We recently connected with Michael Chester and have shared our conversation below.

Michael, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

First of all, I would like to say how grateful I am that I get to share this story. Interesting enough, answering this question transparently, even today, presents itself as a risk in my brain. Fortunately for me, the same value that helped me make room for the risk in the story I’m about to share is the very same value that is helping me get this out–despite the perceived risk in doing so.

To add some context, throughout my life I have been presented with many challenges. The loss of loved ones from a young age, family addiction, and a handful of my own unhelpful choices made the first 21 years of my life not the smoothest. Stability, serenity, and self-esteem at the time were far reaching ideals that seemed unobtainable. At 21, armed with no income or assets, self-doubt, and a handful of beliefs that I couldn’t achieve what others appeared to achieve with ease, I decided to make a change.

Gifted with desperation, I turned to Licensed Professionals for help. What happened next in my life wasn’t anything short of a miracle. Working with these professionals, I started to buy into the ideas and concepts that were being presented to me. Their empathy, genuineness, and warmth created a space where I could open up to new ideas and ways of living. I began to believe, for the first time in my life, that I just might be able to do something meaningful, to create a life that was full of fulfilment and joy. And then I thought, if I can do it, then I can show others they can do it too! This thought was powerful.

This leads me to the risk! The risk of failure. The risk of not being good enough. The risk of coming up short. The risk of committing time and effort into something that might just be unachievable for someone with my history. What if I try and give it everything I have and fail? What does that say about me? These thoughts followed me consistently throughout my journey. If they (these thoughts) had to leave before I started working on my dream (soon to be goal), I never would have started. These unhelpful thoughts followed me consistently.

In 2014, I decided to pursue my goal of becoming a Licensed Therapist. Armed with a criminal record, a GED, and no money, I started working on my goal to become a therapist. Being a logical man, I called the licensing board and asked them if I could get a license with a criminal record. What they told me was my first big challenge.

They said: ” The only way to find out if your record prevents you from getting your license is to submit an application.” Well, just in case you don’t know, in order to submit an application you had to meet the requirements. That meant I needed a Master’s Degree, a passing board exam score–to name a few– just to find out if this would work.

At that moment, part of me wanted to quit and just throw this dream into the “another thing I can’t do because of my history bucket.” The thought of going to school for 7 years to be told no terrified me. And that’s when I had the thought: If I can do this, then I can show others they can do it too! My commitment was made and I decided to push on.

After two years at a technical college (Trident Tech), getting my Bachelor’s Degree from the College of Charleston, then getting my Master’s from The Citadel, I took my board exam and passed. At the same time, I was gathering everything I needed to submit my application for licensure. By this time, I had written more “please don’t judge me by my past” letters than I could count, and this time I was writing my most important one. After submitting my documents, the board told me that I would need to meet with them to go over my case. I was terrified, fearful, and full of doubt.

A week or so before my board meeting, I received an email. The email read something on the lines of: “Thank you Mr. Chester for submitting your application. The board has decided to grant you your license and you will not be required to attend the board meeting. Congratulations, you are a Licensed Counselor!

I am overcome with emotion thinking about this moment now, and as I read that email in my kitchen, my legs barely held me up as I leaned on the counter for support. I took about 5 minutes to cry by myself before calling my wife and family to let them know the news. All of my hard work paid off. More importantly, I knew that my story would show people that if I can do it, then they can too! That is the value that guided me, and that is why I am grateful I get to share this story today!

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

My name is Michael Chester and I am the Owner of Everest Therapy Solutions (ETS). ETS is a small therapy practice in Charleston, SC. I am one of three therapists. We have a rockstar team full of genuine, warm, and empathetic therapists dedicated to helping others create the life they truly want to live! We specialize in treating anxiety, depression, and substance use.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

In the words of Luke Combs: “I’d still be doing this if I wasn’t doing this.” I love this profession and there is no job I would rather do. The gratification I get to be a small part of someone’s life changing journey is a gratification I wouldn’t give away for the world. Helping others and making the world a better place is so important to me, and this is the way in which I have chosen to contribute. I genuinely wake up with gratitude that this is my life!

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

I believe what is most helpful for succeeding in my field is the same thing anyone can use to create success in any field: Bring more value than you expect to receive and in doing so you will receive more than you ever will give!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.EverestTherapySolutions.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EverestTherapySolutions/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-chester-ma-lpca-157381185