Today we’d like to introduce you to Ina Gould MS, LPC, CCTP.
Hi Ina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My professional career began as a teacher in Bronx, New York. I taught elementary and middle school for seven years before moving to Pennsylvania in 2008. I had a tremendous passion for working with inner city youth and often would spend time helping them through social and emotional issues during my lunch hour and breaks. I moved to Pennsylvania in 2008 and shortly afterwards enrolled in Kutztown University to complete my masters degree and become certified to teach in Pennsylvania. During that time, I realized that my passion for helping extended beyond being a classroom teacher and changed my concentration to Mental Health.
While accumulating my 3000 clinical hours to become a licensed professional counselor, I had wonderful mentors who helped shape me as a counselor and leader. I opened my private practice in December of 2021. Since then, I have had the privilege of working with other counselors who share the same passion I have for helping others and guiding clients on their personal journey of healing.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not always been a smooth road as I am not a business person, I am a counselor. As my business has expanded, I have had to learn to seek help in areas where I struggle. I have learned on the way that it is okay to ask for help and I do not need to know everything. It has been a humbling experience.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I opened my private practice in December of 2021. As a survivor of complex trauma, I am aware of the difficult journey that is necessary to achieve healing. While my clients do not know my story, I can empathize with them on a very deep level as I have walked this journey of healing myself. I know first hand that while trauma is a reality, so is resilience.
I often will incorporate psychoeducation into my sessions because I want my clients to know what I know about trauma. This enables them to be empowered in their lives and build on their resilience. Each of our offices have a white board to aid in this teaching. I also believe that it is equally as important to provide a comforting and inviting office space that is warm and welcoming for our clients.
I am a certified trauma trainer through Starr Commonwealth and the counselors who work in my practice have attended my training and are certified trauma specialists. I believe in order to be an effective counselor, we must be life long learners, always pushing ourselves to be better and learn more. Our clients greatly benefit from this. In addition to one on one supervision, twice a month my staff attend a one hour professional development meeting where in we share new learning with one another.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I generally advise others, when seeking a mentor, to find one whose values align with your own.
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