Theodora Slone’s Professional Journey to Becoming a Therapist

May 15

I wanted to take some time to introduce myself a little more in depth through this blog post. My name is Theodora Slone and I usually go by Tedi.

I went to Adelphi University for my undergraduate degree in Social Work and then to Stony Brook University for my Masters also in Social Work. I interned at the Department of Probation, Herstory, a non-profit helping incarcerated woman get their stories out, and FEGS, a non-profit that focused on helping people with severe mental illness live as normal of a life as possible with the proper supports in place. My journey to finding Social Work and a passion for mental health was not linear. I had 3 majors prior to declaring Social Work and really struggled to do well in school my freshman year. I majored first in English Education, Speech Pathology, and then Physical Therapy before finding Social Work. Even when starting my career I thought I would end up on a forensic/ mental health pathway but every time I had an opportunity to do 1-1 clinical work I would feel most fulfilled and most connected when building a strong connection and a therapeutic relationship that helps to foster growth and change for individuals. The work that I get to do each week is literally the coolest thing in the world and I could not be more grateful.

My post-graduate work has included substance use licensure, an intensive trauma course, and most recently I just finished a DBT (Dialetical Behavioral Therapy) training. I am consistently taking other continuing education trainings, but these are the three most intensive ones I have done, two of which has led to trauma and substance use certifications. I got into the mental health field not only for my professional passions but my own personal challenges that I have been able to turn into empathy and a deeper understanding for pain and suffering. I truly believe that we are all doing the best we can and life can be so hard sometimes, so why be alone in that struggle? Having a therapist you connect with and feel validated by can foster long term growth and understanding your story more in depth. I truly believe you do not need to know everything about your therapist to know that they get it.

Check out my social media for mental health humor, tips, and ways to connect with me:

With a smile,