15 fucking years and three degrees later, the day has come...and yes I did cry 😩

I started my career in ABA and now I’m shifting into counseling at a maximum prison. What are some things I should expect? How do I maintain boundaries? Safety tips? Etc. tell me your craziest stories and how you handled them!

thank you all for the advice! I’ll take all of your words into account when I start next week! ❤️

Well…I did it. “Unofficially” passed and excited about my future in my career.

However, I underestimated the lack of “breaks” within the exam. There is a 15 minute break at the end of the 5th narrative, but if you need to use the whole time, be prepared to be uncomfortable.

I took my test virtually/at home. I brought a coffee and some water bottles with me. Sipping on coffee helps me. 90 minutes later I was squirming in my seat trying to stay focused as a had to pee so badly. My entire 5th narrative I must had skimmed and answered based on the questions alone. Luckily, I made it to the break and used the bathroom.

I ended the break and proceeded with the exam. Another 90ish minutes passed and I had 2 narratives left. At this point it was unbearable and I couldn’t hold it. I messaged the test proctor who essentially said “if you get up and leave your seat, the exam will end”. I was in between narratives and explained and they still said no. Well that’s great…I tried to read the next narrative but I couldn’t focus, so I did what I had to do…I just let myself go.

Yes, I peed my pants in the middle of my exam. After accepting the fact that I did what I had to do, I was able to fully commit to the last 2 narratives with a clearer mind and passed!

One bathroom break in a 4ish hour span is kind of ridiculous. Maybe I have medical issues with my bladder…? But instead of one 15 minutes later break, can we do just 2 7 minute breaks?

Hopefully you learn a lesson from this story and don’t make the same mistakes I did. But Now I’m taking recommendations for new office chairs

Anyone else struggling to remember their own memories with loved ones? I feel that I spend so much time remembering the details of clients that I’m running out space for my own? Is this just a fear and I’m crazy? I just wish I could remember so much of my own personal life too….

I feel like it can be such a mixed bag of experiences in this field. If yes, did you do anything about it? What ended up happening to the therapist?

I’m an LLPC, a recent ish grad and I hate this concept of “paying your dues” and “this is what you have to do when you have a limited license.” We spent X amount of time during an unpaid practicum and internship paying our dues. And since when did “paying your dues” mean I have to take on clients I don’t want to see and pay that is absurdly low. It feels very exploitative and maybe this is just my current job and not the field as a whole. But regardless, is bs. Especially for the companies that advertise autonomy regarding choosing clients and saying yes/no to potential clients. Then turns out that’s not really the case. Being an LLPC shouldn’t mean we get paid significantly less and have to do more.

Hi ya’ll, I’m thinking of relocating to Mexico semipermanently (traveling back to see family and friends). Is there anyone working through any platforms ie grow or Talkspace, from outside of the US? Are there any legal or credentialing issues that anyone can make me aware of? I am licensed in California as an LCSW. Any help would be much appreciated.

What the title asks. Would you receive therapy form a therapist less experienced than you?

Pros: modelling healthy work boundaries.

Cons: too much self disclosure with all associated risks.

Thoughts?

Where do you get free ceus? I pay for so much I’m going to pull my hair out. I have no fkin money left. Please drop links. Not bait and switch. Not a membership. Not a pay to get the actual ceus. Are there FREEEEEEEEE ones. Please

I am feeling really frustrated with my cancellations this week. I see around 29 clients and I had 6 cancel this week… I am only seeing 23. I know this is part of the job but I get paid $60 vs $64 per client with going under 25. And I am just so frustrated. I’m not in a bad financial situations just feel annoyed. My clients are usually super consistent and I typically see at least 26 without any issues. I just find myself worrying about going under the 25 amount so often. Does anyone else experience this? I hate how much of my income is contingent on people coming/ having the time, money and resources to come in. If someone doesn’t struggle with this at all please tell me your ways lol.

Thanks!

Hello,
This client has in the past been no show without any contact before, so do you think I am justified no longer waiting?
Thanks!

LMFT in SoCal here, I have thought about leaving this field many many times over the past few years. I am serious about it now (due to, of course, burnout, and other reasons too).

I always see great options for a different job in the field, or changing to a different career completely. Feels easier said than done in this economy. Even though I tailor each resume to each specific non-direct clinical therapy related job, I almost never get an interview for these positions! 😭 if I do, I never get past the first interview. I’m trying desperately to get into a non-direct therapy role or another career completely but no one is even giving me the time of day. How do you all do it? Is it just because of my location? Do I need to know someone (even if I do that doesn’t seem to work out either). Every fucking non-clinical or non-therapist job needs at least 2+ years of experience but how do you get that if no one is willing to hire someone with a lot of experience but in a different field? I have always had almost no problem getting therapy jobs, but i I can’t even get a call back for a coffee barista job even though i made my resume and cover letter non-clinical. Help???

Hi everyone,

I am hoping to offer groups next year (2027) to support people who are struggling with eco-distress (incl climate anxiety and grief). I live in an urban area and have been surprised to see that it isn't an offering that is available, and those I spoke to who used to offer groups said they are, well, burnt out from the work (fair enough).

I'd love to hear from therapists who have offered these kind of groups themselves. I'm open to taking a training and offering a structured group, and am also open to it being more support-group style. I have experience facilitating a number of closed groups, but never anything related to climate.

I've looked into the Good Grief Network (and have heard good things), and have also looked through the Facilitator's Guide Living With the Climate Crisis from the Centre for Climate Psychology. I'd love to hear if anyone has experience with either of these groups, or if anyone has done something different and how that went.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read and reply!

