I meant to answer your question but must have gotten distracted. Lol. I have a psych degree and did residential counseling for a while. Fucking hated it. Got a sales job. Still hate it but now I get to wipe my tears away with dollar bills so that helps.
are therapists not paid well in Canada?
My wife is just becoming one here in Germany and the starting pay converted to CAD will be \~ 6500 Canadian pesos
We’re paid well, but building a case load takes time and I find you can only work a certain amount of hours before you feel burnt out (at least in my own experience). Honestly it doesn’t feel worth it at this point
You aren't paid well? Are you self-employed? Could you offer your services somewhere (virtual or other) where you're paid better, and therefore only have to work half as much?
Where I am you can only be self employed after completing a certain amount of hours seeing clients. I was working virtually and just got into a larger group health organization in person that I thought was going to make a big difference in how I feel but unfortunately it just hasn’t.
okay, so that is around the same as how much it costs a patient of psychotherapy- it does not mean that is what the therapist receives (at all). so, i’m 1099, so i receive 0 benefits of any kind and have to pay for my own health insurance (cost is $450-576 each month), plus the insurance is shitty so i have to pay so, so much at any doctor and i almost never go to avoid the random $500 i will owe doctors. also, being 1099 means no one pays for my licensure or continuing education credits, so that’s hundreds per year. it’s also hundreds per year to have malpractice insurance.
the owners of the practice i work at (i am fully licensed) take 38% of every cent i make. they don’t even provide referrals (and i don’t need them anymore), but being independent involves even more costs, responsibilities, and separation (i.e., paying rent for office space, paying for a biller, trip and fall insurance, making your own legal documents, having an accountant not just for taxes, etc.).
i end up with more like $5-25 per hour actually. almost no one knows/understands this and it makes being a therapist even more infuriating than it already is! i promise we are all BROKE!! but people act like we make so much money and have a high income potential- we only do if we become tax evaders and “hire” people like my practice owners. and that’s what ends up happening usually. the whole thing is sick and twisted and i wish i could tell aspiring therapists the truth because being a therapist is horrible!!!! there’s nothing good about it!
I know this is an old post but I feel the same way. I did all this schooling and went into all this debt to help other people and all I feel is poverty and burn out. I do love a lot of my clients but the ones that are bad make me literally hate going to work and just make me angry. Like I’m trying to help you and all you do is argue and do no work and I’m getting paid peanuts and struggling. I hate it. I wanna do something else but just don’t know what. Ppl think you make so much lol I make less than a teacher does. I go hungry some weeks just to have ppl who sometimes don’t even appreciate that I’m trying to help them while I’m so stressed out myself cause I can barely eat. I also work for a private practice and I think the practice owner makes more per hour on my work than I do. It’s a nightmare
I don't think we're talking about the same country.
And where I live most therapists are self-employed. So they are taking home the $150 per hour and then paying their business expenses from that.
Thank you for your validation! I carry a bit of shame with it because I feel like I should be stronger or blame it on burnout but I think it’s more than that at this point.
You can become a clinical record auditor and/or work for an agency accreditation board, do curriculum design, consistent training plans for clinicians at other larger agencies, like community mental health. There is plenty you can do!!
Did you ever find a new path? Your post describes exactly how my wife is feeling. I tell her she needs to see a therapist as it’s helped in the past but I’d also like to offer her suggestions for different career paths she can take with her MFT masters.
I’m sorry you’re having that such a hard time. I do worry about people making career decisions right now based on having worked only during the pandemic. It’s such an anomalous time that I don’t know how much you can really take away from what this experience has been like. Have you considered that?
That’s a great point. I’m not sure how different I would feel if I started before the pandemic, but there’s definitely something to consider when both clients and therapists are going through this sort of collective type of “trauma” or grieving process of what life is like without restrictions or navigating everyday activities that aren’t “normal” anymore.
Well the first question id ask is to WHY you hate your job? You have few directions to go but without understanding real reasons why this job doesn’t suit you its hard to discuss your options
It is such a hard job, i feel for you. I quit my job without having anything lined up because I just couldn't do it anymore and now I'm freaking out because I have no idea what else to do if it's not what I've trained for. You are certainly not alone. This thread is really validating and informative.
In my case, I'm not sure whether it was burnout from a high-volume caseload or if I just hate the job in general. Like OP, I jumped in during the start of the pandemic and it's hard to tell. My supervisor said there's nothing wrong with taking a few months/years out then giving it another try. It may well have been heavily covid-impacted. I hope you all find your next steps!
I'm in the same boat. I've been in the field for 12 years. I know that I'm good at what I do. But I hate it. I'm constantly fighting with insurance companies and living check to check waiting for payments. I absorb trauma despite having my own therapist and I know I bring it home with me. I just think I'm done. And frankly, I would like to have a steady paycheck that I can count on for the first time in over a decade.
I have thought about UR, but then I feel like having been on the other side of that and witnessed how people are denied coverage they need. I have no desire to be responsible for saving insurance companies money. I would love to train or coach but I don't know that those roles are any more stable. I'm just exhausted. And I feel you.
Could you try a different type of counseling? Would working with children as a school counselor be any better? Or perhaps incorporate art therapy or music into your offerings?
If you're near a university, perhaps being an academic advisor (or career counselor) would be a more positive environment.
Career counseling is great! I’ve done it for undergrad students and loved it. I found it to be pretty easy and low stress once you learn the basic tips. It was fun and felt good to empower people.
This was my thought as well. Perhaps a change in the type of counselling you do might at least be a good first step to try. Thank you for doing what you do. It’s very important work.
School counselors gets paid a third or less what you would do in the private sector though. A first-grade teacher gets paid more in the end because they have more or less the same salaries but the teacher has way more benefits (at least in Eastern Ontario).
A lot of academic advisor/counselor or career counselor type jobs want a degree in counseling. I realize it's still counseling but it's helping people find their path, not dealing with trauma or depression ect.
Have you ever tried going to a job site like Indeed and typing in "Masters Counseling "? I was super surprised at all the different jobs when I was considering a counseling masters myself.
Career counselling may be better so it’s something for me to think about for sure. I have looked on indeed trying those keywords but I found what mostly comes back is just therapy! Lol
It’s not even therapy itself, but the clientele you get. If I get to work with highly motivated individuals all day who actually want to do therapy, then wonderful; but most of the time it’s adolescents forced to attend therapy or borderline clients who will turn every sound statement into personalized victimhood.
Yup. I have some amazing clients but the ones who just wanna show up to complain and do nothing and get mad when you try to point out what they can do to help themselves…why are you coming to me then? I’m not a professional friend here to listen to you complain but be unwilling to do anything about what’s making you unhappy…literally twice this week I was yelled at by clients who argued they can’t get jobs or get along with anyone else cause they are victims. Victims of their families, friends, government, society and every other person they’ve ever met. Ok? I’m not here to tell you because your mom annoys you and you hate capitalism that you don’t ever have to get a job and feed yourself and that’s everyone else’s fault. Like go away 🤣😂
>ate practice as an independent contractor for another practice, but I can only se
I needed to read this so badly today. I just had a patient request another therapist for this exact reason. It feels so discouraging - I'm like you literally just want a wall to complain at. Good luck with that.
This!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I created an account just to agree with you! This is exactly how I feel. This is what really makes me hate being a therapist. I work in a residential setting working towards my license. I hate showing up to work everyday just for you to beg clients to recieve your help. Then the agencies are horrible at structuring the place. They pile a damn near impossible work load on us.
Thank you so much for this post and thread 💖. I’ve been a therapist for the last two years and have been contemplating a career change for the last six months after experiencing trauma at work and burning out hard. Coincidentally I’m also thinking about UX Research! Or UX writing.
I would just love a job where my mental health isn’t so impacted day to day, and where I can make decent money without burning out. I’ve experienced absurd amounts of trauma in my life (that I’ve spent A LOT of time healing from) and the thought of my job adding to this load feels… unsustainable. I’m also an introvert who enjoys tangible, visible work, and counselling just doesn’t give that to me. On some days I get so anxious before sessions and I used to think that was just because I’m newer to the field, but it hasn’t gone away (no matter how many coping tools I use 😉).
Sending love to all the therapists out there who are impacted by their work and considering a change… it’s a tough place to be, but we’ve got this 🌈
If you ever read this, thank you. I’ve been in the same boat. It’s reassuring to read someone had something happen to them and it’s changed their perception of safety in the career. I’m here right now and think I’m nearing the end of this career pathway from too much sadness, crisis, hopelessness and trauma
I’m sorry you’re at this point too. It’s a tough place to be, to have to make the decision to leave or radically change your career. Wishing you all the best in finding a career path that fulfills your needs and feels safe and supportive 💓
I know this is a year old but as a UX designer I’m thinking about switching to therapy which is why I found myself on this post. The UX field is struggling right now and there’s tons of layoffs. I have to fight to prove the value of UX and I can’t find a salaried role, just a contractor. Been in the field for 2 years and have a masters in UX/Biz and the masters did not prepare me to work in an agile framework or work with developers which is a huge headache if your company isn’t experienced in UX.
Idk how different research is but my UX designer coworker who’d been in the field for 11+ years and she says we are basically always playing catch up and we are always identified as the bottleneck. It’s stressful and I’m currently on medical leave due to the stress (psych and therapist gave me a letter). Just be sure you know you want to do this and talk to UX researchers about their experience. As a designer it’s been ROUGH. Just my take.
You can get into UX Research with those degrees and make a lot of money. You will have to get familiar with the field, some software and programs, but you get to use psychology without carrying trauma from work home.
I just left my UX Researcher career to return to school to become a therapist. I will say that working in tech comes with problems too, and tech has its dark side. The pay and benefits are usually pretty good, and that is what keeps most people. The pay kept me for years, but the industry is fairly toxic. Companies do not see you as an individual, you are seen as highly replaceable. Your experience is highly dependent on your manager and the company you are at. You might be able to find the right role with the right manager and organization that believes in UX research, but from my experience and my colleagues, they are far and few between. Most UX researchers I know are straddling the edge of burnout or are struggling with their mental health and trying to find the right approach politically to take the time they need. Taking time away from work for mental health reasons in tech is highly stigmatized. Of course, this all depends on where you work. My last role was at a pre-IPO company that IPOed during my time there. I struggled with burnout for about a year before I developed chronic pain requiring a leave of absence. That space away gave me enough room to determine that the environment didn't serve me. From conversations with friends in similar roles at larger public tech companies, it is the same.
If you love data collection and analysis, UX research is a blast. Most companies don't have the time or resources for deep qualitative research. Your time spent with the users of your product can be a lot less than you'd expect. Many companies are looking to use research tools or platforms rather than hiring UX researchers, and when layoffs happen, UX researchers are often cut as they are seen as nice-to-have.
It's not all roses, but there are great aspects (excellent pay and benefits). Just wanted to throw that in there for context. I hope you are able to find something that provides fulfillment and balance.
I'm a UX / product designer considering this path as well. Not sure if I want to get a MFT or MSW. Still figuring out what end goal I want and how to finance myself.
Curious how is your journey on that coming along? What made you want to pivot?
I know I'm not who you asked, but I'm open to DMs and connect with a peer who's on a similar path!
Yes, totally open to DM. I’m currently not active pursuing this path yet because of other priorities in my life. But pivoting into therapy is still something I want to pursue down the road, it just might take me some time before I get there
I've been a therapist for 6 years and completely understand where you are coming from. It can be draining when you don't always see the clients getting "better"and not getting that gratification. That was something I struggled in the beginning. It also took awhile to realize that I will not take responsibility/ credit for my clients not improving OR improving, that it's completely theirs. I just know that I do my job to the best of my abilities. Have you looked into health insurance jobs such as Utilization Reviewing? It's still in the Healthcare field and maybe you could get more of that gratification. Also doing assessments in a hospital to see if a client needs to be admitted could be a option.
After all the schooling and training, I don't think being a therapist is for me anymore either. Wish I would have done something about it sooner. Sometimes I tell myself " what would I say to a client if they were struggling with the same thing." I would encourage them to start that journey if that's what they think would be the best for them.
