons that can’t be found in books and workshops. When I can integrate my training knowledge while also holding space for a client and learning their unique story, I’m more capable of providing specialized care. It takes exceptional talent to balance technical skills with trusting the experiential process, which I am undoubtedly still developing. However, I believe it is an essential talent and worth my time.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

As a therapist, you learn a lot about people. After I started my graduate program, my perspective on communication and relationships was turned upside-down. All the mistakes and missteps over my years were highlighted, and a story of self-recognition began to unfold. I finally started understanding my influence on others and how unhealthy my outlook was on the world. This initiated a transition into a more attuned individual that continues today. Before this, though, I didn’t believe people could truly change who they are, which is silly now that I think back on it. Once I realized my unhealthy patterns, adopting a growth mindset became desirable. This is the work I do in every session with clients! Without the work I started within myself back in graduate school, I likely wouldn’t have faith in the therapy process and a belief that clients can redefine their lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://knotcounseling.com/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/camrgonzales

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Knot Counseling, Ltd.