We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Megan Samuels a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Megan, appreciate you joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
My parents instilled in my having a strong work ethic and drive to continue learning and growing in my career and as a person. That is something that I am grateful for and that I continue integrating into my work as a therapist.
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 wasn’t sure I always wanted to be a mental health therapist. I started out in college wanting to be a doctor. I knew I wanted to help people and to make a difference in the lives of others. The coursework was challenging for me and I thought about what else I could do with my passion for wanting to help others. My favorite class in high school was AP psychology so I decided to declare my major as psychology. Throughout college, I worked in various mental health and public health organizations that solidified my decision to continue with either a graduate degree in social work or in public health. I seemed more aligned with the direct client work so I decided to move forward with a masters in clinical social work.
I have had some amazing teachers and mentors who have helped me figure out my true passions for treating trauma disorders and eating disorders. There is nothing else I would rather do.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
The most helpful thing for succeeding as a therapist is listening to your clients and letting them lead. I have learned that I can take all the trainings in the world but being with a client and being a witness to their experiences is the way to allow someone to heal and feel seen.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Establishing a niche within the field. Not a lot of therapists specialize in treating both eating disorders and trauma.
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