When I was 5 years old, my parents opened our home to foster children. I remember learning about the children’s home life and hardships.

I believe these early exposures helped shape who I am today – cultivating my empathy, strengthening my desire to help others, and instilling a deep understanding and acceptance of the human experience.

At the age of 7, one foster sister came to live with us after being taken from her parents and separated from her siblings. Following her journey, I learned of the devastating losses of both her mother and daughter, who tragically died by suicide. I knew I wanted to help others – that mental health mattered! The field of psychology has enabled me not only to impact others, but also to learn from their stories and to grow as a woman.

We all have a story. Although mine may not include a diagnosis, I have experienced and witnessed challenges that have helped shape me and increase my resilience and gratefulness. I choose daily to focus on my physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental health. I also like to remember: it is when we fall that we can learn to get back up.

- Myriam L. Graham, Licensed Clinical/Counseling Psychologist at Graham & Associates Evaluation and Counseling Center