Why Becoming a Therapist May Be a Rewarding Choice In Your Career

Wanting to change your career? It’s never too late to do so. Being tired of your job and wanting something new is just human nature.

One career choice that you may be interested in is therapy. Being able to help others while improving yourself is nice.

However, is it for you? Let’s look at some reasons why it may be the best choice of your life. Also, we’ll be fair and also list some reasons why it may not be the choice for you.

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Reasons it May Be Rewarding

Money

Now, many therapists will tell you they don’t do it for the money. That is true. Many are there to help others. But we need money to pay bills and enjoy life, so money is still important.

And therapy can be great if you are needing some money.

How much you earn depends on what type of therapy you seek, where you live, how many clients you have, etc. However, even the lower end makes a decent, middle-class wage.

One way for you to determine if therapy is worth it is to see how much therapists in your area make.

Helping People is Nice

Everyone wants to be a hero. While you’re not going to be saving people from burning buildings, you can help change the world by improving people’s lives. From repairing broken relationships to helping someone get more confidence, the feeling of doing so is just amazing.

Do not go into therapy expecting to be the savior of everyone, but you should go in hoping to do your best to help people solve their problems.

You Can Do it From Home

One reason why therapy is a good business to get into is that online therapy is booming. Being able to talk to your clients through the computer, without having to leave the house, is an amazing feeling.

In fact, therapy is quickly becoming a job where you can make your own schedule and make your own rules. You don’t need to be tied down by a company that makes you work hours you don’t want. Being able to work from home is just a liberating feeling in general.

With that said, there may be emergency calls from your clients, so think about that.

There are Many Employment Opportunities

Therapy isn’t a single occupation. There are addiction therapists, school therapists, marital therapists, the list goes on and on.

Becoming a therapist can help you, especially if there is a certain demand in your area. Does your city have a high divorce rate? Consider becoming a marriage and family therapist. It’s as simple as that.

Learning How the Mind Works

Becoming a therapist allows you to have more insight into the inner workings of the mind and human psychology.

As it’s always evolving, you will have to keep up with the science. You’ll discover new facts about the brain that are fascinating.

Meeting New People

Most of your clients won’t be people you have a beer with, but they may be people you can learn a lot from. Meeting new people thanks to your job can feel rewarding and it can allow you to see the world through many different perspectives. You may end up growing as you help others grow.

Reasons Why It May Not Be for You

It is Demanding

Even though therapy can offer a little more freedom in regards to your schedule, it’s still a demanding job.

For one  thing, it’s emotionally demanding. You may hear stories that make you hurt inside. Clients may end up yelling at you. You may feel like you will need a therapist of your own.

Even if you consider yourself emotionally strong, it is a job that can break many people, and it may not be for the  faint of heart.

It Can Be Erratic

Like we said, your schedule is more flexible as a therapist, but that does not mean it’s not inconsistent. For example, you may have a week where your schedule is swamped with clients.

Then, you may have a week where your schedule is a bit barren.

If you like consistency and consistent pay, you may have an issue with some aspects of being a therapist. It is a rewarding job, but some weeks will be better than others, and that’s something to think about.

It’s Lonely

Another reason why you may want to think twice about becoming a therapist is that it is a  lonely profession.

If you are someone who doesn’t like coworkers, this may be the job for you. However, your clients are not your friends. It is a one-sided relationship for the most part.

This especially applies if you are working on your own and you are not part of a firm where there are people you may make friends with.

It’s a Journey Getting There

Finally, we have the last reason why you may not want to become a therapist: it takes years to become one.

Therapy is not a job where you can go to school for few months, then be ready to go. You have earn different degrees, spend hours in training, and then take your license.

In general, you will need to get a master’s degree in psychology or something relevant, then go for your doctorate. You may need to fulfill a certain amount of hours of supervised training, then go for your license.

Depending on where you live and what you’re going for, the demands can differ. If you want to learn how you can become a therapist, and what you will probably need in order to achieve that goal, then click here for more information.

Conclusion

Becoming a therapist can be a rewarding career choice, but it is something you will have to consider in regards to challenges.

There is no right answer if therapy is a career choice for you. It is something you will have to think about after doing research. You can click here to find out more information on how to become a therapist.

About the Author: Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.

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