URGENCY, EGO, AND EXIT SIGNS: LESSONS FOR NEW THERAPISTS
I remember early in my career, while wrapping up my graduate program, my professor and advisor, Dr. B, gave me a piece of advice that stuck: always maintain a sense of urgency. Not panic. The kind of urgency that lets you spot a sinking ship before it even starts taking on water. That guidance became a quiet compass for me—one that not only kept me afloat but actually helped me grow.
Internships Get Real
During my final year of grad school, I interned at a crisis center in Prince George’s County. I genuinely appreciated the experience—it was a place full of dedicated professionals doing important work. Still, as the only male on the team, I sometimes felt like an outsider. That feeling was confirmed when I was informed a staff member referred to me as “less than” in front of clients who were court-ordered for anger management. Not exactly the safest audience to have questioning your presence. What that staff member didn’t know was that while I’m extremely patient—maybe too patient—I’ve got a D.C. ‘90s limit. Fortunately, I was able to leave that role without conflict. Smooth exits are underrated.
Watch Leadership
Later, while working at a community mental health agency, that same sense of urgency—and some healthy observation—helped me dodge another sinking ship. I was learning a lot, testing out my clinical chops thanks to a director who gave me room to grow. And for that, I was grateful… until the gratitude hit a wall. That same director once told me, in front of a group, “I decide how far you’ll go in your career.” It was such a wild statement, I almost looked around for hidden cameras. That moment made it crystal clear: 1) This person’s ego was going to tank the agency, and 2) I was not about to spend my whole career answering to people like that.
Use the Doubt
The cherry on top came during a stint at a local inpatient substance use and ex-offender program. I’d asked to shift from full-time (18-hour days) to part-time so I could finish grad school—and the director’s response? Suggesting I just quit school altogether. Mind you, I had told them from day one that I planned to open my own practice within five years. So in an odd twist, their attempt to derail me ended up fueling the fire. That “advice” helped push me exactly where I wanted to go. Not long after, I handed in my resignation on a Sunday morning—and by that evening, I realized two weeks was far too generous. So I grabbed my dignity, my favorite mug (because, priorities), and strutted out like I was in a slow-motion movie scene. I was off to where the coffee is strong, the deadlines are non-existent (somewhat), and my pajamas are officially the new office attire.
Your Path, Your Pace
Those experiences—though awkward, uncomfortable, and occasionally rage-inducing—sharpened my ability to stay alert and aware. They reinforced the importance of urgency, and the power of observation. And while that one director’s words tried to limit me, the real fuel came from the support of people like my supervisor Mr. A, and the peers who believed in me. That support pushed me toward the professional independence I was often told would never happen. Turns out, urgency plus vision makes a pretty strong combination.
To New Therapists:
Stay aware. Trust your instincts. Learn from the missteps. And don’t wait for someone to tell you it’s your time—decide that for yourself.
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Rayshaun Johnson, LPC, NCC.