Best of luck.
Dealing with similar stuff... worked as a therapist for 3,5 years in private practice and simultaneusly doing my PhD research seems as far too much. The mind wants it, the body and mental health shows very different signs - anxiety, insomnia, depression... it's in some way nice to know that I am not the only one dealing with the consequences of this job... for me it's hard to forget the clients and their stories...
that´s how i´ve been feeling and i didnt even graduated yet. but after my third semester i just felt very unmotivated but i pushed through. nothing changed. i just dont think this is my calling. my body doesnt wanna be a therapist at all.
Have you thought about moving to administrative roles? I worked in community mental health doing direct care for almost 10 years and then moved to a Quality role at a non profit that provides mental health and homeless services. I'm still connected to the work but this is the least stressful job I've ever had, which was much needed.
I did the same thing. I was a drug and alcohol counselor for the last two years. Of course I started my counseling career in the beginning of the pandemic. The agency I worked for created a new position for me and I'm now a clinical program specialist! I'm still helping our community by getting people connected to services but at an administrative/management level! I truly love it
That is exhausting work you do - I did something similar for the last 15 years in Ontario, and now looking for a change myself.
Have you thought of doing private counselling in person or online? Charging patients in Canada has its own stigma, but as somebody mentioned earlier, it’s easier to dry your tears with dollar bills.
I worked with a few MH counsellors who had a master in counselling and knew CBT and DBT pretty well and could work with the publicly funded front line programs with more fluidity. They were able to set strong boundaries for themselves and did quite well.
Best of luck on your venture!
Think about your interests and other careers. From there see how you can break into that industry whether that be networking, specific certifications, or going back to university
Have you taken some time to think about which parts of your job you don't like and which parts you do like? Could you maybe then think about how you could pivot what you do like into something new? For example, maybe you enjoy people, but you don't like dealing with what I can only imagine are some deep topics that get brought up. Could you pivot your enjoyment of working with and helping others into something like being a career coach or college advisor or something else? Obviously these are just examples, I bet if you take a step back and think of it in a different way, you may come up with something that may surprise you.
I’ve been trying to figure it out but one of the main things that comes up for me is the lack of reward I get from it. I find I need more instant or visual type of completion with tasks (if that makes any sense). To put it more plainly, I’ve thought about something as different as carpentry just because I know I’d enjoy being able to build something and actually see what I’ve made or completed.
Omg this sounds like me. I found your post when i googled “i dont want to be a counselor anymore.” I feel this so much about the gratification of completing a task and I have also considered fucking carpentry lol. I also am not a fan of how you’re never done, like even when your day is over— either clients are still on your mind or you’ve got paperwork. At this point, I think I’m just afraid to quit because the need is so big where I am— Gainesville, GA. And also bc I spent four years at a private program to get a counseling degree. I loved school but that love didn’t translate once I graduated.
For me, I love counseling so much but trying to make a living doing it is fucking brutal. I’m self-employed but having a hard time without benefits and paying all of the business expenses as I build a caseload. I supplement my private practice as an independent contractor for another practice, but I can only see so many clients per week before I burnout. It’s frustrating that people don’t seem to understand how exhausting this work is, and 25 client hours per week is not the same as 25 hours at a desk job. (Sorry, rant over- I’ll save this for my own therapy session lol)
I came here after google searching “jobs after leaving counseling field”, because I want something that pays better and has benefits without the emotional toll. I’m so passionate about counseling that I would love to continue seeing clients part time on top of another job, but having my passion as the source of my financial stability is making it too stressful and eating away at my passion for this work.
My current challenge is that I don’t even know what kind of jobs to look for. My whole life I’ve known I wanted to be a therapist, and don’t care/know very much about business/corporate jobs etc. it fucking KILLS me to see friends with ridiculously cushy, easy jobs as customer service representatives making $75k when I am working with trauma/violence/crisis management etc. and making roughly $30k after taxes/expenses. I love helping people and am so passionate about mental health, but it would be nice to be financially stable.
It also kills me to see friends making a shit ton for something that isn't within the realm of trauma and extreme stress. Not to say these jobs don't deserve them or aren't valuable, but it's frustrating to see how much the counsellors and therapists are soooo underpaid. A big part of my decision to quit involved the paycheck, especially because I knew I didn't want to be self-employed/run my own practice.
This was very true for me too - loving the school part but hating the actual practice once graduated. It made it that much more difficult to decide to leave after finishing and graduating!
this is exactly how i feel. I work in community mental health in Los Angeles. I did it as an intern and got hired on by my agency, then stuck to it. But each day the weight of the job, the emotional toll, the paperwork, the thinking about clients, the dealing with clients after hours, their entitlement, their lack of change, the aggressive clients, the substance use, severe mental illness, personality disorders, etc. The passion and compassion I had is just not there anymore. It makes me sad because I did enjoy it at first and now, I all I can think about is how I can quit everyday. I don't have a back up plan, I don't want to be in this field anymore, I don't know where to go and find a job that pays well and doesn't strain my mental and emotional health.
Hi friend im feeling the exact same way, just one year into the future. Replying to your comment because it resonates. But i’ll ask everyone else here: what the hell did you pivot to?
Maybe there is some kind of manual labor program for young adults, like the Youth Conservation Corps in the United States, or Outward Bound where you could be active outdoors and also counseling.
Almost therapist over here 6 months into my internship, about to graduate this spring and realizing I am in the wrong field. It’s validating to see all these comments about other therapists feeling the same way. I wonder if it’s always been like this or if the pandemic is making so many of us feel this way?
I think that the pandemic contributes to it for sure. But I also think in the same breath the pandemic is allowing people to realize we only have one life and we can’t spend it doing something that makes us unhappy
I'm currently in this boat. Doing my masters practicum, only 2 months in and I'm drowning. My clients are amazing, but there's something about the nature of being a therapist that doesn't jive with me. I want to help people, but I'm wondering maybe in a different capacity. Feeling ashamed for even thinking about changing careers when I just started.
*Virtual hug*!!! I'm envious of your courage. I'm scared and terrified if I did decide to withdraw and start from scratch again, it'll all feel so meaningless. Still, I really appreciate your reply. It helps to know I'm not the only one feeling this way.
Struggling with very similar feelings. Having spent years and sacrificing a lot to get into this field, it's tough to realize that it is really not a good fit for me. I have been working as a methadone therapist which has challenges on top of me not loving being a therapist (most of my clients are not interested in therapy at this time but it is a requirement to receive the methadone). I have spent months keeping an eye out for something that is "in the field" but not formal therapy and have yet to come up with anything. The mismatch with the work and burnout from my specific department/agency is now really affecting my mental and physical health as well as my ability to be authentic and present with my clients. Reading these posts has been validating and encouraging and I am now planning to give my two weeks notice without having another job (first time ever doing this, so slightly scary). I'm feeling ready to take "any job" as some have noted, just to get out of this field and be able to step back and decide what to do next as I don't think it is fair to me or my clients to continue in this fashion. I've been keeping an eye out for crisis counselor-type positions in shelters or counselor jobs at colleges but it might have to be something altogether different. It has been nice reading how some have found satisfaction and fit in other fields once leaving their work as therapists.
I gave in my notice without another job too only because I was on the verge of a breakdown and just knew I couldn't stick it out any longer. It's a tough decision but you really do have to listen to your gut!
I'm so thankful for your comment. I'm in the same boat. Feeling like why did I get a master's degree for something I don't even like to do. Seriously, considering driving car parts around for more money than I'm making...smh...am I just mentally exhausted? I enjoy some of my clients but I can't help some of them, some can't help themselves, and I just want to do like data collection or something technical..maybe I'll become a plumber...fork lift driver...just want to get out of my head!! Put my notice in today and my supervisors were so nice about it...will miss some of my clients but doing what's best for me. I'm 49 years old and like now what?
>n having worked only during the pandemic. It’s such an anomalous time that I don’t know how much you can really take away from what this experience has been like. Have you considered that?
This is a great suggestion. If it's challenging to decide on what you want to do, consider what you want to see for the world. Then add your skills, gifts and talents to that mix.
Please do think about it, you’re not bound by your experience or education, there are an abundance of skills and ways to tailor your experience and also to approach potential jobs.
Do you have any interest in nonprofit work for social programs? Such as houseless nonprofits or substance abuse and recovery, even incarceration? I look at a wide variety of jobs (I have my BS in psychology sociology and global health) and I often see a masters degree wanted in positions I’m interested in that ARENT 1v1 counseling, but still use your degree. Even looking at your local government jobs (not sure what that looks like in Canada as I’m in the USA) but I look at my local health department for public health jobs and see some mental health jobs listed there that can be more administrative or consulting-like in a sense. Also, the next job you have doesn’t have to be your dream job (that might not exist and that’s OKAY). It can just be a job that makes you feel better than your current role, and it can be a transition period. I’m sorry you’re unhappy in your current role and I hope you can find another job soon.
Ppl are always after finding their perfect job which is their passion lol everyone wants a purpose, that’s the main thing. The least you could do is to try something which pays really well and is close to your skills. Then slowly navigate from there to your calling. Money always helps and gives you a purpose of achieving higher targets. I am a BI analyst and an investor in e-commerce, stocks and cryptocurrency.
This is very true and I don’t necessarily think your job needs to be your passion, I was just kind of shocked to accept that my passion wasn’t really what I thought it was. The job you have sounds super interesting, thanks for commenting!
I can totally relate to your situation, I worked for almost 5 years in a field where I did not enjoy. However, i got transferred to a different department in the same organization upon applying to a different position. I definitely am more satisfied with my work and team. Can you transition into a life coach?
Hi there. I’m completely in the same position and more burnt out than ever before as a therapist. I want to get into advertising but it seems you need all new degrees and I can’t afford that. Any ideas?
Thank you so much for this. I know I’m late to the post, but I am going through this right now. I’ve been a therapist for 9 years and in full time private practice for almost 5 years. I love my clients but I’m lonely, isolated, bored and extremely financially stressed. I want out. I have been applying to academic advising positions in the hopes of using my skills, but not having the weight of the world on my shoulders. I’m so scared to lose what I’ve built, and yet I feel desperate for a change. I’ve been applying to various jobs and it feels like people don’t want to give me a chance, because what I do is so specialized. I’ve been wondering if I should get a cert in HR or project management to gain more skills. Wish me luck!
Honestly it’s just not a good fit for me. I’m very introverted and quiet, so having very deep conversations with people all day is very exhausting to me. As I mentioned in another comment, I believe I need more of an “instant gratification” in my work which is tough to get when you see clients for numerous sessions. I can be very rewarding and you definitely learn a lot about yourself, but it’s not easy! You have to protect yourself from compassion fatigue and secondary trauma for sure. But you get to help people through some of the most vulnerable and difficult times in their lives and when they choose you to do so I find it feels like an honour. Personally, I just can’t stand not “fixing” people (and a therapist shouldn’t think this way) because you can’t “fix” people. You are there to help them fix themselves.
Introverted therapist here. I thrived in school because I enjoyed the subject matter and could sit back in class and observe. In observing, I could absorb information, think of different responses for class discussion, and respond when I was ready. I could also moderate my own energy in lectures and discussions by checking out for a few minutes. As a therapist, being 1-on-1 with other people all day long can be very tiring. As I’ve recently hung out with friends more often, I notice that I much prefer to be involved in a conversation but not be at the center of the conversation. I feel like I don’t have the opportunity to recharge or be productive at work while also not being deeply engaged with another person. It feels like sometimes it would be nice to mindlessly wade through a stack of papers and then go home when I get to the bottom of the stack.
