Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Gilbert.
Hi Emily, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story started a little backward. When my husband and I tell it, we always add that “we might have started a little backward but we would not change a thing.” We met at 16 years old, dropped out of high school, got our GEDs, and married by seventeen. We had our daughter by eighteen and after working multiple jobs at a time just to make ends meet, my husband decided to join the military. At 19 years old, these small-town high school sweethearts and high school dropouts were on the way to Texas with our 1-year-old daughter. We had no idea what we were in for. We were apart more than we were together for those 3 years of service. He served one tour overseas at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom while I was pregnant with our first son. I found myself alone with a toddler, pregnant, and with no family close by for support. I leaned on my church, joined an exercise class, and volunteered at a local women’s center to help the time pass. That’s when I decided to pursue my dream of attending college. I told myself, “it might look different than I planned, but it is still possible.” I began the process of starting my college career at a local community college by having to convince them that I was independent due to my age. I now understand that it was only the beginning of my being questioned about my age. In fact, this will follow me throughout my career. My husband and I soon realized that the military lifestyle was not for us and he retired. We decided to come back home to Florida to be close to our families. It was a few years before I was able to go back to school and continue my college education. We had three children by then, both working full-time jobs, and online classes were not yet a popular option. We joke now about how I had a heavy Dell laptop, dial-up internet, and had to sit outside on the porch in the rain just to complete an assignment. I even had to drive to my parent’s house to take a quiz or exam because their internet was better. But I never gave up. I never gave up because I had my husband and family supporting me and believing in me to accomplish this dream. And I didn’t stop. As soon as I completed my Associate in Art (AA) Degree from Pasco Hernando Community College (PHCC), I enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Psychology at Saint Leo University (SLU) and then continued at SLU in their Masters of Social Work program in hopes of becoming a school social worker. I achieved all of it, quickly registered with the state to pursue licensure, and began working with the most challenging student population as the first school social worker in a pilot program for social/emotional and behaviorally disabled students.
The program grew and expanded across the school district with over 16 social workers in the program when I left the district as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) to be a Clinical Mental Health Director at the local Juvenile Detention Center (JDC). It was during that time, that I became a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and Qualified Clinical Supervisor. After JDC, I pursued an interest in substance abuse as an Area Clinical Supervisor by traveling the state of Florida and supervising unlicensed addiction counselors. During my travels, I also became a Master Level Certified Addictions Professional (MCAP). Mind you, I held multiple part-time jobs throughout this time as a targeted case manager, in-home therapist, outpatient therapist, and adjunct professor. Additionally, I held community volunteer positions as a mentor for STAND, a youth substance abuse prevention program, and as a board member of the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking. I always had an ultimate goal of opening a private practice and each work or volunteer experience was one that allowed me to learn and grow as a professional that lead me exactly where I needed to be when an opportunity revealed itself at the best timing possible, and again with the support of my husband and family, I was able to pursue another dream by purchasing Meridian Counseling Center. The purpose of Meridian Counseling Center is to give back to the community in as many ways as possible. I use each work and volunteer experience and certification to educate, advocate, collaborate, and support my community. I know I have a purpose in this field and I am constantly reminded that this is exactly where I am supposed to be working with hurting people and helping them find their way to joy and happiness.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. Like many stories, my journey had many bumps in the road from multiple deaths and crises in the family, financial struggles, and pretty much any stereotype you could think of as young parents and high school dropouts. Remember the age thing. I am constantly asked about my age and met with surprise when I reveal it. Yes, I’m too young to have three kids, two in college, and all my work/life experience. I get that all the time. I was once told by a teacher to go back to class as I met with students in the hallway when I was a school social worker at a high school. From the start, there were many doubters, people that never believed we would still be together, and even more unknowns, but we just pushed forward never giving in to the idea of quitting or giving up. My husband was a huge part in motivating me, supporting me, and picking up anywhere I was slacking. We experienced many obstacles but were learning everything for the first time together. We grew up together from an early start in life, to war, to kids, and now as business owners.
As you know, we’re big fans of Meridian Counseling Center. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I bought Meridian Counseling Center as a solo practice/single location in 2019. Since then, we have expanded to 8 providers, a psychologist, and 4 staff members. We are in three locations Dade City, Carrollwood, and Winter Haven. We also work in collaboration with the local school district to see students in school. I take student interns from local universities like USF and Saint Leo. I still volunteer with the Commission on Human Trafficking and as a vice-chair for the board of Premier Community Health. Additionally, we participate in community events from back to school, trunk or treat, and stomp out suicide 5k.
We also provide various evidenced-based treatments as a group practice from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Life Coaching, to Brainspotting. We work with children, individuals, groups, and families. And we have bi-lingual therapists for Spanish-speaking clients as well.
What does success mean to you?
I define success as realizing when you have reached a time of reaping the benefits from sowing through hard work and never giving up. I tell my kids, time will pass and where you end up in life will depend on what you do with your time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mycounseling.center/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mycounselingcenter/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mycounselingcenter
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TraumaPasco
