The Path You've Chosen

[DISCLAIMER]

Having already attained a Master of Arts in Counseling degree (2011), I sat in an office at my Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) internship sight for the final semester when earning a Master of Science in Social Work degree (2014). I then thought about the path I’d chosen.

Speaking about the field of mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”) with my internship preceptor (an experienced professional who mentors, trains, and supervises an intern during one’s practical training), we discussed my potential opportunities.

My preceptor informed me that the VA was, at the time, one of the employers who paid the most money for social work services. Still, she also cautioned me that the mental health field wasn’t a particularly lucrative occupational option for those who sought a relatively wealthy lifestyle.

I discussed with her that due to a host of physiological and psychological conditions from my military service (1996-2007), disability compensation from the VA afforded me an opportunity to live relatively well if I stayed within my financial means. Thus, I didn’t need to work.

“I’ve chosen this path, because it’s what I’d do if I were independently wealthy—as though I’d won the lottery or retired, and didn’t have to work,” I explained. My preceptor looked at me in a skeptical way, smirked, and took a drag on her vape pen—which wasn’t prohibited at that time.

“I think you’re gonna be alright,” my preceptor then responded. I miss those conversations with her. Now, over a decade later, I’m reminded of the psychotherapeutic modality that I practice, as well as a book that tends to align well with my approach to mental health care.

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius stated, “Love the humble art you have learned, and take rest in it. Pass through the remainder of your days as one who whole-heartedly entrusts all possessions to the gods, making yourself neither a tyrant nor a slave to any person” (page 213).

Given my unique set of circumstances, the “humble art” I’ve learned is how to try to help people concerning their mental health needs. This is a path I first chose in adolescence, when living in a children’s home, as I informally began the practice of life coaching at the time.

Adding to my education, training, and experience, I earned graduate degrees and official certification for the delivery of REBT psychoeducational lessons, as I became a psychotherapist. In a balanced fashion, I remain mindful to become “neither a tyrant nor a slave to any person.”

Not beholden to a bureaucratic system, similar to various agencies with whom I’ve worked when tailoring my professional mental health care skills, the path I’ve chosen is ideal for my particular situation. Similar to this perspective, authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 213):

Whatever humble art you practice: Are you sure you’re making time for it? Are you loving what you do enough to make the time? Can you trust that if you put in the effort, the rest will take care of itself? Because it will. Love the craft, be a craftsman.

It’s challenging to imagine a career path which is better suited for me than what I’ve chosen. I’m genuinely content with what I do. If you can’t say the same regarding your unique circumstances, what can (or will) you do about it? The path you’ve chosen is yours. Own it!

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

References:

Daily Stoic. (n.d.). Translating the Stoics: An interview with “The Daily Stoic” co-author Stephen Hanselman. Retrieved from https://dailystoic.com/stephen-hanselman-interview/

Holiday, R. and Hanselman, S. (2016). The daily stoic: 366 meditations on wisdom, perseverance, and the art of living. Penguin Random House LLC. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-daily-stoic-366-meditations-on-wisdom-perseverance-and-the-art-of-living-d61378067.html

Hollings, D. (2025, May 7). C is for contentment and that’s good enough for me. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/c-is-for-contentment-and-that-s-good-enough-for-me

Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2024, May 17). Feeling better vs. getting better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/feeling-better-vs-getting-better-1

Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better

Hollings, D. (2025, September 7). Have to. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/have-to

Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/

Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2024, March 4). Mental, emotional, and behavioral health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/mental-emotional-and-behavioral-health

Hollings, D. (2025, November 16). Mental health, mental illness, and mental disorder. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/mental-health-mental-illness-and-mental-disorder

Hollings, D. (2025, September 8). Need to know. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/need-to-know

Hollings, D. (2026, January 17). Own it: Yeah, ‘dat me! Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/own-it-yeah-dat-me

Hollings, D. (2025, October 27). Physiological and psychological fitness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/physiological-and-psychological-fitness

Hollings, D. (2024, January 1). Psychoeducation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychoeducation

Hollings, D. (2023, September 15). Psychotherapeutic modalities. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapeutic-modalities

Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt

Hollings, D. (2024, April 21). Stoicism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/stoicism

Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

Hollings, D. (2025, July 3). Trust the process. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/trust-the-process

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Electronic cigarette. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_cigarette

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Marcus Aurelius. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Ryan Holiday. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Holiday