This is pretty much how I feel when I think about graduating in August.
I got my grades back yesterday - this semester is my last of "grades," since this summer I'm just in internship and that class is a pass/fail. I have a 3.86 gpa and zero clue what I'm going to do in August when I'm a 'real' therapist. I need a therapist.
Here's the thing. I like all of the things! I like teaching yoga. I like cooking and catering. I REALLY like talking to you. I like the music work that I do. I like therapy a lot too.
So, um, I can't do all of those things forever, right?
After graduation, the next step on the counseling career path is to get a therapy job and get licensed - licensure is basically like residency. I'm legal to practice therapy, but after 2 years of meetings with a supervisor and counseling (for money, finally), I get a license that says I've been doing this for a long time and am not a huge threat to society. Or something.
So right now I'm trying to figure out a few things. First, what kind of counseling do I want to do? Once I figure that out, can I find a job in that field? Maybemaybenot. You know, job market stuff.
Then, there's the other stuff. Can I find a full time counseling job that's fulfilling enough to drop at least some of the other stuff that I do, or should I try to find something part time? Should it be in Greenville? Should we MOVE?
I really like the idea, eventually, of doing something more holistic than straight-up therapy in an office. I like the idea of using yoga and food as a way to REALLY nurture people from the inside out. So with THAT in mind, we have to ask DOES THAT EXIST? Is it something I should create? SHOULD WE START OUR OWN BUSINESS?
Jay says yes. I say omgimscared. It's an ongoing discussion.
I'd like to know what you think, especially if you've ever taken advantage of therapy in your life. Did you love or hate it? Could it have offered you more? I just think that usually one thing isn't all people need - not just a pill, not just an hour bitching on the couch, heck, not JUST good diet and exercise. We're complex beings, and I have this pipe dream of being able to help an entire person at once, not just their tummies/joints/feelings one at a time.
Does that make sense? Can someone please tell me what to do?
Ginger C. says
As someone graduating from a counseling program tomorrow, I definitely understand the nervous/excited feeling about entering the job market! I think it would be awesome to incorporate yoga into your therapy sessions. When I was completing my elementary internship, my supervisor was also a trained yoga instructor for children. Occasionally we would incorporate this into our lessons, even if it was only 5 minutes. The kids responded really well to it! Good luck with the rest of your program =)