Career change to be a therapist

[Anonymous]

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.

Wrong. I did this at 45. Social work degree is 2 years, 2 years to get LCSWC license. Get good internships, work on private practice with someone who is business savvy, be highly niched. I’m out of network with insurance, am highly trained in a few trauma modalities and gross $225k seeing approx 15 clients a week, 3 days a week, and run 1 group, I take a month off a year.

[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.

Wrong. I did this at 45. Social work degree is 2 years, 2 years to get LCSWC license. Get good internships, work on private practice with someone who is business savvy, be highly niched. I’m out of network with insurance, am highly trained in a few trauma modalities and gross $225k seeing approx 15 clients a week, 3 days a week, and run 1 group, I take a month off a year.

PP. got clinical hours and sad supervision at community mental health agency. Suggest getting outside supervision in addition to what you get in an agency. Very low pay in exchange for experience in the trenches and clinical hours. I saw every spectrum of client so that nothing phased me as it would stress someone else out.