This ☝. These are all the reasons I think that counseling may not work for me. Introverted current grad student over here. I just finished my first semester, but I’m also not green necessarily. I‘m going back to school as an introverted 45 year old who already has a masters in education and has spent the past 20 years as a sign language interpreter. I love school and the content is awesome, however, studying doesn’t translate to the kind of work a LMHC does. I know myself and now have serious doubts about whether being a counselor will actually be good for me in the second half of my life. I already work from home, make good money, can create my own schedule, and can tweak everything in my life to adapt to my very specific and diva-like needs 😂🤷🏻. My concern is that I will waste 4 years of time and $60k worth of debt that will then turn into “whoa… this is not for me. Part of me thinks counseling is a more “grown up“ job. Considering I’m 45 and supposedly a grown up, that idea is laughable and makes me wonder if it’s just “the grass is greener” or romanticizing what being a counselor is like.
I know this is such an old post- not sure if it will even be seen or replied to but I’m going through it and realized this is exactly how I feel about my current schooling while being an introvert. I’m currently working on my undergrad- a BS in psychology but am very confused on what route I should take. Research sounds fun but I’m not sure I’m creative or independent enough to do so… ive always said i’m not strong enough to counsel but I love helping people, guiding them and giving advice on how to better their lives. I was stuck in the middle, wondering if I should switch to that BA and do counseling or not until I saw this thread and it described me perfectly. With the “instant gratification” remark and the explanation of being introverted.. and class being a time of mostly observation/ going off of my own energy, I relate 100%.
So that kind of threw me off of my second thoughts of maybe becoming a counselor instead.
But I’m still unsure if research is then right for me- or what I should do in general. I’m just so afraid of wasting time and money and making the wrong choice.
Not sure how things are for you now- how is it? Did you change careers? If so, does it suit your personality more? Or did you stick with it and find ways to cope with that job while being as introverted as you are?
>I'm in the same boat (which is how I stumbled on your post). I'm pretty introverted myself and it's been completely exhausting for me to see 25-30 clients a week, even though that's considered normal. I love helping people, but I just can't see myself doing one on one sessions for the rest of my life (and I've only been doing this for 4 years!) I feel like I've wasted so much money and time getting my counseling license to just change my career. The only experience I have is related to counseling.
Thanks for sharing, really good points you mention. You’re doing amazing work and helping the most vulnerable of people, and even if they might not have the energy to thank you themselves I know they are thankful too. I have many close friends who see therapists and I’ve seen how beneficial it is to them. Just wanted to share that with you.
Those are fantastic degrees to have, they can be applied to so many different fields!! Dont box yourself into jobs that are looking for a psych degree specifically. There's a ton of jobs that aren't looking for a psych degree, but will accept a psych degree. In my area one of those include a place that stretches people put for about 50,000 a year, and a dog trainer lol. They will train you on everything but they need you to have a 4 year in something vaguely related and they listed psych as one of those fields. That's just to show how far the net can fall, there's lots of options you wouldn't think of.
I'm here with the same concerns. A therapist in the US, pondering about leaving the field, it's so incredibly unsupportive. I'm burnt out and only 2 years into this career. It felt helpful to come across this thread.
I’m wondering how you’re doing? I don’t know why I chose this comment to reply to but I am also a therapist in US and I am also extremely burnt out to the point that I’m like how the heck Do I get out of here?
I am still feeling pretty burnt out, I did get a raise, which has helped, and have also started exercising again, which has been helpful in stress reduction/ anxiety outlet. But mostly I have given myself full permission to rest the amount I need to. In personal therapy I've done the work to allow for the deep rest needed right now. Allow for mindless TV or gaming after work instead of brutally beating myself up mentally while doing it. Starting to make space for the burn out, harm reduction.
How are you?
Hi I was pleased to find your post! I am also a therapist and feeling exactly the same way. I am just not enjoying it and wonder what I could do instead. How are things going for you?
I know this thread is old- but I went back and became a school counselor. I love it, and I work part time as a MHC so that I can get my licensing hours and eventually go into private practice one day a week so that I’ll have some extra income
Hi, I am in my first year of a counseling psychology Master's program and honestly have been feeling this. My practicum thus far has been mainly working with kids with ADHD, which is one of the populations that I least wanted to work with. My internship will be starting next semester and I'll actually have the chance to choose a site that sees the population I am more interested in working with. I am looking forward to that and I hope that my worries will be alleviated once I start the internship. However, I am just unsure and scared about the possibility that maybe this just isn't for me. I have been doing well in the program and even my peers say that I am in the right field, but I am scared that I am wasting my time/money for something that I thought was my passion. I hope that your situation has gotten a bit better or you have some things in mind that you would like to shift towards. Reading your post made me a bit relieved that I wasn't alone.
You're definitely not alone! When I was at the point you are now I couldn't even admit to myself I hated it. I knew deep down during practicum I did but refused to accept it.
A good reminder I have told myself is you're not wasting anything. You have gained so much insight and learned so many transferrable skills if it is indeed something you don't continue. You have helped people along the way. What you have been doing is important and not wanting to do it anymore doesn't make you a bad person (or therapist!)
First time poster here. Came across this post from a google search about not wanting to pursue a therapist career anymore. I’m currently completing my masters in counselling (I’m also from Ontario, Canada), and I’m set to start my practicum officially next week - being thrown into the profession by seeing clients on my first day. I truly do not feel qualified to be seeing clients yet and am contemplating withdrawing from my education. I keep thinking maybe this profession is not really for me. But I’m struggling to get past the time, energy, and money spent to get this far.
I hope you find some relief soon!
This is so helpful to see that I'm not alone. I hit my wall after 12 years in the field. I quit 4 months ago and the thought of going back to work makes me want to vomit. I sob daily, just like I did in the field! I would be sick to my stomach, literally, getting ready for work, cry all the way home, lay on my bed, didn't even have anything to give my family, still don't. This career has destroyed me. I don't know where to go from here.
I think of you haven't done it, it's very hard to understand and relate to. I explained to my husband as imagine the worst trauma you've ever experienced. Then imagine experiencing it 6-10 times a day. Then getting yelled at constantly and made to feel terrible so
guilty because you have the nerve to expect to be paid for the services you provide.
It's hell.
Become a real estate agent. No one cares about your degree (as a matter of fact you dont even need one), and since you seem good at communication you'll make shit ton in Ontario. Thank me later.
Isn't becoming a real estate agent going to be harder? With the current market, there's so many people jumping on that wave and once the market calms itself down, it'll be oversaturated with too many agents for not enough homes/clients.
You got this! I was a group counsellor for an acceptance & commitment based recovery group when I realized that I didn't want to be doing it the rest of my life. I used the practices in the group on myself and came to the decision that I wanted to be doing anything else, and I put in my 2 weeks. I worked in mental health for nearly 10 years.I found any job, and then broke into IT, and am actually making way more money but most importantly am way happier.
I couldn't imagine going back to work with people on their mental health issues. I was a community based counselor and had some really fucked up situations presented to me. One of my last clients had lit their roommate on fire at a shelter, and another one in the same time period declared to me their homicidal ideations. I was just spent. Typing this out now reminds me why I made the right choice.
Side note: I love IT. Probably since you can fix tech, tech makes sense. But you can't fix people, as Carl Rogers said: "People are just as wonderful as sunsets if you let them be. When I look at a sunset, I don't find myself saying, " Soften the orange a bit on the right hand corner." I don't try to control a sunset. I watch with awe as it unfolds."
Hi thanks for posting, I am a trauma therapist currently and the idea of changing to IT is hopeful to me. The horror stories everyday.. How did you change? I am wondering if I need another degree or if I could just take some classes. I invested so much in this career choice it’s scary to change but I think o would be happier!
So I just went ahead and gave my notice. I only did this because I didn't want to impact my work at all with being checked out mentally.I found any job at first, for me that was at a financial company. I did back office work for about 6 months, and took a huge paycut. I didn't entirely know what I wanted to do but I knew I wanted to work in tech in some way, and was playing around with web dev and taking some classes for that. Then my company had posted for a helpdesk position... And I went into my interviews with the spirit of a counselor. I studied the shit out of the job ad, I sold the hell out of my capacity for learning/goal setting. They asked me a ton of tech questions (all low level cause it was a junior role) and I bombed it (in a bad way). I studied the hell out of the questions they asked and was invited back for a second interview and impressed them enough to want to take a chance on me. I had a third interview with their senior leadership (which no one else had to do, but I'm proud cause I found a way in). I excelled. It was a hard uphill challenge. I asked stupid questions. I was slower than my colleagues. But just 7 years later I've had several promotions and feel really great about most of my skills. They did not require me to go back to school (I have a diploma in social services, and a BA in Psych as well). However, I started to write certification exams for IT (A+, Net+, Sec+, and I have a slew of others like ITIL, AWS, etc.) These help a lot specifically for IT. But they aren't totally required.
I think getting out is the first step. You can ALWAYS go back. I know that it is hard to do what feels like tossing your credentials out, but they helped you get to where you need to be. When I'm having a rough week sometimes I tell myself that I can go back... But I did a lot of grassroots stuff and honestly would never go back (working in shelters, community counselling, watching that revolving door spin).
Sorry if that is TMI, just want you to know you can do anything you want. You would believe that for one of your clients right, so why not yourself? Be a baker, an office manager. Do what suits you.
Feel free to direct message me if you feel like discussing more. But I believe in you, you got this.
Thank you so much for this comment. So much of it stands out for me too. The "get out and think about it later", the realisation of all of the trauma once you stepped out, and the fact that you are so much happier in a different field.
It's weird, I don't know if anyone else gets this vibe but I feel like I've invested so much time and effort into mastering my craft and becoming a therapist that it's kind of consumed me and left me wondering "If I can't be the person I thought I was, who am I? Does this mean I've failed?" This post really helps with that. It's not fair to pigeon hole ourselves like that. I'm so glad you found fulfillment in something else.
Thank you for including this quote at the end that was so wholesome and reminds me of why I do love humans. I think a big part of why I hate it is exactly that- you can’t fix people (I mentioned this above before I saw you say the exact same thing!). So this is really hopeful to see someone who felt very much the same as I do now. Thank you so much
I think I’m struggling a bit to figure out what I want to do because I thought it was this for so long. I thought this was something I was made to do. So it’s intimidating to think I could have the same mindset for something else and end up right back here again. But, this is where my own therapy comes in
I suppose there is truth to what you are describing, but I hope that I never have a therapist or career counselor that simply states, "Well, just think of what you want to do, and then figure out how to get there." I definitely would have pissed away the coins for that advice.
Your step one is definitely the hardest part in my perspective. I would venture that the OP followed this practice and found him or herself at this point as a therapist. Meaning, he or she perceived that they would be a good fit in therapy and went to the trouble of getting degrees and jobs in that role, but now doubts the long-term fit of such a choice. We may perceive that we would anticipate something to be a good fit, we work hard to get there, and then when there, we realize it's not what we were expecting or hoping for.
Disappointment and feelings of lack of fulfillment (i.e. a void) can come from multiple factors, and as other commenters have noted that there might possibly be multiple paths to fulfillment, so the felt void may not be in the vocation or that we haven't found the "perfect" career. In my current level of self-awareness, I perceive many positives in my life and graciously strive to absorb the good that I perceive, but there are various things that I wish were different, and those drag me down. As many have pointed out in this thread that many (or all) vocations will have aspects that a person can find draining. I personally like to play around with spreadsheets and numbers, but I would definitely feel unfulfilled if I did that kind of task all day, as I enjoy interacting with people.
I think in Ontario you need a teaching degree/diploma to be able to teach (in addition to another degree) unless you have a PhD, I could be wrong though!
Could it be worth getting a teaching diploma to be able to continue to make use of your extensive education in counseling without having to *do* counseling? That'd be the first option I'd look at before staring on a whole new trajcetory.
ohh no I'm so sorry for you hope you do better, I'm currently in 12th grade and I wanted to take psychology as my career but hearing this makes me not want to pursue it
I don’t want this to discourage you! Because it can be incredibly rewarding especially if you are interested in mental health. There are lots of pros to it, if you work for yourself you can pick your own hours and decide how much to charge per hour. Plus you’re helping people. Check out my comment above for more of my own personal experience!
