Dallas Therapist Helps Patients Build A Life Worth Living
Linda O'Toole is a licensed professional counselor who specializes in dialectical behavior therapy and treats people with borderline personality disorders and those who suffer from chronic suicidal behavior. Dialectical therapy combines some components of cognitive therapy along with behavior therapy with validation and acceptance. She helps patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder accept their diagnosis and learn new skills to decrease how their emotions dictate their behavior. Her goal is to help her patients build a life worth living by identifying what is getting in the way of that. "You are more than just your diagnosis," said O'Toole. She earned a Bachelor's of Arts in Psychology from University of Texas at Dallas and a Master's in Counseling from Indiana University. "I wanted to become a Licensed Professional Counselor and have my own private practice. In order to do that, I knew I would need a master's degree," said O'Toole.
What was the biggest challenge you faced when pursuing your master's degree?
"I was in the financial industry as a research assistant. Leaving a steady full-time salary of over 10 years and returning to being a full-time college student was not easy. I had some fears about being an older student returning to school but it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be."
What was the biggest reward for earning the master's degree?
"Opening up my life to an entirely new career that I had only dreamed about for years was my reward. I enjoy going to work every day. I don't regret my career change. I wish I had gone back to school sooner."
What would you tell someone who is considering returning to school to earn a master's degree?
"If it is your passion or your dream, definitely move forward. Even if you have to do it on a part-time basis, you will finish and be closer to your goal. I worked on it step by step. I worked through my doubts as I considered a career change. I racked up some student loans but in the end, it was worth it. I would consider going back to get earn another master's. I really enjoyed the learning process."
Robin D. Everson is a native Chicagoan who resides in Dallas, Texas. Her appreciation for art, food, wine, people and places has helped her become a well-respected journalist. A life-long lover of education, Robin seeks to learn and enlighten others about culture. You can find her work at Examiner.com