Before becoming a therapist there are many things to take into consideration. It is such a wonderful career, but it’s helpful to have as much information as possible before you dedicate so much to pursuing this vocation.
Prefer to watch instead? Check out the video version of this article below:
I thought it would be fun to talk about some questions that could be worth asking before becoming a therapist. And I’m going to focus on some questions that I thought would have been helpful for me to ask before becoming a therapist.
Spoiler alert: I love being a therapist! So if I would have gone back and asked these questions before graduate school I still would have given an emphatic “yes” to pursuing therapy.
But, there are so many people that I’m hearing from who are questioning their choice of becoming a therapist, or pivoting out of being a therapist. Sometimes this happens because there are aspects of this job folks just didn’t anticipate.
For any of you who are thinking of becoming a therapist, here are some questions to consider before diving in.
3 questions to ask before becoming a therapist
1) why do you want this?
- This is a question anyone should ask before embarking on any career endeavor!
- Why do you want to be a therapist?
- I know that when I ask other people this question, the answer typically is: “Because, I want to help people.”
- Yes! This is absolutely a career in which you need to desire to help others!
- But, there are lots of people who want to help others for whom this profession may not be the best fit. In fact, there are lots of service jobs in which you can help others. Not just therapy.
- I think a lot of people have a much more specific, deep answer to this question. But, they may not have identified all those specifics for themselves.
- It is helpful to call all of the reasons you want to pursue this career to mind. That way you can consider if this profession is the best fit for all the specific reasons you have.
- Personally, for me, I stay in this profession not only because I enjoy helping people and talking with them, but because I find it inherently fascinating. If you don’t find the psychological concepts and how the mind works interesting then I think it’s going to be more of a challenge to find this profession worthwhile. (This is just something I have observed. There are plenty of exceptions to this!)
2) do you love talking to people *all* day?
- Do you find it intrinsically rewarding to talk to people all day?
- When I ask this question, I’m specifically referring to talking to people all day about themselves. And not about you!
- I think sometimes that’s where the mix-up can happen for folks.
- Many people feel like they could easily talk all day long. Then, they become a therapist and find that it feels a little more like a grind.
- Most of the time when we talk to other people, outside of the therapy context, we’re also talking about yourselves too.
- When you’re a therapist you’re not going to be talking about yourself except for in very specific and intentional situations. Your focus is laser-focused on your client.
3) do you have a financial plan?
- Do you have a financial plan for all the years of training?
- I’m not saying this to add any kind of doom and gloom to your outlook. But, if you can have this figured out at least a little bit before you enter the profession it’s only going to help you feel more equipped and empowered to move through the grueling training process a little more smoothly.
- I think this path is going to look different for everyone.
- There may be some that do the math and think: “I’m actually good. I don’t think I want to choose this profession that will cost me quite a bit up front.” By all means, pivot! Save yourself the time and money.
These questions can help
I know on the surface, these are just three simple questions to ask. It’s more nuanced when you’re making a decision to step into an entire career. However, if you really dig into each of these questions I think it’s really going to help. You will feel like you are making a fully informed decision before diving into the therapy career.
And even if you’re already a therapist, it’s still helpful to ask the first two questions. Is this really what you want to do? Why are you here? Do you still enjoy talking to people all day? Are there any shifts or pivots you want to make?
It’s always okay to come back and ask those questions. You never have to be locked into one way of doing things forever.
Is becoming a therapist the best plan?
If you are still mulling over if therapy is the right field for you, I have a few more resources that might help.
Check out my video about the advantages and disadvantages of being a therapist.
If you are still hoping to help others, but feeling like therapy may not be the best option for you, then I have an article about 15 alternative career options for therapists that may help spark some inspiration.
Deep diving finances
Let’s say the answers to the first two questions point you towards therapy. But, you still need to work on making a plan for how to budget and plan financially for your time in grad school and therapist training, then I have a couple resources that might help.
The first is an article about how to survive on a therapist intern budget.
I also have a video all about how to achieve financial stability as a therapist.
And until next time, from one therapist to another: I wish you well!
-Marie
Photo by Ann H on Pexels
Photograph by Antoni Shkraba Studio on Pexels
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