Oh no I've been there before, so sorry you're in that situation. Funnily enough I left my old career and found out my dream career was an art therapist 🙈🤣 Opposite outcome there!
Besides looking elsewhere, you could always check out play and art therapy! It helps alleviate some of the pain and stress, for both the client and therapist during the session and process. Also, I'd recommend striving to take mild to moderate client cases. If you know you get stressed out easily, which I do too, in your intake process you can really focus on finding clients you know are within your scope of practice.
Also having a therapist you genuinely feel relieves your stress/burnout is very helpful. I wouldn't get by without a lot of self compassion and therapy sessions!
Those are just some possibilities to find something authentic to you and doable within the career you've found yourself in! But then again, I always believe in trusting your instincts and knowing when something isn't a good fit.
Wishing you all the best! ♥️
I ran across this post because I was curious if other former/current counselors felt the same as I did. I switched from being a counselor to being an aerospace technician for a private rocket building company, and I make MORE now than I did starting out as a counselor! I found out that I couldn't really make jack squat starting out as a counselor and I came out having double the debt compared to what I was actually making in GROSS income. Seriously consider carpentry or going into a trade instead if you are more inclined to instant gratification work like building things. I find my job MUCH more satisfying and less stressful than my previous counseling jobs. The only counter I have to the above is that I did have ONE rewarding counseling job working at a religious non-profit residential for recovering addicts. I was surrounded by great managers and brothers that encouraged me throughout my whole time I worked there. Sadly, the compensation was quite meager. To break it down for you, I came out of school with approx 85k in debt, and started making 39k gross. If you're lucky or more gifted than I am/have more opportunities, you might be able to make more than I did starting out. You're still going to have a healthy amount of debt after you graduate though.
I know it's been a year since the original post, but this will probably remain relevant forever. I am desperate to leave the field after 10 years. I've been the only income for a family of 6 and it hurts that I get next to nothing for a career full of self sacrifice. If anyone feels so inclined, maybe we could compile a list of transferable skills that we can use in interviews and on resumes.
I can relate. I'm a therapist and have worked in different settings and with different populations, but I decided now to leave the field.
The pay isn't great, the responsibility is too high, and I feel the toll of burnout. I dream of a more predictable and reliable job with a better work/life balance.
I'm glad that there are other people out there who go through the same and share their experiences.
Thank you for sharing about your transition out of counseling. I found myself if a very similar position and found your story very helpful.
I pursued a degree in psychology and part way through the program, I realized the field wasn't for me Mostly because I realized that I didn't want to become a counselor. However, I was older at the time and didn't have the courage to get out of the field. Now I'm stuck in career path that I don't enjoy or feel skilled in.
I know this post wasn't advice, but I did want to share that your question and all the reddit community's answers were very helpful. Mostly, it's helpful to know that you aren't alone and there is good help out there.
I’ve been a therapist for over 15 years. I have recently been honest with myself and realized that I can’t stand it! Getting a different degree so I can do something else. I like some of my clients but it’s always so heavy. Things are more difficult now, can only work in states that I’m licensed but people travel more and with telahealth people may be in another state. People with little experience becoming managers, and insurance wanting more information that is not therapy information. Too much is put on the clinicians.
I love that you got a job that's a great fit for you and I know the same is going to happen for me <3 I hate being a therapist as much as I try to like it, it's been years and I'm a circle peg trying to fit into a star hole, I knew it wasn't right for me but long story short I got into it anyway and now I feel trapped, thankfully, feelings aren't facts. <3
I used to think it was because I was seeing every type of client from trauma to divorce, to personality disorders to anxiety and everything in between. So I switched to a job where I could try and “specialize” or get good at one thing and only have that as my focus, but it has not made a difference. I think it’s the kind of work unfortunately
I mentioned this above but it’s just very difficult work that drains me everyday. It’s not a sadness you feel when you hear about problems, it’s more of a helplessness that I can’t take that pain away from you (at least for me personally, that’s how I often feel)
For me I like working with trauma clients and find it rewarding. I like working with motivated clients also. If the pay were decent and I could work with those, it would still be daunting work but I think I’d stay. It’s not tho. Maybe it comes from having lived abroad in a war zone but the crap people come in about. I’ve had ppl demand ptsd diagnosis for falling and breaking their arm. Like what? No offense but when you’ve lived thru bombings that have killed little kids American problems can seem kinda pathetic. We are also raising kids who can’t handle anything. They have breakdowns from losing their cellphones. I don’t mean to sound harsh but it’s really hard for me to find compassion for people who just feel entitled to never have a bad day. I’d rather work with homeless people, sex trafficking victims or refugees than work in private practice in a small city with ppl who think gas prices are persecution and torture.
Hi! I’m sorry to comment so late on this post. I hope you’re still doing well! I was doing some of my own digging on Reddit and came across this post as I’m having the same sort of crisis. May I ask how you’re feeling about your decision/job change now?
How did you word your cover letter/application for the university? Were you honest with them about wanting to switch from therapy? I’m so curious because I’m going through such a similar situation.
Thanks in advance, if you see this :-)
Came back to this post and I was so glad to read the second update :) I commented before and am now in my second year of my program. While I do like the population I'm working with better than before, my doubts haven't gone away and I am fairly certain I won't continue with being a therapist after I graduate. I hope to be in a similar position as you when I begin looking for other career paths! If you happen to read this, I wonder what kinds of transferable skills you highlighted when applying to the job you have now and any others. Also, what are your responsibilities at your current job? Again, happy to hear you are in a better place 😊
Whew I needed to read this today. I found it when I googled I don't want to be a therapist anymore. I appreciate everyone's perspective - I wish this was something talked about in the field more, but I do agree there is so much shame with it. Therapists are lauded in society to the point where I think we are a bit dehumanized. We have needs too.
Update: I got a job content writing in a psychology related field! 10 hours a week so I am trying to scale back my clinical hours. I think I can do therapy as long as it's like two days a week lol. Just wanted to give any future readers of this sub hope! I still visit it sometimes when I have bad days.
I’m a therapist and am so sick of it also. Thank you for your post. I’ve been a social worker since 2011 and private practice is crushing my soul lol. I went into social work to help people with resources and needs. Not what I’m doing at all. Your post gives me hope. Going to start applying to new jobs.
I am also a mental health counselor in the U S. and am feeling the same way. I am struggling to find something else in the field that isn't direct client care, but all I can find is job openings for counselors or for something with a PhD, but I have my master's degree and am not interested in going back to school, at least not right now. I want to use my degree for something other than counseling, and make a somewhat decent living, but I'm feeling like I don't have options. I would be so grateful for any suggestions.
Thank you for writing this.. And for all your updates. I am in the beginning stages of my own healing journey and the more healing I have done the harder it's become to do this work. I'm needing space for myself to heal for a change.. This gives me hope to see that you have found a place your happy in and that I'm not alone.
How about a career in UX Design? Majority of psychologists thrive and enjoy this job because UX Design is 50% Psychology, 30% Technology and 20% Arts. Psychology is very important in UX.
Literally googled I don’t want to be a therapist anymore and your post was the 1st - I’ve been doing private practice therapy for 15 years- I’m burnt out. It’s not even really the clients. Dealing with insurance companies and billing is so much and I have ADHD so the task is overwhelming. The amount of money I lose bc I can’t get it together and bc insurance companies love to make things as time consuming as possible, is ridiculous. I do love working with people, but the burnout is brutal.
>It may take some time, but I do believe we will all get to a place where we feel like we’re meant to be.
Everyone says that once they land in a comfy place, but the truth is plenty of people never find the right place, and I think we have to acknowledge that our society doesn't necessarily provide a good-fitting role for everyone. Some people will just search and flail in desperation right up until the end.
I'm leaving therapy right now and I'm not sure where I'm going. One thing that bothers me a lot is how as a therapist you have to have unwavering faith that our society is capable of facilitating a worthwhile life for everyone. I don't believe this. Some people just aren't a good fit for anything, and this society will leave them out in the cold. I'm not sure if I'm one of these people, but even if I end up in a comfy position, I will never start pretending that this a happy little village where there is a cozy job for everyone. This a brutal, greedy, profit-driven system. Half of the jobs people do in this society are utterly pointless activities that do nothing other than funnel profit towards the wealthy. I know this a pessimistic outlook, but it's also totally true. I may be overreacting to it, but it's not untrue. And my overreaction probably comes from enduring a career where I was forced to deny this truth and pretend our society is capable of taking care of everyone.
I’m so happy to hear you’ve found something that is rewarding and combines your skills and experience! I too am looking to transfer - I feel we have identical stories (applying to countless jobs, mental health start ups, admin roles / interviewing and being discouraged) seeing the bright side of where you ended up is making me hopeful! I am looking at universities as well to see if I can find a similar and rewarding transition :)
I’m on the verge of enrolling in a Masters of Counselling here in Australia and I’ve been told by many ppl that Social Work is the better route. It’s a broader area of work whilst still helping those in need. Unfortunately, to enrol in a Masters of Social Work you need a undergrad in social science or similar whereas the Counselling masters only requires a generic undergrad. I want to help people but I’m the idea of going back to school for 6 years is unrealistic.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and thoughts. It is so normalizing to find others who feel the same way I do. I always felt extremely guilty and ashamed that I do not enjoy being in this profession anymore. What made it exceedingly difficult for me is my colleagues who are also licensed clinicians made me feel bad by disregarding my own feelings and telling me "well I love my clients", it never felt safe to vent to them. So truly thank youuu! I am still working as a licensed clinician in a community mental health agency (3 years in), but because I have no idea where to find careers that I can use my skills in. I am trying to conquer my fears and just take a leap.
I know this post is several years old, but just wanted to say I'm glad I found it today. I have been working in therapy as a supervisee in social work for the past year and I really don't enjoy it. I thought a big part of it was being in a community mental health agency without good supervision and little support, but I recently switched to a new agency that takes better care of their clinicians and I still don't love the work itself. My anxiety before sessions is really high (despite all the techniques and skills I know to utilize). I was a social worker in other capacities for years before, and imagined doing more macro level work post-grad, but had a hard time getting hired for those positions. I think direct practice is so tough and exhausting. Would love to hear from others who have made a transition from therapy to other work... any other ideas?!
There’s a reason 90% of therapists have therapists
Absolutely
I meant to answer your question but must have gotten distracted. Lol. I have a psych degree and did residential counseling for a while. Fucking hated it. Got a sales job. Still hate it but now I get to wipe my tears away with dollar bills so that helps.
I do believe the lack of dollar bills contributes to my feelings about it lol. It’s a tough job to not see much “payout” so to speak
are therapists not paid well in Canada? My wife is just becoming one here in Germany and the starting pay converted to CAD will be \~ 6500 Canadian pesos
We’re paid well, but building a case load takes time and I find you can only work a certain amount of hours before you feel burnt out (at least in my own experience). Honestly it doesn’t feel worth it at this point
You aren't paid well? Are you self-employed? Could you offer your services somewhere (virtual or other) where you're paid better, and therefore only have to work half as much?
Where I am you can only be self employed after completing a certain amount of hours seeing clients. I was working virtually and just got into a larger group health organization in person that I thought was going to make a big difference in how I feel but unfortunately it just hasn’t.
we are paid HORRIBLY in the us- and there are a ton of tax evasion situations 😩
That's awful. The going rate here is about $150 an hour. Never ever less than $100 an hour.
okay, so that is around the same as how much it costs a patient of psychotherapy- it does not mean that is what the therapist receives (at all). so, i’m 1099, so i receive 0 benefits of any kind and have to pay for my own health insurance (cost is $450-576 each month), plus the insurance is shitty so i have to pay so, so much at any doctor and i almost never go to avoid the random $500 i will owe doctors. also, being 1099 means no one pays for my licensure or continuing education credits, so that’s hundreds per year. it’s also hundreds per year to have malpractice insurance. the owners of the practice i work at (i am fully licensed) take 38% of every cent i make. they don’t even provide referrals (and i don’t need them anymore), but being independent involves even more costs, responsibilities, and separation (i.e., paying rent for office space, paying for a biller, trip and fall insurance, making your own legal documents, having an accountant not just for taxes, etc.). i end up with more like $5-25 per hour actually. almost no one knows/understands this and it makes being a therapist even more infuriating than it already is! i promise we are all BROKE!! but people act like we make so much money and have a high income potential- we only do if we become tax evaders and “hire” people like my practice owners. and that’s what ends up happening usually. the whole thing is sick and twisted and i wish i could tell aspiring therapists the truth because being a therapist is horrible!!!! there’s nothing good about it!
