Today we’d like to introduce you to Reketta Peterson.
Hi Reketta, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Long story short, I am the eldest daughter on both my mom and dad’s side and I give good advice. I was a bossy kid and always the teacher when my siblings and cousins played school. I just knew I had the answers to every problem (lol). But in all seriousness, I am a former military brat and I taught English abroad in S. Korea after undergrad. Having to navigate different cultures my entire life allowed me to find a way to relate to people when we did not have much in common. Living abroad as a young adult and being the “foreigner” allowed me to reflect on what it means to feel alone. To have to do life alone, to have to adult alone, and to muster up the energy to keep going when things were tough. I knew I wanted to do something different after my time in Korea, but I didn’t quite know what that would be. As I mentioned earlier, I had this very unhinged thought that I gave good advice and could naturally become a therapist. Little did I know at that time being a therapist was less about giving advice and more about holding space for people as they bravely relay their darkest moments. It’s about holding myself steady to take the focus out of zoom and see the big picture. “What is my client really saying?” Sometimes we don’t know what we are really trying to get across until we have an active listener gently reframing our thoughts and concerns. I graduated with my Master’s degree in 2017. Moved to Alaska in 2018 where I began my career as a licensed therapist and eventually established my private practice. I am originally from Georgia and find joy in being able to serve both Alaska and Georgia as a licensed therapist.
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?
The road has not always been easy. When covid happened in 2020, no one was quite sure how therapy and social distancing would work. I also had a baby in 2020 and did not feel comfortable going back to work in office. I took my practice online via telehealth. I am so thankful for the move as I find I can help new moms who are unable to get to the office with a newborn or cannot find a sitter for the session. Telehealth has also helped me connect with couples who may be separated for a multitude of reasons and have a solid solution to connect with myself and their partners.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Arise Counseling, LLC?
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with a private practice I run via telehealth. I specialize in relational work for neurodivergent adults, highly-stressed professionals, and first responders. I help these individuals and couples who often land in repeated conflict, emotional distance, or misunderstandings find healthier ways to communicate. There will always be rupture, so why not learn how to skillfully repair?
Many of my clients are fully capable everywhere else but feel exhausted in their relationships. I get to know each of my clients and build rapport from the ground up. When we have rapport, the work feels a bit easier for the client and myself.
I love my little corner of the internet and welcome all who could use extra support in their relationships or in their journey of self-discovery. You can book a 15 minute consultation from my website: www.arisecounselingllc.com and follow me on Instagram @Arisecounseling.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
If you are interested in becoming a licensed therapist. Know that you are needed out here. More people are acknowledging they could use a mental health professional on their wellness team. Collecting the hours for supervision and searching for practicum/internship sites can feel tedious. I use to count the hours I needed to graduate with my degree, count the hours needed to complete my practicum, and count the supervision hours needed for licensure. A lot of counting. I was so happy when I realized I was on the other side. My advice is to start reaching out to local private practice owners to see if they have space for an intern. I was worried I wouldn’t find a site because I did not think to contact private practice owners. I thought I had to stay within the community mental health arena. If your private practice site is approved by your program, you are golden.
Pricing:
- Individual Therapy $185hr
- Relationship Therapy $235hr
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.arisecounselingllc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arisecounseling
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reketta-petersonlpc/
