We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stephen Adika . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stephen below.

Alright, Stephen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

Someone once said that every man is trying to live up to his father’s expectations or make up for their father’s mistakes. I fall into the latter category.

As a child, I believed my father’s absence in my life was my fault. Through the quiet battles of my teenage years with anxiety & feelings of not being good enough, my mental health became my focus. I delved into psychology, eager to heal myself, only to realize I had always possessed enough within me. This was a defining moment for me. From self-blame to self-discovery, I transformed my pain into purpose.

Inspired by this realization, I left Nigeria behind and embarked on a journey to America to train and become a Psychotherapist. My goal is to empower others and help them overcome their mental health struggles.

Today, I am filled with joy. I have a wonderful marriage, I am a proud father to an incredible daughter, and I have a career that ignites my passion—all thanks to the transformative power of self-discovery, my supportive wife, loving mother and the guiding hand of God.

Stephen , 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’d be happy to share my journey of becoming a licensed therapist. It all started with my bachelor’s degree in Psychology, followed by a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. Along the way, I completed 500 hours of practicum and internship to gain practical experience.

To become licensed, I had to pass two professional exams and a jurisprudence exam required by Tennessee. Additionally, I accumulated over 3,000 hours of experience, with 1,500 of those hours involving direct client contact. I also received 150 hours of supervision to enhance my skills and knowledge in the field.

It was a rigorous process, but it allowed me to develop the expertise and qualifications necessary to become a licensed psychotherapist in both Tennessee and Indiana.

I now specialize in empowering aspiring and young professionals to overcome anxiety, depression, and relationship challenges while unlocking their full potential.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

Absolutely no. Being a therapist is both challenging and incredibly rewarding. There is nothing quite like the joy I feel when I witness individuals making significant improvements in their lives, and I am grateful to be a part of that transformative process.

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

I believe in the power of lifelong learning and the importance of staying humble. It’s a realization that no matter how much effort I put in, I cannot possibly know everything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stacounseling.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacounseling/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-t-adika-lpc-mhsp-09a688121?trk=people-guest_people_search-card