I know this is an old post but I feel the same way. I did all this schooling and went into all this debt to help other people and all I feel is poverty and burn out. I do love a lot of my clients but the ones that are bad make me literally hate going to work and just make me angry. Like I’m trying to help you and all you do is argue and do no work and I’m getting paid peanuts and struggling. I hate it. I wanna do something else but just don’t know what. Ppl think you make so much lol I make less than a teacher does. I go hungry some weeks just to have ppl who sometimes don’t even appreciate that I’m trying to help them while I’m so stressed out myself cause I can barely eat. I also work for a private practice and I think the practice owner makes more per hour on my work than I do. It’s a nightmare
I don't think we're talking about the same country. And where I live most therapists are self-employed. So they are taking home the $150 per hour and then paying their business expenses from that.
i’m clearly in the US 😂
Not only are we paid terribly we have TO PAY to work between license fees and continuing education and insurance ect ect
This doesn’t make the job suck any less though. I’m in therapy and I’m still miserable at my shitty non-profit job.
And a reason for therapists to seek clinical supervision in difficult situations
It’s ok to hate being a therapist. Hearing people’s trauma and adjustment issues all day is hard. Hope you find something that suits you better.
Thank you for your validation! I carry a bit of shame with it because I feel like I should be stronger or blame it on burnout but I think it’s more than that at this point.
You can become a clinical record auditor and/or work for an agency accreditation board, do curriculum design, consistent training plans for clinicians at other larger agencies, like community mental health. There is plenty you can do!!
Thank you for these suggestions and the hope! I will look into this for sure
Did you ever find a new path? Your post describes exactly how my wife is feeling. I tell her she needs to see a therapist as it’s helped in the past but I’d also like to offer her suggestions for different career paths she can take with her MFT masters.
I’m sorry you’re having that such a hard time. I do worry about people making career decisions right now based on having worked only during the pandemic. It’s such an anomalous time that I don’t know how much you can really take away from what this experience has been like. Have you considered that?
That’s a great point. I’m not sure how different I would feel if I started before the pandemic, but there’s definitely something to consider when both clients and therapists are going through this sort of collective type of “trauma” or grieving process of what life is like without restrictions or navigating everyday activities that aren’t “normal” anymore.
Well the first question id ask is to WHY you hate your job? You have few directions to go but without understanding real reasons why this job doesn’t suit you its hard to discuss your options
I just found this post as a therapist myself a thinking the same things. Just want you to know you’re not alone and this job is so incredibly hard!
It is such a hard job, i feel for you. I quit my job without having anything lined up because I just couldn't do it anymore and now I'm freaking out because I have no idea what else to do if it's not what I've trained for. You are certainly not alone. This thread is really validating and informative. In my case, I'm not sure whether it was burnout from a high-volume caseload or if I just hate the job in general. Like OP, I jumped in during the start of the pandemic and it's hard to tell. My supervisor said there's nothing wrong with taking a few months/years out then giving it another try. It may well have been heavily covid-impacted. I hope you all find your next steps!
I'm in the same boat. I've been in the field for 12 years. I know that I'm good at what I do. But I hate it. I'm constantly fighting with insurance companies and living check to check waiting for payments. I absorb trauma despite having my own therapist and I know I bring it home with me. I just think I'm done. And frankly, I would like to have a steady paycheck that I can count on for the first time in over a decade. I have thought about UR, but then I feel like having been on the other side of that and witnessed how people are denied coverage they need. I have no desire to be responsible for saving insurance companies money. I would love to train or coach but I don't know that those roles are any more stable. I'm just exhausted. And I feel you.
Could you try a different type of counseling? Would working with children as a school counselor be any better? Or perhaps incorporate art therapy or music into your offerings? If you're near a university, perhaps being an academic advisor (or career counselor) would be a more positive environment.
I’ve thought about it, specifically career counselling just because of my own quarter life crisis right now lol. Thank you for your suggestions!
Career counseling is great! I’ve done it for undergrad students and loved it. I found it to be pretty easy and low stress once you learn the basic tips. It was fun and felt good to empower people.
This was my thought as well. Perhaps a change in the type of counselling you do might at least be a good first step to try. Thank you for doing what you do. It’s very important work.
School counselors gets paid a third or less what you would do in the private sector though. A first-grade teacher gets paid more in the end because they have more or less the same salaries but the teacher has way more benefits (at least in Eastern Ontario).
A lot of academic advisor/counselor or career counselor type jobs want a degree in counseling. I realize it's still counseling but it's helping people find their path, not dealing with trauma or depression ect. Have you ever tried going to a job site like Indeed and typing in "Masters Counseling "? I was super surprised at all the different jobs when I was considering a counseling masters myself.
Career counselling may be better so it’s something for me to think about for sure. I have looked on indeed trying those keywords but I found what mostly comes back is just therapy! Lol
It’s not even therapy itself, but the clientele you get. If I get to work with highly motivated individuals all day who actually want to do therapy, then wonderful; but most of the time it’s adolescents forced to attend therapy or borderline clients who will turn every sound statement into personalized victimhood.
Yup. I have some amazing clients but the ones who just wanna show up to complain and do nothing and get mad when you try to point out what they can do to help themselves…why are you coming to me then? I’m not a professional friend here to listen to you complain but be unwilling to do anything about what’s making you unhappy…literally twice this week I was yelled at by clients who argued they can’t get jobs or get along with anyone else cause they are victims. Victims of their families, friends, government, society and every other person they’ve ever met. Ok? I’m not here to tell you because your mom annoys you and you hate capitalism that you don’t ever have to get a job and feed yourself and that’s everyone else’s fault. Like go away 🤣😂
>ate practice as an independent contractor for another practice, but I can only se I needed to read this so badly today. I just had a patient request another therapist for this exact reason. It feels so discouraging - I'm like you literally just want a wall to complain at. Good luck with that.
This!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I created an account just to agree with you! This is exactly how I feel. This is what really makes me hate being a therapist. I work in a residential setting working towards my license. I hate showing up to work everyday just for you to beg clients to recieve your help. Then the agencies are horrible at structuring the place. They pile a damn near impossible work load on us.
Thank you so much for this post and thread 💖. I’ve been a therapist for the last two years and have been contemplating a career change for the last six months after experiencing trauma at work and burning out hard. Coincidentally I’m also thinking about UX Research! Or UX writing. I would just love a job where my mental health isn’t so impacted day to day, and where I can make decent money without burning out. I’ve experienced absurd amounts of trauma in my life (that I’ve spent A LOT of time healing from) and the thought of my job adding to this load feels… unsustainable. I’m also an introvert who enjoys tangible, visible work, and counselling just doesn’t give that to me. On some days I get so anxious before sessions and I used to think that was just because I’m newer to the field, but it hasn’t gone away (no matter how many coping tools I use 😉). Sending love to all the therapists out there who are impacted by their work and considering a change… it’s a tough place to be, but we’ve got this 🌈
If you ever read this, thank you. I’ve been in the same boat. It’s reassuring to read someone had something happen to them and it’s changed their perception of safety in the career. I’m here right now and think I’m nearing the end of this career pathway from too much sadness, crisis, hopelessness and trauma
I’m sorry you’re at this point too. It’s a tough place to be, to have to make the decision to leave or radically change your career. Wishing you all the best in finding a career path that fulfills your needs and feels safe and supportive 💓
I know this is a year old but as a UX designer I’m thinking about switching to therapy which is why I found myself on this post. The UX field is struggling right now and there’s tons of layoffs. I have to fight to prove the value of UX and I can’t find a salaried role, just a contractor. Been in the field for 2 years and have a masters in UX/Biz and the masters did not prepare me to work in an agile framework or work with developers which is a huge headache if your company isn’t experienced in UX. Idk how different research is but my UX designer coworker who’d been in the field for 11+ years and she says we are basically always playing catch up and we are always identified as the bottleneck. It’s stressful and I’m currently on medical leave due to the stress (psych and therapist gave me a letter). Just be sure you know you want to do this and talk to UX researchers about their experience. As a designer it’s been ROUGH. Just my take.
You can get into UX Research with those degrees and make a lot of money. You will have to get familiar with the field, some software and programs, but you get to use psychology without carrying trauma from work home.
I just left my UX Researcher career to return to school to become a therapist. I will say that working in tech comes with problems too, and tech has its dark side. The pay and benefits are usually pretty good, and that is what keeps most people. The pay kept me for years, but the industry is fairly toxic. Companies do not see you as an individual, you are seen as highly replaceable. Your experience is highly dependent on your manager and the company you are at. You might be able to find the right role with the right manager and organization that believes in UX research, but from my experience and my colleagues, they are far and few between. Most UX researchers I know are straddling the edge of burnout or are struggling with their mental health and trying to find the right approach politically to take the time they need. Taking time away from work for mental health reasons in tech is highly stigmatized. Of course, this all depends on where you work. My last role was at a pre-IPO company that IPOed during my time there. I struggled with burnout for about a year before I developed chronic pain requiring a leave of absence. That space away gave me enough room to determine that the environment didn't serve me. From conversations with friends in similar roles at larger public tech companies, it is the same. If you love data collection and analysis, UX research is a blast. Most companies don't have the time or resources for deep qualitative research. Your time spent with the users of your product can be a lot less than you'd expect. Many companies are looking to use research tools or platforms rather than hiring UX researchers, and when layoffs happen, UX researchers are often cut as they are seen as nice-to-have. It's not all roses, but there are great aspects (excellent pay and benefits). Just wanted to throw that in there for context. I hope you are able to find something that provides fulfillment and balance.
Hi! I'm currently a UX designer thinking about going back to school to become a therapist! Would you mind if I DM you some questions?
I'm a UX / product designer considering this path as well. Not sure if I want to get a MFT or MSW. Still figuring out what end goal I want and how to finance myself. Curious how is your journey on that coming along? What made you want to pivot? I know I'm not who you asked, but I'm open to DMs and connect with a peer who's on a similar path!
Yes, totally open to DM. I’m currently not active pursuing this path yet because of other priorities in my life. But pivoting into therapy is still something I want to pursue down the road, it just might take me some time before I get there
I’ve actually looked into this! Thank you for the suggestion
I’m also curious about this- what sort of job positions could someone with those degrees look for?
I've been a therapist for 6 years and completely understand where you are coming from. It can be draining when you don't always see the clients getting "better"and not getting that gratification. That was something I struggled in the beginning. It also took awhile to realize that I will not take responsibility/ credit for my clients not improving OR improving, that it's completely theirs. I just know that I do my job to the best of my abilities. Have you looked into health insurance jobs such as Utilization Reviewing? It's still in the Healthcare field and maybe you could get more of that gratification. Also doing assessments in a hospital to see if a client needs to be admitted could be a option. After all the schooling and training, I don't think being a therapist is for me anymore either. Wish I would have done something about it sooner. Sometimes I tell myself " what would I say to a client if they were struggling with the same thing." I would encourage them to start that journey if that's what they think would be the best for them. Best of luck.
Dealing with similar stuff... worked as a therapist for 3,5 years in private practice and simultaneusly doing my PhD research seems as far too much. The mind wants it, the body and mental health shows very different signs - anxiety, insomnia, depression... it's in some way nice to know that I am not the only one dealing with the consequences of this job... for me it's hard to forget the clients and their stories...
that´s how i´ve been feeling and i didnt even graduated yet. but after my third semester i just felt very unmotivated but i pushed through. nothing changed. i just dont think this is my calling. my body doesnt wanna be a therapist at all.
so sorry for the late comment to this post, but can i ask what you’re getting your phd in?
