Meet Miki Anderson

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Miki Anderson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Miki, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

Honestly, I still battle with imposter syndrome from time to time. But I combat it by reminding myself that I have put in the work to be where I am. I am an expert in the mental health field, with the knowledge and experience to show for it. So I keep in mind that I have worked hard to get to where I am, and I deserve to be here.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a licensed mental health counselor in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and New Hampshire, with over 10 years of licensed counseling experience. I am also an adjunct faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where I teach Master’s level counseling students. I refer to myself as a neurospicy mental health expert because not only do I have the educational background and the work experience, but I also have my own diagnoses give me a bit of personal insight.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Empathy, patience, and self-compassion. It’s not easy to become a therapist or a professor of any ranking. To become a therapist, you must go to graduate school, complete a total of 700 hours in practicums and internships, followed by accruing as many as 3,000 hours in the field post-graduation, before you are fully licensed. Add to that a doctoral program to teach. It takes time and patience, as well as self-compassion as you go through the process. Empathy is a necessity in this field as well. You have to care about your clients! And that can be exhausting at times, holding that mental and emotional space for so many people in the day. This is also where self-compassion comes in. Take time for you.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I take time to sit outside and enjoy the stillness. Other times, I put on my headphones and listen to one of my playlists to decompress. My advice to you? What brings you joy? Make time for that one thing each day, even if only for 15 minutes. Make yourself a priority. You are worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://paxcounsel.org
• Instagram: @pax.cc

Image Credits

Miki Anderson