Nicole Michaud

We are usually told by someone from the moment we are born to "live your dream." At first, we embrace the notion heart and soul because in the very beginning anything seems possible to our innocent young minds. As we grow,our paths of possibilities can rapidly shrink until for some,there seems to be nowhere to go.

I have some really exciting news to share! After months of preparation, I am about to embark on a dream come true. I have just opened my very own private practice. I have to admit that this still seems partially unreal to me. The journey to this day has been one that has consumed much of the last few years of my life.

Taking the NCMHE exam was one of the most challenging experiences of my career path. It took me years to feel I was ready to take the exam, then endless hours of studying and research to prepare. Final the day came to sit for the exam. From the very start of the experience it all felt a bit stressful. I was asked to hang my jacket in another room and had to relinquish all my belongings to a bag on the back of my seat. The last step was having to photograph myself on the web cam that would be recording me throughout the exam.

It is hard to believe that I have been working in crisis for almost two years now. When I first began I had no real idea what to expect from day to day. It is a bit comical that years later I still feel the exact same way when I come into work. There is never any way to know what can happen in a day working as a Crisis Clinician. It is a new challenge that stretches you almost every single day.

Recently I have been listening to a song by one of my favorite artists; Brandi Carlile named “The Story.” One part of the song really spoke to me: