Meet Shirley Flickinger, LPC, PEL
An Interview with Shirley Flickinger, LPC, PEL…
What made you decide to enter this field?
I have always been intrigued by psychology, and truly believe in the power of talk therapy as I personally have benefited from it tremendously.
What is your favorite part of your job?
When you’re a good fit with your client and the “magic” happens: clients begin to take control of their lives and become mentally healthier.
When you’re not counseling, what do you like to do?
A lot of the things we used to do pre-COVID are on pause, so these days it’s doing anything outdoors with my kids.
What did you do professionally before you came to Marvelous Minds?
I used to work in a detention center many years ago, which is where I got my start in special education. I’ve been working in a local high school in the Special Ed department for the last 10 years (and that’s still my day job!).
What have you found most challenging about this past year? And how do you practice self-care?
School has been a huge challenge for everyone this year – with teachers and students alike trying to figure out how to balance safety, education, and mental and social health. Because I work at a high school, I’m feeling the stress of both the mental health world and the school world, and sometimes I feel stuck between them. To stay healthy in the midst of this tension, I work out and keep a journal.
Who are you really enjoying working with right now?
Because of my work in the school setting, I connect best with teens struggling with behavioral and relationship issues. At Marvelous Minds I’m seeing littles all the way up to college students, and I love the chance to connect with a wider range of young people.