My Story: Alisha Moquin, LICSW

I was going to be a doctor when I grew up. I dreamed of helping people, and doctors help people—simple math, right? This grand plan lasted exactly halfway through college, when I discovered what doctors actually do every day. Plot twist: not for me.

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New dream: biomedical research. I'd help millions of people at once through groundbreaking discoveries! I earned my MS in Biology with stars in my eyes, only to learn what scientists actually spend their days doing. Another plot twist: also not for me.

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At almost 30, I found myself in what I generously called my "quarter-life crisis" (better late than never). I was unhappy, unfulfilled, and completely confused about how I'd ended up so far from where I thought I wanted to be. So I did what any reasonable person does when life gets messy: I went to therapy, volunteered everywhere, journaled enough to fill a small library, and embarked on some serious soul-searching.

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That's when I remembered something important—the thread that had run through every dream I'd ever had was helping people. Not the idea of helping people, but actually sitting with someone in their most vulnerable moments and walking alongside them toward healing.

So I went back to school (again), earned my Master's in Social Work, and began the journey toward opening my own private practice. Today, I've done exactly that.

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My path wasn't the neat, straight line I once imagined it would be. But I've learned to love its winding nature—it taught me to try boldly, fail gracefully, and trust my instincts when something isn't right. Most importantly, it taught me that sometimes the most meaningful destinations are the ones we never planned to reach.

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I hope you'll allow me to walk alongside you as you navigate your own beautifully imperfect path toward healing, growth, and the peace that comes with honoring who you truly are.