My guest is Mr. Mike Shook, creator and host of the wildly popular and always informative podcast, The Thoughtful Counselor. Mike is a mental health counselor in China, where he provides counseling to English speaking cross-cultural workers and immigrants living in Beijing. He is a National Certified Counselor and a licensed mental health counselor in the State of Florida. Prior to becoming a counselor, Mike worked in Central China for an NGO that provided care for children with medical needs.

Mike discusses what it’s like to live and practice counseling in China, explains how he strives to apply ethical counseling practices in a country where the profession is still emerging and unregulated, and describes what he’s learned about health and well-being from his Chinese colleagues. He also shares about the challenging and humbling nature of striving to become a more culturally competent clinician, highlights his strategies for receiving and integrating corrective feedback, and reflects on how hosting a mental health podcast has influenced his clinical work and professional identity.