Blog 27: "Growing Up in Psychology, Part I"

Chicago, Illinois
If you have kept up with this blog, then you know that I met some very interesting children along my matriculation in the
field of psychology. 
Did you know that I met some captivating adults too?
Many of those adults were parents to my Nebulous Children, but I met others in one of my favorite cities,  
Chicago.
A city that I love.
This is one of the best cities that I lived in, also the most fascinating.
I learned a lot about psychology; not solely from being a graduate student or from Nebulous Children and Parents, but while
dating, clubbing, developing friendships, and being a new mother. 
I was raised as a Psychologist in Chicago, but also as woman. Of course you already know that Chicago begins my journey with Nebulous Children, but quite a few "other" things happened to me in this city as well, in the field of psychology. Personally, Chicago is where I began to gathered all of my strength as a woman, while learning to navigate being a mother too. I was a new mother while entering into a doctorate level graduate program.
That...was...hard!
I learned how to balance my life as a student while being a young mother.
I learned that I had the strength and determination to raise my new baby.
We both needed to adjust to our new city,
Chicago.
That "new baby" just had her 21st birthday.
Happy 21st birthday to the love of my life!
P.S. That "new baby" is also a Senior in college now.

Englewood, Illinois
I used to work in Englewood, Illinois which is a time when I met a multitude of wonderful people. I also met some who would become memorable. One who became one of my best friends, and another who is now in prison. I did not know that this person was in prison until about 11 years ago, and I was shocked for about a year afterwards.
The crime was murder. The time is life in prison.
Devastating 
If this person reads this blog, then person will know that I was/am mad about the crime!
Just why?
One of my best friends, will remain that way.
She is a Psychologist too.
I met celebrities.
I heard stories of how those celebrities started their businesses in Chicago.
Confidential
I've whispered words of advice in a few their ears.
Celebrity Stylists were my Stylists.
Some of those Stylists helped me through hard times.
One in particular knows who he is...smile!
Chicago is also where I learned to forgive others.
In Englewood, I worked at a mental health center and it is where I finished my doctoral dissertation and worked as a Post-Doctoral Intern. I graduated in 2006. These were the final two steps needed in order to apply for State Board approval in Illinois as a licensed Psychologist. 
I did receive that approval, twice.
My initial goal as a Psychologist was NOT to become licensed as a Clinical Psychologist at all.
I, me, Lisa pursued my doctorate degree to take that knowledge back into the school system
to work with school children.
Mental illness was on the rise in children in the late '90s, and I loved working in the schools.
Others in psychology put private practice into my head.
I thought I would private privately.
But,
I currently work in the schools as I had originally intended to do in 2001.
Be...Yourself.
Gangs
Englewood is also where I learned everything that I do with regard to gang activity. I did not just learn it from interacting clinically with gang members, but I had a friend, (see above), who taught me a lot about things.
Example, protecting myself on the streets.
Then, the kids I worked with began to protect me.
If I walked down the street alone for example, and one saw me,
I would be escorted to where I needed to go without a problem.
I loved those kids!
I worked with one of those kids at an alternative school in Chicago.
Years later when I worked at the mental health center in Englewood,
this kid walked in as an adult along with a child that I was seeing for therapy.
I cried. That kid was no longer a kid.
That kid was also thriving with an education, job, and a car!
That kid was stealing cars until I told him how to buy one.
A simple conversation is all it takes sometimes.
What is even more interesting is that the little one escorted into the building
that was now my client was, 
A Nebulous Child.

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