April Rising Star: Karen B. Taylor, MS, LPC, LPCC, CMHC, NCC

Uwill’s Monthly Rising Star is a new program that acknowledges one counselor every month who has “shined bright” in their first year at Uwill.

Congratulations Karen B. Taylor, MS, LPC, LPCC, CMHC, NCC! Since joining the Uwill team, Karen has completed over 100 sessions across Arizona, California, Georgia, Missouri and Utah.

Check out our interview with Karen to learn about the moment she enjoys the most, her deepened appreciation for teletherapy, and how life is like seasons.

What excites you the most about working with Uwill?
I think the opportunity to meet students in real time. It’s a very flexible platform and the scheduling as well. There’s no traditional barriers of having to necessarily be in person. Students don’t have to worry about having to drive somewhere so I like the flexibility of it. I like the real time availability and the ways that they can connect with the therapist. 

What aspect of your work do you enjoy the most? 
I think for me is that moment when a client finds the strength that they have. I believe we already embody. But it’s like they may be needed to talk it through. So that self-discovery, that moment where “I can do this, someone sees me, someone hears me.” I think that to me is what I enjoy most.

What is the most important lesson that you’ve learned through your work?
I think being present. Being present, not trying to fix. Because as a therapist you want to help, you want to fix it. I think understanding that sometimes just being there and someone feeling like they have a safe place to land I think is the most important thing that I learned. Just be present. People don’t really care what you say. They really care about what you do. 

What impact has Uwill had on you as a professional?
I want to say it’s deepened my understanding and respect for virtual counseling. In years past, I want to say pre-COVID, it was frowned upon. “You got to do it in person.You got to be able to see that person face to face”. But it helped me understand that there are a lot of people that don’t have resources to physically go somewhere. So it’s really deepened my appreciation of the importance of having platforms available for people from all backgrounds. It kind of takes away that stigma of not coming to counseling because they don’t have a car or they can’t do it in a safe space. I think that virtual component really helps now and that’s what really kind of changed it for me. I truly do appreciate that virtual connection.

Do you have any advice for students that may be looking to try therapy for the first time?
Just try it! You don’t have to be perfect. Honestly, all of us have something. If you live in this world and all of the things that come with life, you’re going to experience things. And so being able to be vulnerable and learn how to be vulnerable in a safe space is important. It’s not about perfection, it’s about progress. It’s about process.

Life is seasons. We all have winter moments where things are bleak and cold and things aren’t rolling. Spring: we have things that are blooming, the things that we’ve maybe deposited in our life that we now see manifested. Summer: how do we handle the pressure? How do you deal with the heat? How do you think when things are really, really tough? Then fall: how do you deal with change? And I think it’s very important to not feel like you have to go through that by yourself. 

When there are people that have gone through it that are willing to support and listen to you. Being able to take that step of faith and saying “hey, I’m going to give it a try” and it may take you one or two therapists but don’t give up on it because nobody wants you to give up on you. Don’t give up on yourself. Give it a try because you can’t say you don’t like it if you never tried it.

To learn more about becoming a counselor with Uwill, click on the link below.

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