Q&A with HOPE Therapist, Shohreh
Get to know our HOPE Therapists! Today we are featuring Shohreh, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist:
Q. What is your name & job title? A. My name is Shohreh White. I am an Associate Marriage and Family therapist and an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor.
Q. What type of therapy do you specialize in? A. I love doing CBT, Experiential therapy including Empty chair, and I am planning on doing Animal Assisted Therapy once I am licensed which is just around the corner.
Q. What inspired you to become a therapist? A. I almost feel as though this profession chose me. I had initially wanted to be a veterinarian and had started my education down that path. In college I took a career development class for fun and found that through the Myer Briggs personality test, Therapist was the top profession it suggested. That led me to looking into the profession by taking one psychology class, which then led to another psychology class and so on. I was hooked. Psychology is ever evolving and I love that. I am thirsty for knowledge and I love helping people. I am so happy that one fun class led me to becoming a therapist.
Q. What is the most rewarding part of being a therapist? A. It's very fulfilling helping people grow and helping people find the potential in themselves that you see in them. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.
Q. What is a common quote or piece of advice you like to give to clients? A. Your task is not to seek for love but to seek and find all the blockages within yourself that you have built against it. - Rumi. (This quote sums up the work I do with clients in session) Whatever happens around you, don't take it personally...Nothing other people do is because of you. It is because of themselves. - Don Miguel Ruiz
Q. What do you know now that you didn't know when you started your career as a therapist? A. I did not know all the work a person does to become a therapist. Not only do you have to get a Masters degree but you also have to do 3000 hours of work prior to being able to take an exam to obtain your license. It's a lot but I value every minute because I have gained so much experience.
Q. What is the biggest myth or misconception about therapy? A. That a person is weak or has to have a mental illness if they have seeked therapy. Therapy is more about finding yourself, finding balance, and gaining professional support.
Q. What are your favorite mental health books and/or resources you like to recommend to clients? A. I recommend books based on what my clients and I are working on. I have a large library of great books but here are a few that I tend to recommend. The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz Inner Wisdom by Dr. Wayne Dyer The Mind Of The Soul by Gary Zukav How to love yourself by Louise L.Hay The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor Brain Lock by Jeffrey M. Schwartz The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge
Read Shohreh's professional bio here: