Anush Hansen, MA, MPH, LPC, CCC
Licensed Professional Counselor & Certified Career Counselor
Life is hard and everyone can use help and support sometimes.
Even with careful plans in place, your life path may wind up being a meandering road full of unexpected challenges, choices, and detours, rather than a straight, predictable line.
I am here to help you navigate through, and support you in discovering the path that's true to who you are.
I’ve been there and I get it! I get that life can be complicated and messy, and that sometimes we have to wait for, and we get off track from, what we want for ourselves.
But I also get that it's important to feel good about the work you do, and that it's possible to have a career and a life you love.
A little bit about my own path...
After about 10 years in the public health research field, it was clear to me that I wanted something very different for my career. Although I was working on important projects with wonderful colleagues, I wanted to help people with their struggles and goals directly and in-person, rather than research people and problems from a distance.
I knew I was naturally empathetic, a good listener, and cared deeply about helping others succeed. I went back to school to get my counseling degree, with the intention of diving in and becoming a full-time counselor upon graduation. I worked as a counselor in college and community mental health settings, and I seemed to be on track.
However, life had other plans for me...
I was overwhelmed about how to manage all my competing life roles and responsibilities while also starting a new career in counseling. Anxiety and self-doubt crept in. Despite knowing there was more out there for me and that I was settling for something I didn’t really want, I retreated back to my research job because it was familiar, flexible, secure, and predictable. This worked okay for a few years and was what I needed to do at the time.
But then I started getting restless, frustrated, and burnt out. Going into work each day became a chore - something I dreaded. My dread became resentment, and seeped into my personal life.
When it came down to it, I was pretty miserable.
This impacted the kind of mother, spouse, daughter, and sibling I was. It significantly affected my physical and emotional health and made me question my self-worth.
Deep down, I knew I had to make a change.
It took a lot of time, a lot of work, and plenty of set-backs, but I was able to find my way back to working as a mental health and career counselor in my own private practice. Now I'm doing work I genuinely love. It's work that allows me to tap into my natural strengths and to be who I am.
I’m no longer forcing myself to fit into a career that isn’t right for me. I feel proud and excited about what I'm doing, and look forward to going into work each day. I'm a better parent and spouse because of it. I have the energy to take care of myself, and have healthier boundaries between my career and the rest of my life. I have rediscovered the things about myself that make me…me.
I share my story here because I want you to know that I get it. I really do.
And I'm here for you.
My approach:
Being a counselor and a support for others is part of who I am, and is what I love to do.
By learning about how you experience the world, how you value and see yourself, what you're struggling with, and how you approach your goals and dreams, we will work together to help you move forward.
When working with you, I will bring empathy and compassion, a healthy sense of humor, and the knowledge I've gained through my training, education, and experiences.
I will listen carefully, be fully present, and hold space for you.
I will ask you hard questions. I will likely nudge you to step out of your comfort zone in order to help you interrupt patterns and behaviors that aren't working anymore.
Most importantly, I will be there for you. I'll be there as you sort through the things that are hard; as you uncover your strengths, values, and priorities; and as you move closer toward the life you want for yourself.
Counseling, by nature, is a journey of guided self-discovery and change. It is a privilege to be that guide.
I look forward to working with you!
My experience and training:
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Maine, as well as a Certified Career Counselor, credentialed through the National Career Development Association.
I received my master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of New Hampshire in 2011. Upon completing my degree, I worked as a counselor at the University of New Hampshire Counseling Center, the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Counseling Center, and Seacoast Mental Health Center.
In addition to my counseling degree, I received a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Massachusetts in 2001. I have worked as a public health researcher and program evaluator on numerous physical activity, nutrition, food insecurity, cancer screening, environmental health, substance abuse, and other health promotion projects at the University of Southern Maine, the University of Vermont, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
To view my full resume, please visit my LinkedIn page.
Memberships:
I am a member of the Maine Career Development Association, National Career Development Association, Career Counselors Consortium of the Northeast, and the Career Development Specialists Network.
