I am planning to study to become a therapist (MHC) and was wondering what the job market is like in NJ. What are some things I should know in terms of the job market and job prospects in NJ?
I am planning to study to become a therapist (MHC) and was wondering what the job market is like in NJ. What are some things I should know in terms of the job market and job prospects in NJ?
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Hey everyone,
I’m currently at a crossroads in my career/education and am seriously considering becoming a therapist. However, it’s a massive commitment in terms of time, money, and emotional energy, so I want to be as sure as possible before taking the plunge.
Right now, my background is in I-O Psychology and HR. While I’ve always been the "listener" in my friend group and have a deep interest in psychology, I know being a professional therapist is vastly different from just giving good advice to friends.
For those of you working in the field: How did you figure out this was the right path for you?
Specifically, I’d love some insight on:
The day-to-day reality: What are the parts of the job that grad school doesn't prepare you for? (e.g., burnout, administrative work, boundary setting).
Testing the waters: Are there low-stakes ways I can experience what the field is like before committing to a Master's program? (e.g., crisis hotlines, volunteer work).
The "Green Flags": What personality traits or signs indicate someone will actually thrive in this career long-term, rather than just burning out?
If you could go back to the moment you were deciding, what questions do you wish you had asked yourself?
Thanks in advance for any insights or tough love you can offer!
I, 31(F), am thinking of going back to school to get my Master's in Mental Health Counseling in hopes of one day becoming an independent practitioner with a license. My state requires 4500 hours of supervised hours to attain a license. I am afraid that accumulating those hours is going to be a very difficult task. I have read in places that people even end up paying to get supervised hours, how true is that? What is the biggest roadblock apart from finance to actually becoming an LPC? Is it worth going back to school?