Professional Counseling Alumni Share Personal Insights, Professional Lessons
This week, students in COUN 5100: Social and Cultural Foundations, led by Dr. Rebecca George and Dr. Claire Martin, had the opportunity to hear about experiences directly from the field through the Chi Sigma Iota-sponsored annual panel series, "Voices from the Field: Mental Health Experts."
The event featured three alumni from Webster鈥檚 Professional Counseling program 鈥� Brandon Aaron, Lorin Carter Jett and Joshua Freeman 鈥� who returned to share personal insights and professional lessons from their journeys as practicing counselors.
Joshua Freeman
Their stories brought to life many of the concepts discussed in class, offering real-world context around:
- Navigating the first year as a counselor, including unexpected challenges, lessons learned and the growth that comes from stepping into the role after graduation.
- Setting boundaries and managing burnout, a particularly relevant topic, as each panelist reflected on the importance of self-care, supervision and maintaining a work/life balance in the mental health profession.
Brandon Aaron
The conversation was honest, engaging and deeply affirming for students preparing to enter the field. The panelists鈥� transparency not only validated common concerns among emerging counselors, but also inspired confidence and curiosity about the road ahead.
Lorin Carter Jett
Events like this highlight the power of alumni voices in shaping the educational experience, and serve as an essential bridge between classroom learning and professional practice.