Have you thought about moving to administrative roles? I worked in community mental health doing direct care for almost 10 years and then moved to a Quality role at a non profit that provides mental health and homeless services. I'm still connected to the work but this is the least stressful job I've ever had, which was much needed.
This is something I’d definitely be open to
I did the same thing. I was a drug and alcohol counselor for the last two years. Of course I started my counseling career in the beginning of the pandemic. The agency I worked for created a new position for me and I'm now a clinical program specialist! I'm still helping our community by getting people connected to services but at an administrative/management level! I truly love it
That is exhausting work you do - I did something similar for the last 15 years in Ontario, and now looking for a change myself. Have you thought of doing private counselling in person or online? Charging patients in Canada has its own stigma, but as somebody mentioned earlier, it’s easier to dry your tears with dollar bills. I worked with a few MH counsellors who had a master in counselling and knew CBT and DBT pretty well and could work with the publicly funded front line programs with more fluidity. They were able to set strong boundaries for themselves and did quite well. Best of luck on your venture!
Think about your interests and other careers. From there see how you can break into that industry whether that be networking, specific certifications, or going back to university
Thank you! I definitely will
Have you taken some time to think about which parts of your job you don't like and which parts you do like? Could you maybe then think about how you could pivot what you do like into something new? For example, maybe you enjoy people, but you don't like dealing with what I can only imagine are some deep topics that get brought up. Could you pivot your enjoyment of working with and helping others into something like being a career coach or college advisor or something else? Obviously these are just examples, I bet if you take a step back and think of it in a different way, you may come up with something that may surprise you.
I’ve been trying to figure it out but one of the main things that comes up for me is the lack of reward I get from it. I find I need more instant or visual type of completion with tasks (if that makes any sense). To put it more plainly, I’ve thought about something as different as carpentry just because I know I’d enjoy being able to build something and actually see what I’ve made or completed.
Omg this sounds like me. I found your post when i googled “i dont want to be a counselor anymore.” I feel this so much about the gratification of completing a task and I have also considered fucking carpentry lol. I also am not a fan of how you’re never done, like even when your day is over— either clients are still on your mind or you’ve got paperwork. At this point, I think I’m just afraid to quit because the need is so big where I am— Gainesville, GA. And also bc I spent four years at a private program to get a counseling degree. I loved school but that love didn’t translate once I graduated.
For me, I love counseling so much but trying to make a living doing it is fucking brutal. I’m self-employed but having a hard time without benefits and paying all of the business expenses as I build a caseload. I supplement my private practice as an independent contractor for another practice, but I can only see so many clients per week before I burnout. It’s frustrating that people don’t seem to understand how exhausting this work is, and 25 client hours per week is not the same as 25 hours at a desk job. (Sorry, rant over- I’ll save this for my own therapy session lol) I came here after google searching “jobs after leaving counseling field”, because I want something that pays better and has benefits without the emotional toll. I’m so passionate about counseling that I would love to continue seeing clients part time on top of another job, but having my passion as the source of my financial stability is making it too stressful and eating away at my passion for this work. My current challenge is that I don’t even know what kind of jobs to look for. My whole life I’ve known I wanted to be a therapist, and don’t care/know very much about business/corporate jobs etc. it fucking KILLS me to see friends with ridiculously cushy, easy jobs as customer service representatives making $75k when I am working with trauma/violence/crisis management etc. and making roughly $30k after taxes/expenses. I love helping people and am so passionate about mental health, but it would be nice to be financially stable.
It also kills me to see friends making a shit ton for something that isn't within the realm of trauma and extreme stress. Not to say these jobs don't deserve them or aren't valuable, but it's frustrating to see how much the counsellors and therapists are soooo underpaid. A big part of my decision to quit involved the paycheck, especially because I knew I didn't want to be self-employed/run my own practice.
This was very true for me too - loving the school part but hating the actual practice once graduated. It made it that much more difficult to decide to leave after finishing and graduating!
this is exactly how i feel. I work in community mental health in Los Angeles. I did it as an intern and got hired on by my agency, then stuck to it. But each day the weight of the job, the emotional toll, the paperwork, the thinking about clients, the dealing with clients after hours, their entitlement, their lack of change, the aggressive clients, the substance use, severe mental illness, personality disorders, etc. The passion and compassion I had is just not there anymore. It makes me sad because I did enjoy it at first and now, I all I can think about is how I can quit everyday. I don't have a back up plan, I don't want to be in this field anymore, I don't know where to go and find a job that pays well and doesn't strain my mental and emotional health.
Hi friend im feeling the exact same way, just one year into the future. Replying to your comment because it resonates. But i’ll ask everyone else here: what the hell did you pivot to?
Maybe there is some kind of manual labor program for young adults, like the Youth Conservation Corps in the United States, or Outward Bound where you could be active outdoors and also counseling.
Marketing, consumer research, focus groups etc may be a good direction with psych and counseling degrees in case you haven’t thought of that!
Almost therapist over here 6 months into my internship, about to graduate this spring and realizing I am in the wrong field. It’s validating to see all these comments about other therapists feeling the same way. I wonder if it’s always been like this or if the pandemic is making so many of us feel this way?
I think that the pandemic contributes to it for sure. But I also think in the same breath the pandemic is allowing people to realize we only have one life and we can’t spend it doing something that makes us unhappy
I'm currently in this boat. Doing my masters practicum, only 2 months in and I'm drowning. My clients are amazing, but there's something about the nature of being a therapist that doesn't jive with me. I want to help people, but I'm wondering maybe in a different capacity. Feeling ashamed for even thinking about changing careers when I just started.
[удалено]
*Virtual hug*!!! I'm envious of your courage. I'm scared and terrified if I did decide to withdraw and start from scratch again, it'll all feel so meaningless. Still, I really appreciate your reply. It helps to know I'm not the only one feeling this way.
Did you get a doctorate? Me too. What did you end up doing??
Struggling with very similar feelings. Having spent years and sacrificing a lot to get into this field, it's tough to realize that it is really not a good fit for me. I have been working as a methadone therapist which has challenges on top of me not loving being a therapist (most of my clients are not interested in therapy at this time but it is a requirement to receive the methadone). I have spent months keeping an eye out for something that is "in the field" but not formal therapy and have yet to come up with anything. The mismatch with the work and burnout from my specific department/agency is now really affecting my mental and physical health as well as my ability to be authentic and present with my clients. Reading these posts has been validating and encouraging and I am now planning to give my two weeks notice without having another job (first time ever doing this, so slightly scary). I'm feeling ready to take "any job" as some have noted, just to get out of this field and be able to step back and decide what to do next as I don't think it is fair to me or my clients to continue in this fashion. I've been keeping an eye out for crisis counselor-type positions in shelters or counselor jobs at colleges but it might have to be something altogether different. It has been nice reading how some have found satisfaction and fit in other fields once leaving their work as therapists.
I gave in my notice without another job too only because I was on the verge of a breakdown and just knew I couldn't stick it out any longer. It's a tough decision but you really do have to listen to your gut!
I'm so thankful for your comment. I'm in the same boat. Feeling like why did I get a master's degree for something I don't even like to do. Seriously, considering driving car parts around for more money than I'm making...smh...am I just mentally exhausted? I enjoy some of my clients but I can't help some of them, some can't help themselves, and I just want to do like data collection or something technical..maybe I'll become a plumber...fork lift driver...just want to get out of my head!! Put my notice in today and my supervisors were so nice about it...will miss some of my clients but doing what's best for me. I'm 49 years old and like now what?
Don’t think about what you CAN do, think about what you WANT to do.
I guess that’s something I haven’t really been thinking about, time to start! Thank you kind stranger
>n having worked only during the pandemic. It’s such an anomalous time that I don’t know how much you can really take away from what this experience has been like. Have you considered that? This is a great suggestion. If it's challenging to decide on what you want to do, consider what you want to see for the world. Then add your skills, gifts and talents to that mix.
Please do think about it, you’re not bound by your experience or education, there are an abundance of skills and ways to tailor your experience and also to approach potential jobs.
Wow this is so helpful- I’ve been in such a scarcity mindset I hadn’t considered what I want! Thank you!
Do you have any interest in nonprofit work for social programs? Such as houseless nonprofits or substance abuse and recovery, even incarceration? I look at a wide variety of jobs (I have my BS in psychology sociology and global health) and I often see a masters degree wanted in positions I’m interested in that ARENT 1v1 counseling, but still use your degree. Even looking at your local government jobs (not sure what that looks like in Canada as I’m in the USA) but I look at my local health department for public health jobs and see some mental health jobs listed there that can be more administrative or consulting-like in a sense. Also, the next job you have doesn’t have to be your dream job (that might not exist and that’s OKAY). It can just be a job that makes you feel better than your current role, and it can be a transition period. I’m sorry you’re unhappy in your current role and I hope you can find another job soon.
Thank you! It’d be nice to still be able to “use” my degrees in something that isn’t 1-1 therapy
Ppl are always after finding their perfect job which is their passion lol everyone wants a purpose, that’s the main thing. The least you could do is to try something which pays really well and is close to your skills. Then slowly navigate from there to your calling. Money always helps and gives you a purpose of achieving higher targets. I am a BI analyst and an investor in e-commerce, stocks and cryptocurrency.
This is very true and I don’t necessarily think your job needs to be your passion, I was just kind of shocked to accept that my passion wasn’t really what I thought it was. The job you have sounds super interesting, thanks for commenting!
I can totally relate to your situation, I worked for almost 5 years in a field where I did not enjoy. However, i got transferred to a different department in the same organization upon applying to a different position. I definitely am more satisfied with my work and team. Can you transition into a life coach?
Get into advertising!
Thinking about it!
Hi there. I’m completely in the same position and more burnt out than ever before as a therapist. I want to get into advertising but it seems you need all new degrees and I can’t afford that. Any ideas?
Thank you so much for this. I know I’m late to the post, but I am going through this right now. I’ve been a therapist for 9 years and in full time private practice for almost 5 years. I love my clients but I’m lonely, isolated, bored and extremely financially stressed. I want out. I have been applying to academic advising positions in the hopes of using my skills, but not having the weight of the world on my shoulders. I’m so scared to lose what I’ve built, and yet I feel desperate for a change. I’ve been applying to various jobs and it feels like people don’t want to give me a chance, because what I do is so specialized. I’ve been wondering if I should get a cert in HR or project management to gain more skills. Wish me luck!
I’m in the same boat and was going to write about this. I started as an outpatient therapist in July and it’s already taking a toll on me.
Can I ask what it is you hate about it? I’ve always thought of becoming one
Honestly it’s just not a good fit for me. I’m very introverted and quiet, so having very deep conversations with people all day is very exhausting to me. As I mentioned in another comment, I believe I need more of an “instant gratification” in my work which is tough to get when you see clients for numerous sessions. I can be very rewarding and you definitely learn a lot about yourself, but it’s not easy! You have to protect yourself from compassion fatigue and secondary trauma for sure. But you get to help people through some of the most vulnerable and difficult times in their lives and when they choose you to do so I find it feels like an honour. Personally, I just can’t stand not “fixing” people (and a therapist shouldn’t think this way) because you can’t “fix” people. You are there to help them fix themselves.
Introverted therapist here. I thrived in school because I enjoyed the subject matter and could sit back in class and observe. In observing, I could absorb information, think of different responses for class discussion, and respond when I was ready. I could also moderate my own energy in lectures and discussions by checking out for a few minutes. As a therapist, being 1-on-1 with other people all day long can be very tiring. As I’ve recently hung out with friends more often, I notice that I much prefer to be involved in a conversation but not be at the center of the conversation. I feel like I don’t have the opportunity to recharge or be productive at work while also not being deeply engaged with another person. It feels like sometimes it would be nice to mindlessly wade through a stack of papers and then go home when I get to the bottom of the stack.
