Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Megan Parkison. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Megan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

It is a tough marketplace to navigate once a student has completed their degree in professional counseling from a graduate level program. Many recent graduates want to go right into private practice or have a great idea for starting a new position in a newer program. While these are both great options, it usually doesn’t help the new graduate get the required supervision hours needed to obtain their professional counseling license, which is desired in the field both by employers and those seeking services.

The state requires a certain number of hours, which can be daunting and overwhelming for those who seek it on their own. Meaning, they don’t go straight into a position, such as in a community mental health setting, where supervision is offered for free.

This led me to my current journey of opening a practice to focus solely on providing direct supervision hours for license seeking graduates. I offer a discounted rate, flexible hours, and a high quality experience. I sought out the rigorous training to become an ACS, or approved clinical supervisor. This allows me the background and foundation to begin a quality supervisory experience for new graduates trying to navigate the world of private practice.

Megan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a Colorado native and have always been proud to be a part of this magical state! Therefore it was important for me to become credentialed to provide services locally to recent graduates. There are several very high quality programs in Colorado for a counseling education and it’s valuable to be nearby.

I followed my passion into the world of professional counseling as a way to feel empowered to help others. There has been times along my youth and into my adult life where the support of counseling has been life changing for me and the idea of providing that service to others was intoxicating! It gave me the motivation to go back to graduate school while raising a young family and working full time in a corporate business career.

The idea for clinical supervision dawned on me after seeing many fellow graduates struggle to find reliable and affordable supervision following the completion of the graduate program. Some students, like myself, went straight into a community mental health setting to obtain the necessary supervision as it is a part of the employment. However, as most know, community mental health jobs, as a new professional, can be daunting, overwhelming and underpaid. Meaning more and more graduates want to go straight into private practice of their own. They are eager, excited and ready for their journey. However, they cannot side step the supervision requirement if they want to be professionally licensed.

I am proud of my company formation because it offers a necessary service, as well as provides meaningful work for me. Coaching, mentoring and supervision have become my true passions in the field.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Something I have come to learn in my career and just being an adult in our society is that a hierarchy of opportunity exists; it is in fact real, and it is the face of all of us in some way every day. In our careers, our education, and our opportunities. Be it based on race, socioeconomic status, religious backgrounds, you name it. It exists, whether we want to face it or not.

I say this, because it has opened my eyes to know that not everyone has the same opportunities for success and advancement. Therefore it is of most importance to me to offer quality services for all, in an affordable and flexible manner. I work on a per supervisee basis to ensure that each supervisee has the experience they are looking for. I have learned that blanket policies, rules and governing procedures create inequality and I am trying to break through that red tape of post graduate experience for many.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Pivoting in life is absolutely vital to success in careers, education and life overall. We cannot stop the tidal waves of change that hit us, seemingly out of nowhere, so it is important to know how to swim.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cosupervisionllc.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganstrausslpccctpnbccacsc/