Starting My Practice

I found the postcard above while traveling through Germany with a friend last summer. At the time, I bought it because something about the message caught my attention. I didn't realize it then, but looking back now, it perfectly captures the mindset I've been trying to adopt ever since: Leap before you look.

Fast forward to this summer.

For the past eight years, I worked in corporate HR and Learning & Development. I'm genuinely proud of that chapter of my career. I had the opportunity to coach, develop, and support some incredible people, and I learned a lot about what it means to help professionals grow in a fast-paced, competitive environment.

But somewhere along the way, I started to realize something was missing. I knew in my gut that this wasn't where my passion or purpose ultimately lived.

After passing the Illinois clinical licensing exam, doing my research, and spending a lot of time reflecting on what I actually wanted from my career, I decided to take the leap: I opened my own private practice, Bright Harbor Counseling. It was exciting, but it was also scary.

I'm not necessarily a "Type A" personality, but I am thorough, detail-oriented, and when I set a goal for myself, I'll do everything I can to make it happen. I like to make informed decisions—I weigh the pros and cons, consider every angle, and, if I'm being honest, sometimes spend far too much time trying to make sure I've made the "right" choice. And even after I make a decision, I can still find myself second-guessing it. So, taking this leap was not exactly easy for me. Leaving the tech world meant walking away from consistent compensation, benefits, and predictability. On paper, staying would have been the safer choice. And for someone who tends to think things through a lot, choosing the unknown was both exciting and incredibly uncomfortable.

But I had started to realize that "safe" and "right" aren't always the same thing.

The work was draining my energy instead of giving me energy. And I knew I wanted to re-align my professional life with my values and return to the work that has always felt most meaningful to me: clinical therapy.

So, I took a risk.

And I'm learning that being fearless doesn't mean you aren't scared. Taking a leap doesn't mean you have every answer figured out. Sometimes it simply means believing in yourself enough to take the next step—and trusting that you'll learn along the way.

That's a lesson I'm carrying with me as I build Bright Harbor Counseling.

I don't expect to get everything right the first time. Or the second. There will undoubtedly be things I learn as I go. But with the right foundation, the right support, and the occasional reminder to myself of "you've got this," I'm genuinely excited about what might be possible.

I'm sharing this part of my story because I know I'm not the only person who has ever felt stuck between what feels comfortable and what feels meaningful. Maybe you're thinking about changing careers. Maybe you're navigating a difficult chapter of your life. Maybe you're questioning whether the life you've built still feels like the life you want.

I've been there, and that's part of why I created Bright Harbor Counseling.

I want to create a space where you don't have to navigate those moments alone—where you can slow down, be honest about where you are, explore what matters most to you, and begin figuring out where you want to go next.

We'll work together to identify your core values, understand what's getting in the way, and find ways to bring those values to life. Because sometimes the next step isn't about having a perfect plan. Sometimes it's about taking the leap.

People are resilient. People are kind. People are fearless.

I'll be using this space to share pieces of my journey as Bright Harbor Counseling grows. I'll also share community resources, practice updates, and opportunities that I hope will support the resilient, kind, and fearless people in our communities.

I have a lot of ideas, passion, and excitement for what's ahead. There is so much I'm looking forward to building—from offering in-person services in Chicago, to group therapy opportunities, coaching, supervision, and other ways to make meaningful support more accessible.

This is just the beginning, and I'm glad you're here.

I don't know exactly where this leap will take me. But maybe that's the point. Sometimes we have to trust what we know about ourselves, take the next step, and allow the path to unfold along the way. Leap before you look.

If you're interested in working together or simply want to learn more, you can contact me at brendan@bright-harbor-counseling.com for a free 15-minute consultation or to book a session.

-B

Career Change | Career Transition | Professional Growth | Career Fulfillment | Starting a Private Practice | Mental Health Therapist | Chicago Therapist | Mental Health Therapist Chicago | Chicago Counseling | Counseling Chicago | Illinois Therapist | Massachusetts Therapist | Private Practice Counseling | Bright Harbor Counseling