Nathan Wilson

My name is Nathan Wilson. In 2004 I became a quadriplegic as a result of a motor vehicle accident. I have full motion of my arms, but I have no fine dexterity in my hands and I am unable to walk. I utilize an electric wheelchair for mobility. I never allowed my disability to define who I am as a person throughout my experience. After becoming disabled, I underwent several surgeries to increase my independence and increase the usability of the motor function I had remaining. I began Utilizing Vocational Rehabilitation services to help me reenter the workforce. With VR assistance, I was able to learn to drive and I was able to complete my education which includes an AA degree from Lake Sumter State College, a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Central Florida, a Master’s degree in clinical psychology from the University of Central Florida. After attaining my degree, I was able to begin work as a part-time mental health counselor in a private practice. I utilized cognitive behavioral, person centered, solution focused, and trauma focused therapeutic techniques to help individuals with a wide variety of co-occurring disorders. I also provided couples counseling, family counseling, and counseling with children as young as 8 years old. While working private practice, an opportunity presented itself and I became a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor providing assistance to individuals with physical, emotional, and mental disabilities find and maintain employment. Besides my professional life, I met my wife after my injury and we have been together since 2009. I engage in several hobbies that have allowed me to be creative and meet like-minded individuals. I live life believing that we are multifaceted beings with a physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual side and we can utilize our strengths in some areas to help cope with our deficits and others.