One Student’s Path

When I joined Cracked Open Therapy & Collective in March 2025, I never imagined that, just a short time later, I’d become the very first member of the Seedling Path. The journey has been nothing short of transformative—shaping me in ways I’ll carry both personally and professionally. Leslie’s vision of creating a space where interns could support and learn from one another as we developed as counselors-in-training marked the beginning of the Seedling Path.

At times, being a student in graduate school can feel lonely, weighed down by coursework and deadlines, and challenging as we discover who we are as professionals while finding therapeutic approaches that feel true to us and serve our clients well. I am deeply grateful to the brilliant, dedicated, and generous women who walked alongside me throughout this experience. I’ve gained knowledge of the nuances of shame versus guilt, deepened my understanding of somatic work, faith-informed approaches,  mirror interventions, co-leading couples' sessions, and discovered the value of trauma-informed yoga—along with so much more. Each interaction offered invaluable lessons, and their encouragement and support have made my journey as a counselor-in-training more rewarding than I could have ever hoped for.

The Seedling Path has strengthened me as a mental health professional, and I’m excited to keep witnessing my colleagues’ journeys as they, too, transform in profound ways. To any intern whose journey brings them to Cracked Open Therapy & Collective, I encourage you to lean in wholeheartedly—embrace the experience, welcome the support, and soak up every chance to learn. The future holds endless possibilities for the Seedling Path, and I’m honored to begin my next chapter on the Garden Path.

-Megan Crawford, MA, LMHCA