Meet Michele Weber

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michele Weber. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Michele, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Growing up, I always wanted to be jus like my father: being a medical doctor in a rural place, doing good and helping people in need. So, I left my country Cote D’Ivoire after my last year of high school and came to the US to pursue my education. After graduating with a BS in Biology and a minor in Chemistry at University of Mass, Boston, I began my application to medical schools and taking the MCAT. After 3 tries, I never had good scores enough so that a school would accept me. I was crushed. I decided to seek help from my academic advisor who offered Social Work. I had no idea what it entails. My husband did some research for me and brought me what he had found. I was more than ecstatic with what I read. That was so me.
After obtaining my MSW degree from Clark Atlanta University, Georgia, I enjoyed providing therapy to children and their families. I loved my job so much that I decided to get a PhD in evaluation, so that I could evaluate my practice for the best outcomes. Looking for a PhD program, I ran into the Educational Evaluation & Research (EER) program at Wayne State University in Michigan. It sounded great and so I enrolled. However after my 1st semester, I soon realized that the program was more about Applied Statistics than Evaluation. As a matter of fact, I only took 1 class on Evaluation. But when I start something, I have to finish, so I obtained my PhD in EER.
With my PhD, I thought that my purpose was to teach. So, I taught at several universities such as Cal State Hayward, Cal State Monterey and San Jose State University, while I continued providing therapy in local agencies like EMQ FamiliesFirst and Rebekah’s Children Services.
After several years of teaching, providing therapy, and attending retreats at my church, I realized that my skill and purpose are to listen and support others.

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

I am a mental health therapist since 2001. I am strength-based, i.e. I use what is already working to improve what needs attention. I differentiate myself and my practice by recognizing that I am not the expert but the client is the expert of him/herself. I take pride in leading and guiding my clients to bring what is in the unconscious to the conscious, by asking leading questions. I realized that people don’t do what they are told to do. But if they come up with solutions or answers to their dilemmas themselves, they are more susceptible to follow through with what they need to do.

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?

The 1st quality that I find in myself is determination. I stick to what I decide to do. When I start something, I will continue until it is done. I persevere in what I have in mind. When I wanted to become a medical doctor and it didn’t happen, I was distraught because my dream would not come true.
Another quality that I am described by is empathy. Not only in my career but also in my personal life, I have a lot of compassion for people in general.
The 3rd and most important quality for me is listening. I am a spiritual and religious person. I listen to what God has for me. When I follow in his guidance, I find myself being successful from the moment I let myself being guided. Also, actively listening to my clients make them feel validated, acknowledged and heard. And being paid attention is what each one of us wants and craves.
My advice to people who are seeking their purpose is to listen and pay attention to what they like. Most of the time, that hobby or passe-temps has something that can be developed into a career.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

Both parents, especially my father showed me compassion and perseverance in the way they lived their lives. My father was a MD. No matter the time of the day, he was needed, he was there to help. If the patient didn’t have any money, he would let it go without complaints. My mother, though a nurse, never worked outside of the home. She was busy caring for 4 kids and doing a lot of charity. Both my parents were Lions Club members and were involved in other charity organizations.