Perry Chen
Full Time Personal Counselor
Skyline College
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
In terms of employment, I was able to get a job related to therapy right out of grad school.
My job, for 5 years, allowed me to work with a wide variety of people.
Moved to China to work in therapy.
Moved back to California, working with children and families who faced childhood trauma.
Was able to work with / under important figures in the field (5 years experience).
Started working at Skyline.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Oceana High School
Oceana High School
Graduate
Social Work
Columbia University
Social Work
Columbia University
Career
Full Time Personal Counselor
I provide individual therapy for students at Skyline and also provide workshops and presentations on mental health.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Education
Non-Profit Organizations
Working with Others
Day to Day
There is no "typical" day. To generalize, though, there may be some scheduled sessions or appointments with people, primarily students. I also develop presentations, workshops, and meetings with colleagues and departments. I prepare for any walk-in consultations or crises that present themselves.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for everyone
Doing research and getting as much information as you can about the field (i.e. networking, informational interviews).
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Graduate
Social Work
Social Work
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Parents:
"Yes and no."
Challenges I Overcame
Work Stress
Q&A
Did you have any preconceived notions that turned out to be not as prominent or just false?
Asked by Leanne at Roadtrip NationA myth held was that after a client talks about their issues, the therapist would tell them how to fix it. He states that a therapist "rarely gives advice," rather they help the client better understand themselves, so they can make those decisions.
COVID affected the workplace as a whole, for you, was it a tough transition or was it easy?
Asked by Leanne at Roadtrip NationAt first, it was challenging, logistically, mainly because of the scrambling to figure out how to do it properly. Transitioning online has made it difficult to observe people's body language, particularly their nonverbals.
Does it get easier?
Asked by Leanne at Roadtrip NationIt does. As your time and experience in the field grows, you become more comfortable because you realize your limitations in certain situations and are better equipped to handle situations you've dealt with before.
Interviewed By
Leanne
at Roadtrip Nation
