Finding My Therapy Home

BY: Desie Zylstra, LMHC

When I graduated in 2018, I was excited to finally get paid to do what I loved—therapy. At the time, I wasn’t asking myself, “Does this agency align with my long-term goals?” I was just thrilled at the idea of doing the work. But that short-term mindset quickly caught up with me.

I started a job, saw clients, got the long desired paycheck—and just as quickly felt the early signs of burnout. I began to question, is this even the right field for me?

After leaving that first post-grad position, I tried another agency. Still, something felt off. I didn’t feel like I belonged. I was exhausted and longing for something else, “doom scrolling” social media late one night I saw a post from Lisa Walters, a fellow VU grad school alum, talking about a new agency she had joined: Pillars of Wellness.

It was five minutes from my home. I thought maybe that was the missing piece (a short commute can solve everything, right?). But as I asked Lisa more questions, I realized it wasn’t just the location—it was the culture, the vision, the values. I decided to give it a shot.

Fast forward five years and I’ve found my therapy home.

Pillars had everything I didn’t know I was looking for:
✔️ A strong sense of community
✔️ Real flexibility
✔️ Endless opportunities for growth

I started as an independently contracted clinician. Today, I’m the Clinical Director of our largest office. The journey between those two points has been full of encouragement, mentorship, and trust.

Here, I’ve developed genuine friendships with people I love working alongside. We support one another through hard moments and celebrate together often (we’re big on team-building events!).

Leadership here is wonderful too. Our board members are accessible, kind, and truly invested in us. Amber, our CEO, once spent over an hour walking me through billing questions so I could better support my clients. Dr. Ashley Michalski, our COO, has been a constant source of support—always just a phone call away when I need to talk through something challenging.

If you’re a therapist still looking for your “therapy home,” I get it.

This work is hard. When you’re not in the right environment, it’s easy to burn out, even if you love the field. But finding the right fit? That changes everything.

At Pillars, I’ve felt valued, empowered, and seen. If you’re searching for a place where you can grow, feel supported, and actually enjoy your work again, we’d love to talk with you.

We’re hiring. And we’d love to welcome you to our team.