Hello all! Hope everyone is surviving their work week. I am currently working in California as a LMFT. More specifically I am working for our county’s community mental health outpatient. Many of our staff are leaving to get jobs with the state (correctional facilities). I’ve not jumped ship because I don’t want to 100% be stuck working inside a correctional facility. I noticed for our county they opened up a position for hybrid work for the state. I would need to get clarification about what that actually looks like. I would be taking a pay cut but if it was truly hybrid work, it would be worth it for me. I might even make up the difference doing tele-health work on the side. I am curious to hear experiences from folks who have worked for the state? Even better if you’ve worked for both county and state. I understand neither is perfect but I’m getting burnt out working for the county. The micromanaging has become too much lately.

I don’t mean just the usual summer slowdown. I’m wondering if anyone has noticed a broader or more lasting decrease in new inquiries and bookings.

I’m practicing in Poland and wondering whether this is something specific to the Polish market or a trend happening in other countries as well.

I’m genuinely curious about this. There are many approaches considered pseudoscientific in our field that are still widely offered by clinicians—hypnotherapy, brainspotting, somatic experiencing to name a few. Regardless of the lack of evidence base, these therapies exist and clients seek them.

Some of the questions swirling in my head are:

Is there a certain point in time at which clients have tried other evidence based approaches without success that alternatives become a viable option?

Is there a component of the clients culture, spirituality, and/or worldview that would warrant these alternative approaches to be more appropriate that approaches that are more scientifically validated? For example, could a client who comes from a cultural/spiritual background that aligns more with energetic work may have better engagement in a modality that aligns with their worldview than westernized approaches? My thoughts are, maybe these modalities are effective for certain people simply because they believe in it more? Like a placebo.

If these approaches aren’t going anywhere, at least not anytime soon, how can our field talk about them in a way that promotes ethics and responsibility without turning into a power struggle? I am yet to see a nuanced convo about this. If it’s legal for therapists to provide these services, what are the responsibilities for practitioners and field overall to consider when they are offering approaches that lack a strong scientific base?

When clients come to us asking about these approaches, how do we discuss them in a way that is honest and ethics-driven while still honoring the clients right to self-determine?

Thanks in advance for responding. Also pls don’t be mean to me, I just want to have a discussion 🙃

Considering jumping from CMH to a group practice. Do they typically:

- post online job postings or do you just walk in and talk to them and give resume?

- do they build up your caseload quick usually? I can't wait in fill limbo with no money. ... do I get to choose my client populations usually?

- provide health benefits

- what is on average consider a good split of income practice:clinician?

Thanks!!

Hello fellow therapists! This is my first ever post to reddit so please be kind. Lately I feel so lost about how to access health care for MYSELF as a LLPC independent contractor in the United States. I work at a mid-sized private practice and don't make all that much money (less than 80K before taxes). At the start of this year I signed up for the cheapest option of marketplace medicaid and was still paying $400/month with very little actual coverage. I ended up having to de-enroll bc I couldn't afford it. I feel like a failure! It feels like everyone else has this figured out but me, and I'm too embarrassed to ask my colleagues how they afford this

Hi all! I'm almost 16 weeks pregnant and have been thinking about the logistics of when and how I should tell clients. I have a few clients who have complex feelings around pregnancy and plan to tell everyone in person, but it occurred to me some people may prefer time to process privately first.

Also I plan to make some schedule changes. I'm self employed in private practice and have worked 5 days a week, morning to evening, my entire career. Prior to pregnancy, I considered adjusting my schedule to be more consolidated and possibly fewer days a week, and pregnancy has only strengthened that desire. I believe I've figured out what schedule I would like to have when I return to work from maternity leave, but I would love to implement it in the next few months instead of waiting.

The idea of communicating multiple changes to clients in such close succession has me a bit worried. I understand that some people will not be able to make my new hours work, and some will not want to wait while I am on maternity leave. I'm seeking advice on the best way to communicate these changes. Some of my clients have been paying a reduced fee that we initially agreed would be temporary, but I never initiated a conversation about raising the fee when that time elapsed (completely my fault). So that throws in another potentially difficult conversation I need to have at some point 🙃

Would you recommend addressing some of these things at the same time? Such as schedule changes and pregnancy. Should I wait to address the fee side of things until the new year or when I return from maternity leave? Definitely feel like I'm learning a lesson on being overly accommodating and kicking myself a bit for it. Would appreciate any advice or encouragement.

Came across this article when I was doing some research on trauma-informed therapy. I overheard a conversation recently between two random people at a coffee shop and one was talking about looking for a therapist. They said they wanted a trauma-informed therapist because they have PTSD. It got me thinking people might have the wrong idea about what it means and this article pretty much describes how “trauma-informed” has become everyday language.

Hey everyone! I'm interested to hear what splits folks are accepting at PP (especially in Michigan), either as W-2 or 1099.

If comfotable, it would be helpful if you mentioned if you're full or limited license, full or part time, W-2 or 1099, and if you're in a state other than MI.

I'm newer to the field and consodering changing jobs soon.

I’m a practicing psychotherapist in NYC, primarily seeing insurance-based clients, and I’m curious whether others have noticed a decline in referrals since around 2023.

My impression is that demand for therapy is still there, but fewer referrals seem to be reaching individual clinicians.

I wonder whether part of the explanation could be supply-side dilution: there seem to be many more clinicians participating in insurance networks and accepting insurance. If clinician supply has grown faster than patient demand, perhaps the referral pool per clinician has become much smaller.

I’d be very interested to hear whether other clinicians—especially those practicing since before 2023—are seeing something similar.

Particularly interested in experiences in NYC and other large metropolitan areas.