Hello it seems like you have already gotten started now all you have to do is allow it to grow. Now if you want to be credentialed a good place to look would be in the area of obtaining a certificate. May I suggest you try for your substance abuse counseling certificate which will only take you about 9 months to 1 year to get and if you do decide to do this make sure you research the agency you are getting it from to make sure they are not handing out phony certificates. You can connect with the Office Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services through "SAMHSA" on the web for more information on getting your certificate. After getting your certificate you can began in several areas of counseling. You can even obtain college credits for it I hope this helped.


--
Sileah Grant

Clarissa

You are definitely not alone! I myself am also in a similar situation, and let me tell you that you have taken a huge step in that you have created a clear (or as clear as it can be right now) vision of what you want to do, be and do for others. You have tapped into the feeling!

I have only began to create my vision of being in service to others by getting as much as I can down on paper - what my vision is, and breaking it down to be as specific as possible, and continuing to develop it.
Once I was as clear as I felt I could get I started a group on Facebook, as well as a social networking account on twitter, to being getting in touch with others, expressing my vision and getting as much feedback as possible.
After I was able to tweak a few things I got a simple website put up (it was free when I registered my domain name with godaddy) and started a simple blog on wordpress.com

Like you I also have a degree in an industry that is almost completely unrelated with my new passion and purpose in life. So I have now begun researching different institutions where I can receive my certification to become a certified life coach. But while I do that I am constantly communicating with as many people as possible, offering what I can and building a following, so that once my certification is complete, I will have a strong base to support me.

I hope this helps you on your journey, and I wish you much luck, confidence, strength and prosperity!


--
Wishing you Freedom of Body, Mind, Spirit and LIfe!

Tara Villeneuve
Your Freedom Creation Coach

Freedom Management: Supporting Heart Centred Women Everything in creating their unique vision of Freedom!

http://www.Freedom-Management.com

Hi Clarissa.

As one who’s attended many seminars in my life, I can tell you what I always want to know about a speaker before I am willing to part with my money and/or my time. I always want to know: Who is this person and why do I want to listen to them? What do they know that I don’t know? Why do they know it? How are they going to convey their wisdom/experience to me? Do we have anything in common? Can I believe them? Do I like them? I guess you could say I want their credentials, whatever they might be, be it education, life experience, background, work, etc.

I’d say look at what motivational speakers inspire you, and see how they got to where they are. Check out their bio and learn from that. There’s an interesting book that’s now in the public domain, so you can download it free from the internet. It’s called “Think and Grow Rich!” by Napoleon Hill. It’s not at all what it sounds like. It’s about using spiritual principles to manifest your heart’s desire. It gives examples of how very successful people have done it. Because it’s now in public domain there’s dozens of new versions too so if you think about buying a hard copy, be sure and scrutinize all the reviews by readers to be sure you get a version that’s true to the original. I just got my copy! And if you’re curious, go to YouTube and type Napoleon Hill in the search field. You’ll find NH himself talking about how to think and grow rich. Rich meaning more than just money. I think it’s fascinating. Maybe you will too. Just a suggestion.

As for how you should go about it? I’m not qualified to say, but off the top of my head, it seems as though you are in the perfect place to start, right where you are, at your church. Maybe you could write inspiring/motivational essays in the church bulletin. If there’s no bulletin, start one. If people like what you have to say in your essays, they may want to come to a talk.

I don’t think you could be a counselor, without a degree. Is it possible, as an elder, to counsel fellow church members without a degree? I don’t know but you could find out.

Last, why don’t you think of yourself as your first client, and try to think of what you would say to someone like yourself who came to you asking for inspiration to make a dream come true?

I wish you the best; we all need a little inspiration once in a while!

Sweetgrass

Well, I at first may seem to be offering advice for a problem that I, myself, have, but in actuality my situation is different. I have the potential to change millions of people's lives for the better, but I am not a "front person" of sorts. It's more my nature to be a teacher, a behind-the-scenes guide, like I would make a great TV writer or producer, but I have no interest in being in the limelight, that sort of thing.

I would advise you to absolutely follow your heart, and begin by initiating/asserting a *place to be* from which you will build a following for yourself that also helps to present and establish your interests and your credibility in the eyes of others, and the best way to do that is online, as a first step, because that is just where everything happens to be these days.