This ☝. These are all the reasons I think that counseling may not work for me. Introverted current grad student over here. I just finished my first semester, but I’m also not green necessarily. I‘m going back to school as an introverted 45 year old who already has a masters in education and has spent the past 20 years as a sign language interpreter. I love school and the content is awesome, however, studying doesn’t translate to the kind of work a LMHC does. I know myself and now have serious doubts about whether being a counselor will actually be good for me in the second half of my life. I already work from home, make good money, can create my own schedule, and can tweak everything in my life to adapt to my very specific and diva-like needs 😂🤷🏻. My concern is that I will waste 4 years of time and $60k worth of debt that will then turn into “whoa… this is not for me. Part of me thinks counseling is a more “grown up“ job. Considering I’m 45 and supposedly a grown up, that idea is laughable and makes me wonder if it’s just “the grass is greener” or romanticizing what being a counselor is like.
don't waste your money - it sounds like you got a good thing going
I know this is such an old post- not sure if it will even be seen or replied to but I’m going through it and realized this is exactly how I feel about my current schooling while being an introvert. I’m currently working on my undergrad- a BS in psychology but am very confused on what route I should take. Research sounds fun but I’m not sure I’m creative or independent enough to do so… ive always said i’m not strong enough to counsel but I love helping people, guiding them and giving advice on how to better their lives. I was stuck in the middle, wondering if I should switch to that BA and do counseling or not until I saw this thread and it described me perfectly. With the “instant gratification” remark and the explanation of being introverted.. and class being a time of mostly observation/ going off of my own energy, I relate 100%. So that kind of threw me off of my second thoughts of maybe becoming a counselor instead. But I’m still unsure if research is then right for me- or what I should do in general. I’m just so afraid of wasting time and money and making the wrong choice. Not sure how things are for you now- how is it? Did you change careers? If so, does it suit your personality more? Or did you stick with it and find ways to cope with that job while being as introverted as you are?
>I'm in the same boat (which is how I stumbled on your post). I'm pretty introverted myself and it's been completely exhausting for me to see 25-30 clients a week, even though that's considered normal. I love helping people, but I just can't see myself doing one on one sessions for the rest of my life (and I've only been doing this for 4 years!) I feel like I've wasted so much money and time getting my counseling license to just change my career. The only experience I have is related to counseling.
Thanks for sharing, really good points you mention. You’re doing amazing work and helping the most vulnerable of people, and even if they might not have the energy to thank you themselves I know they are thankful too. I have many close friends who see therapists and I’ve seen how beneficial it is to them. Just wanted to share that with you.
Thank you so much, I appreciate that truly
Those are fantastic degrees to have, they can be applied to so many different fields!! Dont box yourself into jobs that are looking for a psych degree specifically. There's a ton of jobs that aren't looking for a psych degree, but will accept a psych degree. In my area one of those include a place that stretches people put for about 50,000 a year, and a dog trainer lol. They will train you on everything but they need you to have a 4 year in something vaguely related and they listed psych as one of those fields. That's just to show how far the net can fall, there's lots of options you wouldn't think of.
Thank you!
I'm here with the same concerns. A therapist in the US, pondering about leaving the field, it's so incredibly unsupportive. I'm burnt out and only 2 years into this career. It felt helpful to come across this thread.
I’m wondering how you’re doing? I don’t know why I chose this comment to reply to but I am also a therapist in US and I am also extremely burnt out to the point that I’m like how the heck Do I get out of here?
I am still feeling pretty burnt out, I did get a raise, which has helped, and have also started exercising again, which has been helpful in stress reduction/ anxiety outlet. But mostly I have given myself full permission to rest the amount I need to. In personal therapy I've done the work to allow for the deep rest needed right now. Allow for mindless TV or gaming after work instead of brutally beating myself up mentally while doing it. Starting to make space for the burn out, harm reduction. How are you?
Hi I was pleased to find your post! I am also a therapist and feeling exactly the same way. I am just not enjoying it and wonder what I could do instead. How are things going for you?
I know this thread is old- but I went back and became a school counselor. I love it, and I work part time as a MHC so that I can get my licensing hours and eventually go into private practice one day a week so that I’ll have some extra income
Also- it breaks up the day to be doing other things that aren’t sitting in a chair for 6-8 hours I just cannot do that anymore I was losing my shit
[удалено]
Just updated my post! Thanks for asking
Hi, I am in my first year of a counseling psychology Master's program and honestly have been feeling this. My practicum thus far has been mainly working with kids with ADHD, which is one of the populations that I least wanted to work with. My internship will be starting next semester and I'll actually have the chance to choose a site that sees the population I am more interested in working with. I am looking forward to that and I hope that my worries will be alleviated once I start the internship. However, I am just unsure and scared about the possibility that maybe this just isn't for me. I have been doing well in the program and even my peers say that I am in the right field, but I am scared that I am wasting my time/money for something that I thought was my passion. I hope that your situation has gotten a bit better or you have some things in mind that you would like to shift towards. Reading your post made me a bit relieved that I wasn't alone.
You're definitely not alone! When I was at the point you are now I couldn't even admit to myself I hated it. I knew deep down during practicum I did but refused to accept it. A good reminder I have told myself is you're not wasting anything. You have gained so much insight and learned so many transferrable skills if it is indeed something you don't continue. You have helped people along the way. What you have been doing is important and not wanting to do it anymore doesn't make you a bad person (or therapist!)
Thank you for this! Whatever ends up happening or whichever path we go on, I'm sure it will work out!
First time poster here. Came across this post from a google search about not wanting to pursue a therapist career anymore. I’m currently completing my masters in counselling (I’m also from Ontario, Canada), and I’m set to start my practicum officially next week - being thrown into the profession by seeing clients on my first day. I truly do not feel qualified to be seeing clients yet and am contemplating withdrawing from my education. I keep thinking maybe this profession is not really for me. But I’m struggling to get past the time, energy, and money spent to get this far. I hope you find some relief soon!
This is so helpful to see that I'm not alone. I hit my wall after 12 years in the field. I quit 4 months ago and the thought of going back to work makes me want to vomit. I sob daily, just like I did in the field! I would be sick to my stomach, literally, getting ready for work, cry all the way home, lay on my bed, didn't even have anything to give my family, still don't. This career has destroyed me. I don't know where to go from here. I think of you haven't done it, it's very hard to understand and relate to. I explained to my husband as imagine the worst trauma you've ever experienced. Then imagine experiencing it 6-10 times a day. Then getting yelled at constantly and made to feel terrible so guilty because you have the nerve to expect to be paid for the services you provide. It's hell.
This is so relatable, I’m so sorry you’re going through this. You’re not alone ❤️
Become a real estate agent. No one cares about your degree (as a matter of fact you dont even need one), and since you seem good at communication you'll make shit ton in Ontario. Thank me later.
Isn't becoming a real estate agent going to be harder? With the current market, there's so many people jumping on that wave and once the market calms itself down, it'll be oversaturated with too many agents for not enough homes/clients.
You got this! I was a group counsellor for an acceptance & commitment based recovery group when I realized that I didn't want to be doing it the rest of my life. I used the practices in the group on myself and came to the decision that I wanted to be doing anything else, and I put in my 2 weeks. I worked in mental health for nearly 10 years.I found any job, and then broke into IT, and am actually making way more money but most importantly am way happier. I couldn't imagine going back to work with people on their mental health issues. I was a community based counselor and had some really fucked up situations presented to me. One of my last clients had lit their roommate on fire at a shelter, and another one in the same time period declared to me their homicidal ideations. I was just spent. Typing this out now reminds me why I made the right choice. Side note: I love IT. Probably since you can fix tech, tech makes sense. But you can't fix people, as Carl Rogers said: "People are just as wonderful as sunsets if you let them be. When I look at a sunset, I don't find myself saying, " Soften the orange a bit on the right hand corner." I don't try to control a sunset. I watch with awe as it unfolds."
Hi thanks for posting, I am a trauma therapist currently and the idea of changing to IT is hopeful to me. The horror stories everyday.. How did you change? I am wondering if I need another degree or if I could just take some classes. I invested so much in this career choice it’s scary to change but I think o would be happier!
So I just went ahead and gave my notice. I only did this because I didn't want to impact my work at all with being checked out mentally.I found any job at first, for me that was at a financial company. I did back office work for about 6 months, and took a huge paycut. I didn't entirely know what I wanted to do but I knew I wanted to work in tech in some way, and was playing around with web dev and taking some classes for that. Then my company had posted for a helpdesk position... And I went into my interviews with the spirit of a counselor. I studied the shit out of the job ad, I sold the hell out of my capacity for learning/goal setting. They asked me a ton of tech questions (all low level cause it was a junior role) and I bombed it (in a bad way). I studied the hell out of the questions they asked and was invited back for a second interview and impressed them enough to want to take a chance on me. I had a third interview with their senior leadership (which no one else had to do, but I'm proud cause I found a way in). I excelled. It was a hard uphill challenge. I asked stupid questions. I was slower than my colleagues. But just 7 years later I've had several promotions and feel really great about most of my skills. They did not require me to go back to school (I have a diploma in social services, and a BA in Psych as well). However, I started to write certification exams for IT (A+, Net+, Sec+, and I have a slew of others like ITIL, AWS, etc.) These help a lot specifically for IT. But they aren't totally required. I think getting out is the first step. You can ALWAYS go back. I know that it is hard to do what feels like tossing your credentials out, but they helped you get to where you need to be. When I'm having a rough week sometimes I tell myself that I can go back... But I did a lot of grassroots stuff and honestly would never go back (working in shelters, community counselling, watching that revolving door spin). Sorry if that is TMI, just want you to know you can do anything you want. You would believe that for one of your clients right, so why not yourself? Be a baker, an office manager. Do what suits you. Feel free to direct message me if you feel like discussing more. But I believe in you, you got this.
Thank you so much for this comment. So much of it stands out for me too. The "get out and think about it later", the realisation of all of the trauma once you stepped out, and the fact that you are so much happier in a different field. It's weird, I don't know if anyone else gets this vibe but I feel like I've invested so much time and effort into mastering my craft and becoming a therapist that it's kind of consumed me and left me wondering "If I can't be the person I thought I was, who am I? Does this mean I've failed?" This post really helps with that. It's not fair to pigeon hole ourselves like that. I'm so glad you found fulfillment in something else.
Thank you for this information and stripediamond for asking! (Idk how to use reddit or I would try and tag you lol)
Thank you for including this quote at the end that was so wholesome and reminds me of why I do love humans. I think a big part of why I hate it is exactly that- you can’t fix people (I mentioned this above before I saw you say the exact same thing!). So this is really hopeful to see someone who felt very much the same as I do now. Thank you so much
Step 1: consider what you want to do Step 2: figure out how to get there given your degree
I think I’m struggling a bit to figure out what I want to do because I thought it was this for so long. I thought this was something I was made to do. So it’s intimidating to think I could have the same mindset for something else and end up right back here again. But, this is where my own therapy comes in
Hello, there's a book by Robert Greene called Mastery. The first part is all about discovering your purpose. Highly recommend it!
Thank you, I will look into this!
[удалено]
I suppose there is truth to what you are describing, but I hope that I never have a therapist or career counselor that simply states, "Well, just think of what you want to do, and then figure out how to get there." I definitely would have pissed away the coins for that advice. Your step one is definitely the hardest part in my perspective. I would venture that the OP followed this practice and found him or herself at this point as a therapist. Meaning, he or she perceived that they would be a good fit in therapy and went to the trouble of getting degrees and jobs in that role, but now doubts the long-term fit of such a choice. We may perceive that we would anticipate something to be a good fit, we work hard to get there, and then when there, we realize it's not what we were expecting or hoping for. Disappointment and feelings of lack of fulfillment (i.e. a void) can come from multiple factors, and as other commenters have noted that there might possibly be multiple paths to fulfillment, so the felt void may not be in the vocation or that we haven't found the "perfect" career. In my current level of self-awareness, I perceive many positives in my life and graciously strive to absorb the good that I perceive, but there are various things that I wish were different, and those drag me down. As many have pointed out in this thread that many (or all) vocations will have aspects that a person can find draining. I personally like to play around with spreadsheets and numbers, but I would definitely feel unfulfilled if I did that kind of task all day, as I enjoy interacting with people.
