(Photo: Via Google Images)
It is a long, hard journey down the road to achieving one’s dreams. As a licensed psychologist, mother of two, and teacher, among various other jobs, Dr. Joanne Heugel is a woman that is very familiar with this journey. Born into a family of missionaries, Dr. Heugel has lived almost all of her life in Nairobi, Kenya. She graduated from high school in Rosslyn Academy, and soon after, moved to the United States to pursue her dream of being a psychologist. “I always knew I was going to be a counselor,” says Dr. Heugel. “Oddly enough, in seventh grade, I played the role of a counselor, and I remember the play ending and having this feeling that that’s what I wanted to do.” However, following this dream was no easy feat. Countless hours spent working at internships, writing dissertations, and studying for exams dominated everyday life for Dr. Heugel as she worked toward passing her licensure exam and earning her doctorate degree. Paying school fees and managing debt was and still continues to be a struggle, however, the most challenging part was keeping motivation. “It’s a long journey—sometimes you forget why you’re there and you get lost in the work that needs to be done,” says Dr. Heugel. The loneliness resulting from being away from family and watching friends travel and start their own families while she remained in school was difficult, but she managed to find a good support system in her friends, and in 2009, she graduated with a Ph.D.
As Rosslyn Academy’s school counselor and psychologist, Dr. Heugel operates on a very busy schedule. She comes in to teach AP Psychology and a middle school safety class, runs daily student counseling, is a part of the member care team that reaches out to troubled staff members, develops the child safety office and necessary procedures, oversees teacher consultations, and tests for disabilities. All in one week. Dr. Heugel acknowledges the taxing nature of her job, and shares that one of her biggest problems is getting worn out. She describes a book that follows a character able to take on the pain of others, and in turn, heal others; however, the cost of taking others’ hurt is that the healer begins to age faster. “This story is a lasting mental image for me,” says Dr. Heugel. “While working and constantly taking on others’ burdens, if you’re not careful and giving those burdens to God, you end up feeling drained.” While her relaxed demeanor may fool you, Dr. Heugel admits that during counseling sessions, “Hearing the things that you hear is hard; seeing people at their lowest and not ready to seek help is hard. Sometimes you don’t get much recognition as a person behind the scenes. A lot of the time, even though you may be instrumental in a person’s success, the key lies more with them and how much effort they put in to sessions.” She continues to say that in light of the difficulties presented by her job, it all feels worth it because she feels that God has called her to be where she is now.
Going back to Dr. Heugel’s calm disposition, she notes that in order to be an effective psychologist, in addition to the necessary skill sets that one must possess, certain emotional qualities are vital, such as the ability to have insight into yourself, as well as others, in addition to being a good listener. “There’s an intuitive nature to it,” she explains. “The ability to analyze issues is key. You must have compassion, but not too much—just enough so that you can feel for the other person, but not be bogged down by their problems…because you have to maintain some kind of distance for your own well being, as well as the other person’s well being. If you get dragged in, you’re not going to be able to help them out.”
In order to maintain a balance between work and rest, Dr. Heugel tries to have a life outside of Rosslyn. She enjoys swimming, reading, unwinding in nature, spending time with family and friends, and visiting her parents’ orphanage. Despite the many sacrifices that must be made in an effort to follow one’s dream, Dr. Heugel advises people to know that sometimes, perseverance matters more than brains, and points out the importance of having a strong support system.
-Angel
A Culture of Us 