Career change to be a therapist

[Anonymous]

A lot of community mental health agencies will allow workers to complete internship hours on the clock. They will assign the worker to a different program (say adults vs kids, day treatment vs crisis, etc) for the internship hours. Something to look into, it's very common at nonprofit agencies. Alternatively, the VA will pay interns and in some cases do extensive counseling training.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of community mental health agencies will allow workers to complete internship hours on the clock. They will assign the worker to a different program (say adults vs kids, day treatment vs crisis, etc) for the internship hours. Something to look into, it's very common at nonprofit agencies. Alternatively, the VA will pay interns and in some cases do extensive counseling training.

The issue is I work in Finance, don't think i qualify for a community mental health position without a degree or experience on the field

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of community mental health agencies will allow workers to complete internship hours on the clock. They will assign the worker to a different program (say adults vs kids, day treatment vs crisis, etc) for the internship hours. Something to look into, it's very common at nonprofit agencies. Alternatively, the VA will pay interns and in some cases do extensive counseling training.

The issue is I work in Finance, don't think i qualify for a community mental health position without a degree or experience on the field

MSW program PP here.

Honestly, that might not matter. The position that I was offered was in a community mental health agency. My only experience in the field is my education and a 9-month internship. They didn't care. It only affected the salary they were offering. You might find (as I have) that many of these agencies are so desperate for warm bodies that they do not care as much about field-specific experience as you'd think. That said, the low salary + the desperation is also worth considering. Ultimately, that + the logistical complications are why I turned the job down.

[Anonymous]

Good to know, i might try to see if I can get something on the field then, even if it's part time whike in school so I can graduate with some experience and put myself in a better position for jobs down the road

[Anonymous]

Alternatively, here is a Peter Singer piece on why corporate workers who want to do the most good should stay where they are and donate a portion of their income instead of switching fields or volunteering. If you could donate say 50k a year of your finance salary (and potentially more over time) you could probably change a lot of lives, for example instead of being a therapist to battered women encouraging them to leave an abusive spouse by talking about it, you could provide safe housing to three families by donating to a nonprofit that provides housing with HUD contracts.

http://www.theage.com.au/small-business/dont-volunteer-go-back-to-work-the-new-dogooders-getting-bang-for-their-buck-20170323-gv4lgw.html

[Anonymous]

Would you be interested in corporate facilitation or career coaching? It would allow you to help people work through challenges but wouldn't require the years of formal education and licensing as social work or counseling. AND you'd probably have a better chance of making a pretty good salary, especially if you can hook up with one of the major consulting firms. With your business and finance background, you'd be in a good position to understand the needs of an organization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alternatively, here is a Peter Singer piece on why corporate workers who want to do the most good should stay where they are and donate a portion of their income instead of switching fields or volunteering. If you could donate say 50k a year of your finance salary (and potentially more over time) you could probably change a lot of lives, for example instead of being a therapist to battered women encouraging them to leave an abusive spouse by talking about it, you could provide safe housing to three families by donating to a nonprofit that provides housing with HUD contracts.

http://www.theage.com.au/small-business/dont-volunteer-go-back-to-work-the-new-dogooders-getting-bang-for-their-buck-20170323-gv4lgw.html

I can see how organizations could feel this way. Its the constant battle of money vs volunteers and I can understand both sides of the argument. For me, personally time is a much more precious commodity in my life right now. If I donate my time it is only for something I really believe in deeply. Money I give relatively freely, but my time is much more important to me. Giving of my skills is selfish on my part. If I can use my talents to help out, it makes me feel good, and that is very selfish I know. As far as the career change though, im just not happy with Finance, thought about it for a while and wondered if in the end, I wouldnt feel miserable staying in a career that didn't fulfill me just for the monetary benefits. I think there are other considerations that are far more important than money when looking at this...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would you be interested in corporate facilitation or career coaching? It would allow you to help people work through challenges but wouldn't require the years of formal education and licensing as social work or counseling. AND you'd probably have a better chance of making a pretty good salary, especially if you can hook up with one of the major consulting firms. With your business and finance background, you'd be in a good position to understand the needs of an organization.

That seems ineteresting, im open to exploring it some more. Where do you see these types of positions and what job description/titles should I look for?

[Anonymous]

Nonprofits are always desperate for good finance people. I work in mental health and getting paid, working to budget, getting financing for big projects, etc are critical tasks to the mission of the agency.

[Anonymous]

Op here- update: i just got admitted to the MSW program i applied for. I was freaking out not having a background in this or work experience and having only applied to one school. Thank you to everyone who has supported me througout this. Im excited and scared at the same time. The next 2 years will be interesting if you have any tips, do share !

[Anonymous]

Hi OP … this thread is many years old, but I came across it because I’m about to take the same step you did in 2017. If you see this message, would be interested in knowing how this turned out for you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP … this thread is many years old, but I came across it because I’m about to take the same step you did in 2017. If you see this message, would be interested in knowing how this turned out for you!

I’m curious too! I work in a therapy adjacent position. I do not believe the salaries quoted are at all accurate based on my work in the field. I know many many therapists earning $200-$250 an hour. There’s a shortage. The issue is the first years building a practice you will likely make less as most accept insurance until they have name recognition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't recommend it. You're talking about a potential 10+ year commitment to get a practice up and running with all the schooling, licensure, training, client base building, etc. Of course there are stores of people with private practices making $100k but they work hard for it. The more likely outcome is you work a few years in community mental health until you get your license (for $35-$50k per year) then burn out or open up a reasonable private practice, making say $50-$70k.

Really? The pay is that low even in private practice?

I would say that this is somewhat accurate but if the goal is to be a therapist getting an MSW is a better option. And joining a practice can be better than being a solo practitioner. But pay can vary a lot. What you can charge, how many clients you have, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Im 34 and work in Finance but looking for a career change. I've loved psychology, snything that has to do with the brain, mind for a long time and im exploring options in that firld, especially therapy/couseling more specifically relationship/marriage therapist. Don't really know much about the field though, so if ure a therapist could you tell me more about the work, day in the life, personal satiisfaction ect Also how many years of schooling will this require? What type of defree ect, is it easy to start a new practice? Do you think im too old to go this route at my age? Would you recommend or not? What are the typical salary for someone starting out, established? Earning potential etc. Any advice appreciated. TIA

You could try working at a place like Concert Health, behavioral health ACA, values-based. THey would train you, you'd work on a doctor team, and do more 4-6 month patients and often on zoom.

[Anonymous]

Why would you WANT to be a therapist?