From Classroom To Couch
A Midlife Reinvention
Sometimes the door you’d never choose is the one that finally opens.
Today I sit down with marriage and family therapist Chris Oneth to unpack a gritty pivot: from high school dropout to beloved history teacher… to therapist after a career-ending reset.
The move into therapy came with both fear and strange confirmation. An old wedding announcement resurfaced where he’d once said he wanted to become a therapist. The counseling office he visited at nineteen would later become his own. On his first day in mental health, he was handed the very laptop he’d use to finish his master’s degree.
He built on his teacher’s toolkit...the whiteboards, curriculum, presence...and developed a tri-relational model exploring our relationship with self, others, and environment.
This isn’t a glossy reinvention story.
It’s an honest look at identity, owning mistakes, and choosing action when the plan dissolves.
If this episode nudges you, follow the show, share it with someone who needs courage for a pivot, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find these conversations.
What’s the next brave step you’re ready to take?
If you’re feeling stuck — listen to that feeling. Ask why. Then send it.
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Guest Information
Chris Oneth is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) based in Modesto, California, and the Executive Director of Downey Park Counseling Associates. With a background in education and years of counseling experience, Chris works with individuals, couples, and families navigating identity, relationships, and life transitions — especially the questions that surface at midlife.
Outside the therapy room, Chris is a fellow adventurer, overlander, and motorcycle rider. Like Fletch, he’s partial to his Triumph motorcycle, spending time on the road and trail where reflection, perspective, and renewal tend to show up naturally.
Resources and Links
Downey Park Counseling
Chris Oneth - Personal Website
Venn Diagram - Purpose
Our Next Question - Podcast with Chris Oneth and Melanie Jones
Music used in this episode:
All music in this episode is licensed for use through Epidemic Sound.
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Quietly making noise,
Fletch
