Influential Woman · Counseling

Madison Ford

Associate Licensed Counselor, BAY AREA PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING PLLC

Mobile, AL 36619

2Awards received

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Bachelor's in Psychology from Huntington College Degree Master's Degree in Counseling from University of West Alabama Cert Associate Licensed Counselor Cert Master's Degree in Counseling Cert Registered Behavior Technician Member Alabama Counselors Association

Her Story

About Madison

I am currently an associate licensed counselor who just received my master's degree in counseling. I'm a beginner counselor right now, building up my caseload and trying to gain my direct contact hours. While I was in my master's program, I was an intern at AltaPoint Health for people with substance use disorders, and that really helped me figure out what part of counseling I want to do in the future. I also was a registered behavior technician for children on the autism spectrum. Going down all these paths helped me realize that I really just want to be a good shoulder of support for people. I just want to be a good counselor, someone that any person can trust with whatever is going on. I want to be that kind of encouragement, the shoulder for someone to cry on. Currently, I'm also working a part-time position as a mental health professional to help keep me financially stable as I'm building up my caseload as a counselor. In this job, I check for emails and referrals for people who need in-home care with intellectual disabilities, on the mental health side of things, people who may be on the autism spectrum, people who just can't afford to leave their home, or they're trying to build up their mannerisms and social skills. I meet with case management for those clients, and we try to build up a good person-centered care plan for them to help them achieve their goals and figure out what is the best form of care for these people.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Madison

01What do you attribute your success to?

I attribute all of my success to my God, my Lord and Savior. I would not be where I am without Him.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice I've ever received is to just take it one day at a time, and that eventually everything will fall into place. You just have to trust in God, you have to trust His timing, and eventually everything will work itself out.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would tell them, especially as a beginner, that it is okay if everything does not fall into place on the first day. That is totally normal. You just have to take it one day at a time, and it may seem like you're starting out very slow, but gradually, as you keep going, eventually everything will come. The pieces will come into place, and everything will come as it is.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

The biggest opportunities in my field are just anywhere that is hiring for any type of counseling position, because any kind of job is not too small or too big for these types of roles. As long as it is beneficial to yourself, to what you need to do, then absolutely go for the job.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

In my work field, I think the best qualities would be just to remember to stay respectful to all of your clients, to remember to always smile, and just, no matter what, remember to not burn out from your job, but also to always remember to take care of yourself as well.

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