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As an Independent Contractor, I learned so much about myself and came to terms with how deeply institutionalized and traumatized I had become as a clinician. Working in environments that focused more on productivity than on actual client care, I didn’t realize I was burned out—until a month into contracting with Carolina Counseling Services (CCS).
A Life-Changing Moment
One day stands out so clearly in my memory. It was a regular afternoon, and my client canceled their session. My oldest child was in first grade at the time, and her lunch break coincided with the unexpected free time I now had. The fact that I was my own boss hadn’t fully sunk in yet, but on a whim, I packed up and drove to her school to have lunch with her.
On the drive back to the office, I was overwhelmed with emotions. As someone who once prided herself on being the “ice queen,” I found myself crying the entire way back. But they were tears of both pain and joy. I thought about the countless nights I had worked so late that I couldn’t even pick my daughter up from daycare—let alone join her for lunch in the middle of the day. I felt the pain of missed moments but also the joy of newfound freedom.
A New Beginning
At that moment, I realized just how much had changed. The simple act of leaving to see my daughter without needing anyone’s permission felt like pure sunshine. It was then that I knew I had found the right place—not only for my career but for the well-being of my family.
The independence and sense of freedom I felt that day are hard to put into words. But from that moment on, I knew that contracting with CCS was the best decision I had ever made. I was no longer bound by the rigid structures that had once drained me. I was finally in control of my time, my work, and my life—and for that, I’ll be forever grateful.
