Gratitude, Grief, and Growth

About a month ago, my life changed in a way I never saw coming—but in the most beautiful way.

After graduation, I have balanced two jobs: my full time role in my original career and seeing counseling clients in the evenings. While I had little time for social gatherings or rest, it was a routine I enjoyed and knew well. 

At the end of May, during a 1:1 with my incredible boss, she mentioned the possibility of taking on more work. She meant it supportively—but it was the moment that sent me over the edge in making a career move. I realized I was exhausted and wanted to do counseling more than this career. I was burning the candle at both ends. And I couldn’t keep stretching myself so thin.

So I did something that scared me. I gave my notice and stepped fully into the mental health field for the very first time.

Leaving my full-time job was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made. That role was more than just work—it was creative, fast-paced, and fun! My team felt like family. I worked side-by-side with a boss who truly valued me which made walking away very difficult. I cried a lot. 

For the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of seeing clients at Harvest Therapeutic Services. From the first day I met Dr. Kelli Henderson, I knew I’d found something special in her. Her vision, drive, and mission for the clinic she built to provide excellent care to an underserved population. It left me curious and in awe. I told her very early on: “I’m not leaving Harvest!” 

Dr. Kelli  is one of the most talented therapists and supervisors I’ve encountered in my entire life. She has and continues to challenge me in ways I never dreamed of both personally and professionally. 

So when the time came, I called Dr. Kelli. And without hesitation, she created a role that was perfect for me. I now serve as the Director of Clinical Services and Operations at HTS—a job that blends all the things I love: clinical work, community outreach, marketing, operations, and standing alongside folks who truly show up for their clients in the most powerful ways.

And, while I’m only about a month in, it is the most “me” job I’ve ever had. And yet the transition has been overwhelming in ways I didn’t expect.

There have been moments where I couldn’t stop smiling and others where I absolutely unraveled. I’ve slept too little, and sometimes too much. My nervous system was used to crisis and burnout and not an influx of joy, gratitude, and grief all tangled together.

And I realized something: eating disorder recovery gave me tools for handling sadness, anger, fear, disappointment, and anxiety. But I wasn’t ready for the overwhelm of the good and how it was also dysregulating. 

It’s been a lot. And it’s still a lot.

But it’s honest. And I needed to write it out. Not as a neat story with a bow, but as a reminder that big changes, even joyful ones, are hard. That grief and celebration can coexist. That honoring one chapter doesn’t diminish the next. Sounds a lot like Living in the Hot Pink? 

If you’re in the middle of a transition—or feeling more than you think you “should”—you’re not alone.

Thanks for reading. I’m here if you ever want to talk.

 💗Mindy 

PS Stay tuned for more exciting blogs, mental health information, and fun memes by following @harvesttherapeuticservices on Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin!

Dr. Kelli Henderson and Marnie Urbach