We were lucky to catch up with Kyrstin Jimenez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kyrstin, thanks for joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?

I grew up in a relatively small conservative city. I began working as a soccer referee when I was 12 years old to get out of the house, be outside in the sun, and earn some spending money. I worked as a referee until I went to college around age 17. When I came back home for breaks, I started working at an urgent care clinic as an urgent care technician. I learned how to work as a receptionist and then learned to work on the floor by triaging patients, filling orders for injections, x-rays, and labs. As I continued to work, I continued to grow. I learned so much about how to stop someone from bleeding, how to be a solid assistant, how to predict the clinician’s needs in the room, and how to be a good team player. I also learned that the whole of each person is inextricably related to and intertwined with the parts of that person. Because of that, how people treat you has very little to do with you and who you are. It has everything to do with them and how they are within themselves. When people struggle financially, that affects their willingness to wait to get medical attention until it is no longer possible to hold off. I learned that when a person comes in and behaves one way toward you –kindly, with patience, and respect–and then changes their behavior for no apparent reason, you need to evaluate it and not take it personally. It’s much more likely that something is going on within themselves. If it has to do with something you did, you would likely realize it. I was once able to help catch someone having a stroke because I was able to take a pause and seek help when he started being rude and ugly with me out of nowhere. He was immediately sent to the emergency room and was saved from long-term adverse effects because he received the medical attention and help needed before it was too late. That moment impacted how I began to see others and how they treated me. Good, bad, or indifferent, the way others treat you has certainly got more to do with them than it has to do with you. Keeping that in mind may save some heartache!

Kyrstin, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a licensed professional counselor (LPC) who earned my PhD in counseling. I got into mental health and counseling due to mental health and addiction issues in my own family. I was inspired to help others who struggled with mental health issues or who simply want to talk things out with someone else. Often, I am used as a soundboard for how to handle parenting, dating, social situations, etc. I specialize in rehabilitation counseling, crisis and trauma and psycho-educational testing. I often work with children, adolescents, and adults. I work to help facilitate healing for people who are struggling in various aspects of life. Truly, I help people build their self-confidence and find healing within themselves so they can be the best version of themselves. I also work with my two dogs, separately, by offering animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and animal-assisted play therapy (AAPT).

I am most proud of the clients with whom I have the distinct pleasure to work. I am constantly astounded by the grit, tenacity, resilience, and strength people have. I am humbled that I am allowed the opportunity to help so many people to tap into those qualities about themselves. Professionally, I am also proud of the other counselors with whom I have been able to work at Clear Life Counseling & Testing. I am ecstatic when I am able to find other clinicians who are good fits for the high quality work we do. We strive to help each person who works with Clear Life to reach their personal goals with genuine honesty, integrity, and the highest quality of care.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Counseling is not an easy profession, though there is often a stereotype about being meek and mild. Other than training and knowledge, having fortitude and grit as a therapist are most helpful for succeeding in this field. If counselors are not in touch with the part of themselves that can do hard things and face the toughest of life circumstances, then they struggle to deeply understand and connect with clients. Hearing people share their deepest secrets, their most hurtful humiliations, the trauma they have endured, etc. can take a toll on a person. Counselors who have their own essence of fortitude and grit are able to hold the pain, to hear the hurt, and to process it in healthy ways.

Any advice for managing a team?

I would advise my past self to hire a strong office manager years ago! Once I made that commitment, I have been free to focus on marketing for more clients, learning more about business strategies, and finding new ways to grow my practice. I was bogged down with client billing, phone calls, and other issues that are better handled by someone else. There are some things that only I can do. I am now able to pursue more of those things and allow someone else to take over the details that I am not needed to manage.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.clearlifecounseling.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clearlifecounseling/