Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Becker.
Hi Michael, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey to becoming a mental health therapist began in my high school years when I started to become aware of my own mental health issues. Looking back, I am now aware that I suffered from mental health issues in early childhood. My earliest memories of suffering from mental health issues were around 6 years old. In high school, I started receiving help through medication management but failed to get the results I was hoping for. As a result, I continued my medication going into college but I added therapy into my treatment plan. I attended the University of South Carolina and through my own mental health struggles, I became interested in psychology. I declared my major to be psychology at USC with hopes that I would one day work in the field.
Through seeing my own benefits and progress as a result of going to therapy myself through my own life transitions, relationship issues, depression, anxiety, unhealthy coping skills, etc. I decided that I wanted to become a therapist so I could help others self-improve and reap the benefits of the counseling that I love so much.
From there, I continued attending therapy (still do to this day), and graduated from USC. I then went on to get my Masters in Counseling from The Citadel in Charleston, SC. After I passed my licensure exam, my professional career blossomed. My first job was at a Psychiatric Hospital in Charleston where my main job was assessing and diagnosing our patients. Then, I accepted a job in a private practice where I counseled individuals and ran group counseling sessions where I treated people who wanted help with anger management, sex addiction, alcohol and drug problems, criminal behaviors and offenses, personality disorders, depression, anxiety, family and relationship problems, and much more.
My ultimate goal was always to start my own practice where I can help people through treatment that I feel is the best out there and without the limitations of working for someone else. In 2018, I opened my own practice Lighthouse Therapy Solutions where I treat all of the above-mentioned and then some! I am proud to say that Lighthouse Therapy Solutions has successfully treated hundreds of people in the Charleston area and I can’t wait to continue to make a positive impact on the people in Charleston and Mount Pleasant areas as I continue to expand Lighthouse Therapy Solutions.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course, I have experienced many obstacles and challenges through starting and growing a business. It is a natural and inevitable part of anything we decide to take on in life. I can’t avoid obstacles and challenges but I try my best to learn from them and handle them the best I can. I feel it is all a matter of perspective. I try to enjoy the journey and take the challenges in stride. As with any endeavor worthwhile, there are obviously challenges and struggles. Challenges are part of the journey that I enjoy. I love feeling accomplished and there is nothing more accomplishing for me than starting and growing a business in which, I am able to help others along the way. I am able to tap into an outsider’s perspective a lot of the time and look at the overall progress of the business and myself when challenges arise and take look at the bigger picture of helping the people in the Charleston area. I don’t see obstacles as “struggles” but more so just the awareness that I need to dedicate more time and energy to an area where I am not already proficient so I can become knowledgeable. For instance, a bachelor’s in psychology and a Masters in Counseling does not teach you how to hire the right people, run accounting for your business, marketing and advertising strategies, payroll, about taxes. These are just a few of the very important things to be knowledgeable about as a business owner from which I started with no information. So, this challenge was countered with the dedication of time and energy to reading books or information online, talking with mentors and professionals in these fields, interviewing people who have had success, etc. I have a lot more to learn ahead of me but I plan to continue to carry a perspective that allows me to enjoy the journey and the challenges.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Lighthouse Therapy Solutions is a mental health therapy practice in Mount Pleasant, SC. We are passionate about what we do at LTS and we are dedicated to helping all of our clients improve their lives. Being a therapist is more than just a job to us. Our therapists have struggled with many of the same things we treat our clients for which makes us able to relate to you. We specialize in mental health, couples/relationship counseling, and substance use counseling. We are most proud of the work we have done in the Charleston community and the level of help and support we provide to our clients. We are confident in our approach to treatment and we have seen amazing results with our clients. I want everyone to know that the help that you need is just a phone call away and that I can’t wait to help you!
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
My advice for networking/finding a mentor is to try your best to allow yourself to remain open to trying new things, meeting people you may not normally be attracted to, attending events that you may not normally attend, and allowing yourself to be vulnerable to put yourself out there and ask for help. Find someone that has done what you are trying to do and listen to what they have to say, even if they are suggesting things that are out of your comfort zone. For me, I have found a few people who have experience with what I am trying to accomplish and who I trust. I listen to what they have to say and pay attention to how they do things and then use my own judgment to be able to implement it with a twist in the best way that fits my business model. I have to allow myself to feel anxious and uncomfortable at times in order to grow. Growth does not usually happen in our comfort zone.
Pricing:
- Individual sessions (50 minutes)- $150
- Couples/Family Session (60 minutes)- $180
Contact Info:
- Email: Michael@LighthouseTherapySolutions.com
- Website: www.LighthouseTherapySolutions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lighthousetherapysolutions/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LighthouseTherapySolutions
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lighthouse-therapy-solutions-mount-pleasant
