Today we’d like to introduce you to Lesley Cross.
Lesley, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
If you’d asked me as a child if I ever thought I would be a professional counselor for my career, the answer would have been a quick “No.” I grew up planning a career in business and went to undergrad with those same plans. Scheduled full with classes for a Business Administration major and double minor in Economics and Marketing, I had my sites set on a corner office in a marketing or business setting.
But as the saying goes, “We plan, God laughs.” I’m a planner to my core, and I surely caused a great deal of laughter as all my planning led me to places, I didn’t expect to go, but so thankful I have!
Time during undergrad as a student leader and resident advisor taught me, I may enjoy the business side of high education. I pursued graduate school, and while earning my MBA was the original plan, that planning vs. laughter battle continued, and I completed with a Masters in Clinical Counseling (though I had no actual plans to use it as my vision was still business.)
With career stops in the business sector, including project management, operations management, recruiting, and talent development – one constant continued to present itself: people came to me to discuss their life concerns, ask for guidance, and process challenges. These discussions often turned from workplace challenges to relationships, life, stress, and personal areas of development. I was perplexed while people continued to come to me, but I was honored they trusted their stories to me and flattered they came to me for guidance and help.
At last, I heard the laughter. And this time, my plans shifted in a direction that pulled it all together.
I left the corporate world, revisited some counseling classes, studied for the state exam, and became a licensed professional counselor. True to form, though, I wasn’t going to work for someone, and if this career change was going to happen, I was still incorporating business. Plans fell into place, office space was scouted and secured, deposits paid, business cards ordered, and a website created.
This was happening. My business dreams have turned into the corner office as a professional counselor. Now, a decade later and nearing completing my doctorate in counseling, I can’t imagine doing anything besides this work. Amazing how that laughter works sometimes.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting a new business is never easy. Like many in this position, I had to learn my way through learning what worked best for me, trusting my efforts would be fruitful, marketing, and not getting frustrated when some months were less than others. Through it all, though, I continued to be thankful for the support my community (friends & family) as well as the actual community has put in me and my business. I’ve grown from myself in the corner of office as a practice of one to two locations with multiple providers in each setting. Management or a business and managing people is a balance I have found very rewarding. It’s something I take seriously, as I want the best for my clients and also the best for my team. Ensuring both happen is at the top of my list!
The pandemic was a situation no one could anticipate, and as mental health professionals, we were never busier. We had to relearn how to reach our clients through the distance needs, how to serve more people than ever, how to not burn out ourselves, and to process trauma after trauma while balancing our own home struggles of kids on remote school, health concerns, our social losses, changes in spousal jobs, etc. We were in survival mode, serving everyone but trying to keep our own heads above water for our mental and physical health, too.
As you know, we’re big fans of Bridges Counseling of Ohio. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Bridges Counseling of Ohio has offices in Worthington & Marysville, Ohio. We provide counseling services for adults, couples, teens & children.
Our team is comprised of some of the most thoughtful, hardworking, fun, and talented counselors! I am proud to know that when a client calls us and meets with our staff, they are going to meet someone who genuinely cares for them and wants to help!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Thankfully, mental health services are becoming less stigmatized. More people realize and accept life is stressful and hard and doesn’t always have to be done with a DIY method. Individuals, couples and employers are supporting taking time proactively to address mental health needs and find ways to live in alignment with values and intentional desires. Thankfully, society realizes counseling has a great deal of benefits and isn’t just when things are “really bad, traumatic, and horrible.”
Contact Info:
- Website: Bridgescounselingohio.com
- Instagram: @bridgescounselingoh
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/BRIDGESCOUNSELINGOH
Image Credits
Little Tree Studios
Project Joy Photography
