The Intern’s Couch
Fresh voices. Honest reflections. Real growth from the next generation of therapists.
Choosing Change: My Journey into Social Work
Meet Maddy Keslar
Maddy is a Cheyenne native and former elementary school teacher whose passion for supporting others led her to pursue a Master’s in Social Work. Now an intern at Thrive Counseling Services, she reflects on what it was like to step into a brand-new field, and how being welcomed with open arms helped her grow, both personally and professionally.
In this blog, Maddy shares her experience navigating change, discovering her voice as a future therapist, and learning the deep impact of person-centered care. It’s a story about courage, mentorship, and trusting yourself enough to start again.
New Chapters and the Power of Belonging
Changes: Changes are never easy, and they are often met with many different emotions that are both negative and positive. Before I started my practicum/internship at Thrive Counseling Services, I had a lot of difficulty find an agency here in Cheyenne that was willing to take a chance on someone in the midst of their master’s degree. Laura and the other employees here at Thrive accepted and took me in with open arms. They allowed me to observe and ask questions without judgement.
As someone who chose to change career paths and hop into social work without a lot of knowledge of how to find an internship and navigating getting a higher degree, it was an intimidating start on finding an agency that would be the right fit for me. However, when I came in to interview with Laura for placement, she made me feel right at home. I knew that my knowledge and skills would be fostered in this environment, and they have been. I am stepping away from this first internship with so much knowledge and growth that I did not have before.
Throughout my internship I have been provided with guidance from not only Laura, but also every single employee at Thrive. I also have deepened my love for social work and homed in on my therapy skills. My clients have been wonderful and have taught me so much about who I am as a therapist. I often utilize theories such as person in environment and systems theory to help guide my clients in a way that works best for them. Thrive has allowed me to blossom these skills and helped me to feel confident in my next step in my educational journey to becoming a licensed social worker.
My decision to change my career path and become a social worker has been solidified as the correct decision through the learning and experience that I have gained with Thrive.