We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Monica E. Alharazim a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Monica E., 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 worked in a public sector job for 14 years. I believe that I learned some of my greatest lesson on how to manage my practice and how to treat people on this job. I always new the moment I stepped foot into the place, that this was a stepping stone for my life. While, I was there planned my exit. I knew that one day I wanted to own my own private practice. While there, I earned my Certification in Rehabilitation Counseling, earned my License in Professional Counseling, all while tirelessly completing my PhD in Counseling Education and Supervision and establishing my private practice.

While working for public sector, I moved from Counselor to a Specialist Position, that afforded me the opportunity to train counselors within my unit and lead a group of other specialist. I will admit towards the end of my career there I became very comfortable within my position. Even though, I was in a space where I had completed my terminal degree and worked in partial private practice for myself. One Sunday, I was worshipping with my cousins at their church and the minister said in sermon “Sometimes God will make things uncomfortable, because in comfort you will not move and grow”.

The next week, I found myself in my boss’s office. There was a complaint from someone on my team that I lead. I remember being in the office with my boss and team member in a meeting I did not understand the issues this person had with me. As, I am listening and watching this person actions, I zoned out completely. I zoned out so much, that I just remember my boss calling my name several time to get my attention. While zoned out I was thinking about the sermon, I had heard two days prior about how God makes things uncomfortable sometimes. I was totally uncomfortable with this situation. The issue was that I set a boundary that I would no longer be responsible for doing that person’s job and mine. Their reaction was retaliation.

Needless, to say this situation went further than it should have gone all without me being advised by anyone. I remember receiving a call from someone in HR whose job was to investigate my team members allegations. I spoke with the HR person, sent in all my evidence to the contrary of what the person was alleging. I was hurt, by my boss who I felt like I had their back way too many times and by my team member who I spent most of day doing their work that they did not understand how to do.
After having a meeting with us both, the HR person said to me, “Dr. Jackson (I was not married at this time) you are the most professional person I have ever spoken with in your region. We have to recognize when we have outgrown the space we are in and how that affects peoples view of you. The problems that this person has with you appears personal and has nothing to do with work.”

The lesson to this story is…

I knew at year 10, it was time for me to go. I was afraid of what life would look like on the other side (self- employment). I was way too comfortable! I had outgrown a space that no longer served me. For about a year (during the pandemic), I continued to work and save. My now husband and I purchased a home and got married. I walked away from my job at the beginning of December 2021 fully vested (with a retirement check coming one day) and a private practice that was in business for 6 years.

It was the best decision of my life to leave. I am no longer overworking for other people. I have a team of people that work for me, and we work in peace and happiness. iWin Counseling is thriving. I am evolving. I am living the life I once dreamed of.

You may be in a space where you are uncomfortable. You may not understand what is going on and why things are happening. Maybe you are uncomfortable because you have outgrown the space you are in and there is something GREATER for you.

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?

I am Monica E. Alharazim. I was born and raised in Detroit, MI and currently reside and own a Private Practice located in the State of Texas. I am a self-motivated and organized Licensed Professional Counselor (Texas LPC License #71153, Louisiana License #8275, & Michigan #6401018836), Texas Board Approved Supervisor and a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. I earned my Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision from Walden University in the Fall of 2019. Dissertation: “Factors Contributing to Burnout Levels among Public Sector Rehabilitation Counselors”. I earned my Masters of Science Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Southern University of Baton Rouge. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Dillard University in New Orleans, LA with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. I was educated in the Archdiocese of Detroit Catholic School System and graduating from Mercy High School in Farmington Hills, MI.

I have provided counseling services to clients dealing with a wide range of concerns, both physical and ​mental. I am an active listener that has the ability to adapt to various environments and clients
with different life circumstances. I enjoy working with teens, young adults, and adults. I have experience working with clients on a wide variety of issues. Examples include: depression, anxiety, trauma, professional burnout, stress management, self-esteem, career counseling, couples counseling, marriage and family issues, grief, and loss.

I have 14 years of experience as a Rehabilitation Counselor for Public Sector Vocational Rehabilitation
Services. I counsel, guide, and advocate for individuals with both physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. As a CRC, I also provide Vocational Expert Testimony. Moreover, I have experience working in a Domestic Violence Shelter and a Women’s Rehabilitation Center. I have 6 years of experience in Private Practice.

I believe that counseling can be a vital stepping stone during certain seasons of our lives.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

Yes, I would choose being a psychotherapist a hundred times over. This is more than just work. For me helping people is ministry. My calling is to help people through therapeutic practice grow and adjust.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think the one thing that has helped me grow and being my reputation is being authentically myself. I just a Detroit Girl who is authentic and real in my space.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.iwincounseling.com
• Instagram: @dralharazim and @iwincounseling
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iWinCounseling
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-e-alharazim-phd-lpc-s-crc-237abb79/

Image Credits
JRMH Photos (All others) Kenisha Lacy (Tshirt Pictures)