I have worked in so many different environments that it has really opened my eyes to a wide variety of life experiences.
On a personal level, I am a survivor of child abuse and neglect. I know all too well the pain of rejection by family members and that of bullying at school when all you need is a little bit of sympathy.
I went on to pursue a degree in psychology from the University of Maryland, where I volunteered to work with victims of elder abuse, recovering heroin addicts, and juveniles with psychiatric disorders. I graduated with high honors and went on to become a parole officer for mentally ill offenders on supervised release where I worked with people who were often victims and perpetrators of violent crimes. I completed my Master's degree in Applied Research and currently work as an Analyst for a large staffing company.
My approach is more gentle and non-judgmental. Everyone makes mistakes and sometimes, you just need someone to listen without them jumping to conclusions about who you are as a person. I'll let you lead the conversation and just sit back to ask questions to help you work through your own problem. If you aren't comfortable talking about something, I don't push.
I don't usually give advice, but if you ask for it, I will do my best, though I think it is best if you can talk through your problem and realize your own solutions. Everyone is different, so a stranger's advice isn't always going to be the best thing for you.