One of the things I remember most vividly after finishing my master’s degree in counselling psychology is the overwhelming sense of… well, overwhelm. Every time I thought about next steps, my brain kindly responded with a full system crash. The options were endless, the starting point was a mystery, and the only thing I knew for certain was that I wanted private practice and I wanted an office. I wanted to be surrounded by other professionals and chit-chat in the hall while we waited for clients. I didn’t want to purchase furniture or decor right off the bat, so I wanted something that was already set up. With loads of natural light, beautiful plants, throw pillows nobody asked for, and wall art that said “A professional works here” while also saying “I have a personality.” Beyond the aesthetic vision board in my head, private practice meant I could focus on my specialty areas, work with the clients I was most passionate about, and finally forge the professional path I’d been dreaming of, one carefully curated bookshelf at a time.