On September 11, 2001, the world changed forever. More than 2,900 people were killed in the attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. First responders across the country answered the call to help recovery efforts—including National Certified Counselor (NCC), Jonsye Wurthmann.
“I didn’t pause before deciding to go. I just went because I knew it was the right thing to do,” Wurthmann says.
Wurthmann has been an NCC since 1997. She says the confidence of holding the NCC helped her support individuals in the aftermath of 9/11.
A week after the attack, Wurthmann arrived in New York City. The collapsed World Trade Center still burned, and the acrid scent of smoke permeated the air. Wurthmann carried peppermints in her pockets to alleviate the stench and gave them to people as they collectively struggled to grasp what had happened.
Transportation temporarily stopped flowing in and out of the city. Buses were used as places for family members to fill out paperwork to report missing relatives. Wurthmann was stationed on a bus to support and console family members. As families waited in line, she asked about their experiences and how she could support them.
“It was very powerful, incredibly sad, incredibly difficult,” Wurthmann says. “I had never witnessed anything like that in my lifetime. It was a very moving experience, but knowing that I could make a small contribution in my own way has made a huge difference in my life.”
Wurthmann says the experience taught her the importance of simply being present with people. It transformed her philosophy as a counselor and impacts her work today.
“The possibilities are endless if we pause long enough to know what our ideal selves and our ideal lives could look like,” Wurthmann shares.
After Wurthmann served in New York City, she returned to her private practice, Carolina Counseling & Consulting, in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
Wurthmann supports clients who are struggling with anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorders. She also provides counseling to support relationships, job dissatisfaction, and family systems.
Early in her career, Wurthmann recognized how she could support her clients further. She became an NCC and has maintained the certification for nearly 30 years. Continuing education is a hallmark of the NCC, and Wurthmann says it helps her stay current in the counseling profession.
“We don’t have all the answers within us. So, it’s really our obligation to go out there and find those answers,” she says.
Wurthmann’s clients learn from her commitment to continuing education. When clients see her dedication, some feel inspired and apply a mindset of growth to their healing journey. Wurthmann says she doesn’t want clients to settle. She wants to see them learn and improve as she grows as a counselor.
Counseling is an evolving profession, with new research informing counseling practice. Wurthmann explains this is especially important because the world has changed since she began her career. Maintaining her NCC helps her stay current on changes in the profession and global changes that impact counseling—like national disasters.
Wurthmann’s experience and passion as a counselor inspire clients and other counselors. She often asks newer counselors what it would look like for them to be the best version of themselves as a professional. After they respond, she tells them to take action by becoming that person, their best version.
“If you want to be a great counselor, you have to work at it. You have to continue to grow. You have to continue to learn. You have to continue to have an open mindset,” Wurthmann says.
Jonsye Wurthmann, MEd, NCC, LPC, has a Certificate in Nutrition and Healthy Living from Cornell University. She is also a Certified Heroic Workshop Instructor. Wurthmann is the CEO and Co-Founder of Carolina Counseling & Consulting in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. She has a Master of Education degree from The Citadel.