Create a website and message board for yourself that, upon first glance, first experience, provides the *atmosphere* your heart overall intends to share with your audience. Ask yourself, in your heart of hearts, if that first impression is also the last impression you hope to make. In other words, are people drawn to you for the right reasons? Does your atmosphere speak to them, very deeply, and cause them to feel such a need to stay, and listen, and explore and learn?

Then, provide a carefully considered synopsis of your purpose, being sure to be inviting and open, as well as open to listening and exploring and learning yourself.

Create your message board as if a written version of your motivational speaking and counseling sessions that are to later become sessions "in person." Explore your community and discover the specific needs of the people who would most likely attend your seminars or sessions, and begin to address those specific needs.

Explore the option of linking yourself to social networks, locating the folks in your community, and, of those, the folks interested in what you have to offer. Invite them to your online *establishment* and once they arrive and are settled, ask them to bring their similar-minded friends!

With an online foundation for yourself and your community and its needs, which also serves as a place for you to grow and explore and learn-as-you-go toward your own goal, and having established yourself as a credible person of interest who has tried-and-true areas of expertise or insight, you are then in a position to take your work into your community "in person," with a website and continued-access following for those who come to your sessions (which establishes trust), and perhaps with a way for yourself and your following to share and enjoy photos and print-outs, create inspirational potlucks and yard sales, etc., toward collectively assisting those in need. Encouraging those you assist to participate in helping others also helps them to grow in the process, so "collective" is a really good thing!

On the side, explore the option of volunteering with agencies that provide assistance and training in your areas of interest, take a course or two with adult education services offered at many high schools and community and recreation centers, and let your heart lead the way with every new step you take, every new move you make!

Enjoy the process, which ultimately IS your end goal!

You start by talking ----- in public------- as often as you can manage.

The first 1000 talks will knock off the rough edges in your presentation style.
Where do you talk ---- anywhere people will have you.

Toastmasters will show you how. Your church will guide your spirit. Your personal likes will lead you to what to talk about.

Where? Church. Nursing Homes and senior communities. Charities are always looking for speakers. MLM will teach you how to sell with your talk .Public libraries have free rooms to give talks. The local newspaper and CraigsList will get the dates out for free. Community centers are always looking for teachers. So are the adult education branch of your local school districts. Boys and Girls clubs. YMCA YWCA,.

After about 500 free talks you will see topics that you can form into a seminar and charge money for. After that the process becomes less about the talk and more about promotion to get chairs in the room filled. If you can not embrace the promotion aspect of public speaking you will not make much money in this field. Even when you have a room full of people , the last thing you talk to them about is the next talk you are giving and why they should come.

PROMOTION --- you can't just hire someone else to do it for you either. Staff can help but you are the one people listen to. The biggies still do their own promotion -- Toni Robbins , Brian Tracy, Ellie Drake all self promote.

Best of luck to you - your message deserves an audience. -Roni

How do I start this new journey when I don't even know where to begin?

I am not even sure how to put this into words b/c of so much going on in my brain right now, but here goes:

As time goes by, I am becoming more and more uncomfortable doing what I am doing in life, because I know what I should be doing! I went to school for Medical Office Specialist, which I never assumed a position, b/c after working in Customer Service for such a long period of time, I enjoyed that so much...!

Anyway, after getting closer to God and getting ordained as an Elder, I begin learning more and more things about me as a person, and the one need I have to speak and teach people. That is where my enjoyment lies and everyday, I am just wondering how can I start this thing off? What things do I need to do to get into motivational speaking and counseling full time? How can I make this as a career for myself, especially since I didn't go to school for that. How do I make this career change?

I have recently moved to Lawrenceville Ga and just joined a new church, in which I am sure eventually I will begin speaking again. But, I don't just want to do it when I am preaching etc. This is what I love to do....This is what I have a passion to do...This is what I want to do.....

Please forgive me if this post doesn't make any sense. There is just this big baby on the inside of me that is ready to be birth and I have no idea how to start the delivery process....So do you have any info that can be helpful to me? Any suggestions, etc?

Where do I begin?

Seeking,

Clarissa