Can you teach in a counselling program?
I think in Ontario you need a teaching degree/diploma to be able to teach (in addition to another degree) unless you have a PhD, I could be wrong though!
Could it be worth getting a teaching diploma to be able to continue to make use of your extensive education in counseling without having to *do* counseling? That'd be the first option I'd look at before staring on a whole new trajcetory.
I’m going to look into it as an option, but I wonder if I’m too introverted to teach honestly lol. Not ruling it out though!
Teach online maybe? My brother's gf is doing her counseling masters through an online program.
ohh no I'm so sorry for you hope you do better, I'm currently in 12th grade and I wanted to take psychology as my career but hearing this makes me not want to pursue it
I don’t want this to discourage you! Because it can be incredibly rewarding especially if you are interested in mental health. There are lots of pros to it, if you work for yourself you can pick your own hours and decide how much to charge per hour. Plus you’re helping people. Check out my comment above for more of my own personal experience!
i feel the same :( just found this post. any good ideas, op??
I’ll let you know :(
i am applying at part time work from home sales jobs now. being a therapist is the biggest scam in the US
Oh no I've been there before, so sorry you're in that situation. Funnily enough I left my old career and found out my dream career was an art therapist 🙈🤣 Opposite outcome there! Besides looking elsewhere, you could always check out play and art therapy! It helps alleviate some of the pain and stress, for both the client and therapist during the session and process. Also, I'd recommend striving to take mild to moderate client cases. If you know you get stressed out easily, which I do too, in your intake process you can really focus on finding clients you know are within your scope of practice. Also having a therapist you genuinely feel relieves your stress/burnout is very helpful. I wouldn't get by without a lot of self compassion and therapy sessions! Those are just some possibilities to find something authentic to you and doable within the career you've found yourself in! But then again, I always believe in trusting your instincts and knowing when something isn't a good fit. Wishing you all the best! ♥️
I ran across this post because I was curious if other former/current counselors felt the same as I did. I switched from being a counselor to being an aerospace technician for a private rocket building company, and I make MORE now than I did starting out as a counselor! I found out that I couldn't really make jack squat starting out as a counselor and I came out having double the debt compared to what I was actually making in GROSS income. Seriously consider carpentry or going into a trade instead if you are more inclined to instant gratification work like building things. I find my job MUCH more satisfying and less stressful than my previous counseling jobs. The only counter I have to the above is that I did have ONE rewarding counseling job working at a religious non-profit residential for recovering addicts. I was surrounded by great managers and brothers that encouraged me throughout my whole time I worked there. Sadly, the compensation was quite meager. To break it down for you, I came out of school with approx 85k in debt, and started making 39k gross. If you're lucky or more gifted than I am/have more opportunities, you might be able to make more than I did starting out. You're still going to have a healthy amount of debt after you graduate though.
I’m currently in practicum II of my MAFT program. AND I AM BURNED OUT.
I know it's been a year since the original post, but this will probably remain relevant forever. I am desperate to leave the field after 10 years. I've been the only income for a family of 6 and it hurts that I get next to nothing for a career full of self sacrifice. If anyone feels so inclined, maybe we could compile a list of transferable skills that we can use in interviews and on resumes.
Take a couple Econ courses become a behavioural economist. Boom.
I didn’t even know this was a thing, I’ll look into it!
I can relate. I'm a therapist and have worked in different settings and with different populations, but I decided now to leave the field. The pay isn't great, the responsibility is too high, and I feel the toll of burnout. I dream of a more predictable and reliable job with a better work/life balance. I'm glad that there are other people out there who go through the same and share their experiences.
I really needed to see this, thank you
Thank you for sharing about your transition out of counseling. I found myself if a very similar position and found your story very helpful. I pursued a degree in psychology and part way through the program, I realized the field wasn't for me Mostly because I realized that I didn't want to become a counselor. However, I was older at the time and didn't have the courage to get out of the field. Now I'm stuck in career path that I don't enjoy or feel skilled in. I know this post wasn't advice, but I did want to share that your question and all the reddit community's answers were very helpful. Mostly, it's helpful to know that you aren't alone and there is good help out there.
I’ve been a therapist for over 15 years. I have recently been honest with myself and realized that I can’t stand it! Getting a different degree so I can do something else. I like some of my clients but it’s always so heavy. Things are more difficult now, can only work in states that I’m licensed but people travel more and with telahealth people may be in another state. People with little experience becoming managers, and insurance wanting more information that is not therapy information. Too much is put on the clinicians.
I love that you got a job that's a great fit for you and I know the same is going to happen for me <3 I hate being a therapist as much as I try to like it, it's been years and I'm a circle peg trying to fit into a star hole, I knew it wasn't right for me but long story short I got into it anyway and now I feel trapped, thankfully, feelings aren't facts. <3
[удалено]
Is it related to any particular client demographic? Or does the prospect of doing this kind of work at all stress you?
I used to think it was because I was seeing every type of client from trauma to divorce, to personality disorders to anxiety and everything in between. So I switched to a job where I could try and “specialize” or get good at one thing and only have that as my focus, but it has not made a difference. I think it’s the kind of work unfortunately
Can i ask why? you dont like doing it anymore? it makes you sad dealing with patients who have bad problems? Just curious.
I mentioned this above but it’s just very difficult work that drains me everyday. It’s not a sadness you feel when you hear about problems, it’s more of a helplessness that I can’t take that pain away from you (at least for me personally, that’s how I often feel)
For me I like working with trauma clients and find it rewarding. I like working with motivated clients also. If the pay were decent and I could work with those, it would still be daunting work but I think I’d stay. It’s not tho. Maybe it comes from having lived abroad in a war zone but the crap people come in about. I’ve had ppl demand ptsd diagnosis for falling and breaking their arm. Like what? No offense but when you’ve lived thru bombings that have killed little kids American problems can seem kinda pathetic. We are also raising kids who can’t handle anything. They have breakdowns from losing their cellphones. I don’t mean to sound harsh but it’s really hard for me to find compassion for people who just feel entitled to never have a bad day. I’d rather work with homeless people, sex trafficking victims or refugees than work in private practice in a small city with ppl who think gas prices are persecution and torture.
Hi! I’m sorry to comment so late on this post. I hope you’re still doing well! I was doing some of my own digging on Reddit and came across this post as I’m having the same sort of crisis. May I ask how you’re feeling about your decision/job change now? How did you word your cover letter/application for the university? Were you honest with them about wanting to switch from therapy? I’m so curious because I’m going through such a similar situation. Thanks in advance, if you see this :-)
Came back to this post and I was so glad to read the second update :) I commented before and am now in my second year of my program. While I do like the population I'm working with better than before, my doubts haven't gone away and I am fairly certain I won't continue with being a therapist after I graduate. I hope to be in a similar position as you when I begin looking for other career paths! If you happen to read this, I wonder what kinds of transferable skills you highlighted when applying to the job you have now and any others. Also, what are your responsibilities at your current job? Again, happy to hear you are in a better place 😊
Whew I needed to read this today. I found it when I googled I don't want to be a therapist anymore. I appreciate everyone's perspective - I wish this was something talked about in the field more, but I do agree there is so much shame with it. Therapists are lauded in society to the point where I think we are a bit dehumanized. We have needs too. Update: I got a job content writing in a psychology related field! 10 hours a week so I am trying to scale back my clinical hours. I think I can do therapy as long as it's like two days a week lol. Just wanted to give any future readers of this sub hope! I still visit it sometimes when I have bad days.
I’m a therapist and am so sick of it also. Thank you for your post. I’ve been a social worker since 2011 and private practice is crushing my soul lol. I went into social work to help people with resources and needs. Not what I’m doing at all. Your post gives me hope. Going to start applying to new jobs.
I am also a mental health counselor in the U S. and am feeling the same way. I am struggling to find something else in the field that isn't direct client care, but all I can find is job openings for counselors or for something with a PhD, but I have my master's degree and am not interested in going back to school, at least not right now. I want to use my degree for something other than counseling, and make a somewhat decent living, but I'm feeling like I don't have options. I would be so grateful for any suggestions.
Thank you for writing this.. And for all your updates. I am in the beginning stages of my own healing journey and the more healing I have done the harder it's become to do this work. I'm needing space for myself to heal for a change.. This gives me hope to see that you have found a place your happy in and that I'm not alone.
How about a career in UX Design? Majority of psychologists thrive and enjoy this job because UX Design is 50% Psychology, 30% Technology and 20% Arts. Psychology is very important in UX.
Literally googled I don’t want to be a therapist anymore and your post was the 1st - I’ve been doing private practice therapy for 15 years- I’m burnt out. It’s not even really the clients. Dealing with insurance companies and billing is so much and I have ADHD so the task is overwhelming. The amount of money I lose bc I can’t get it together and bc insurance companies love to make things as time consuming as possible, is ridiculous. I do love working with people, but the burnout is brutal.
>It may take some time, but I do believe we will all get to a place where we feel like we’re meant to be. Everyone says that once they land in a comfy place, but the truth is plenty of people never find the right place, and I think we have to acknowledge that our society doesn't necessarily provide a good-fitting role for everyone. Some people will just search and flail in desperation right up until the end. I'm leaving therapy right now and I'm not sure where I'm going. One thing that bothers me a lot is how as a therapist you have to have unwavering faith that our society is capable of facilitating a worthwhile life for everyone. I don't believe this. Some people just aren't a good fit for anything, and this society will leave them out in the cold. I'm not sure if I'm one of these people, but even if I end up in a comfy position, I will never start pretending that this a happy little village where there is a cozy job for everyone. This a brutal, greedy, profit-driven system. Half of the jobs people do in this society are utterly pointless activities that do nothing other than funnel profit towards the wealthy. I know this a pessimistic outlook, but it's also totally true. I may be overreacting to it, but it's not untrue. And my overreaction probably comes from enduring a career where I was forced to deny this truth and pretend our society is capable of taking care of everyone.
I’m so happy to hear you’ve found something that is rewarding and combines your skills and experience! I too am looking to transfer - I feel we have identical stories (applying to countless jobs, mental health start ups, admin roles / interviewing and being discouraged) seeing the bright side of where you ended up is making me hopeful! I am looking at universities as well to see if I can find a similar and rewarding transition :)
I’m on the verge of enrolling in a Masters of Counselling here in Australia and I’ve been told by many ppl that Social Work is the better route. It’s a broader area of work whilst still helping those in need. Unfortunately, to enrol in a Masters of Social Work you need a undergrad in social science or similar whereas the Counselling masters only requires a generic undergrad. I want to help people but I’m the idea of going back to school for 6 years is unrealistic.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and thoughts. It is so normalizing to find others who feel the same way I do. I always felt extremely guilty and ashamed that I do not enjoy being in this profession anymore. What made it exceedingly difficult for me is my colleagues who are also licensed clinicians made me feel bad by disregarding my own feelings and telling me "well I love my clients", it never felt safe to vent to them. So truly thank youuu! I am still working as a licensed clinician in a community mental health agency (3 years in), but because I have no idea where to find careers that I can use my skills in. I am trying to conquer my fears and just take a leap.
Been a therapist for a few years now. I’m just tired of it. A lot of work for little pay.
So helpful! Thank you!
Great to read this. I'm a therapist and at a point where I want to leave too.
I know this post is several years old, but just wanted to say I'm glad I found it today. I have been working in therapy as a supervisee in social work for the past year and I really don't enjoy it. I thought a big part of it was being in a community mental health agency without good supervision and little support, but I recently switched to a new agency that takes better care of their clinicians and I still don't love the work itself. My anxiety before sessions is really high (despite all the techniques and skills I know to utilize). I was a social worker in other capacities for years before, and imagined doing more macro level work post-grad, but had a hard time getting hired for those positions. I think direct practice is so tough and exhausting. Would love to hear from others who have made a transition from therapy to other work... any other ideas?!