Considering Getting a Masters in Counselling

[Matt23]

Let me know your thoughts, feelings, or intuitions about this strategy. 

Basically, I'm starting to feel fed up and a bit trapped with just doing these low paying, entry-level jobs.  I feel like I'm hitting against some barrier to having more income with more free-time and doing something that replenishes me instead of exhausts me.  I just feel really restricted and want to enjoy life, grow, and do things I want to do (duh:P).  I guess I'm just feeling kind of hopeless and trapped. 

But, one way out is I'm considering getting getting a registered clinical counsellors' certificate which would mean I'd have to get a masters.  I've already done three out of four semesters for a diploma in psychology, which means I'd need another five years or so of school to complete the masters. 

This is obviously no small investment, which is one reason why I'm hesitant on it and have been considering it for years.  

On the other hand, I mean, what else is there?  What else is there that is somewhere in the vein and domain I'm best suited for, and that will also increase my wage (thus free-time as well)?  I mean, I have felt some excitement at the thought of doing that.  And I've had many of my own encounters with mental health (personal experiences and studying) that I've grown compassion and empathy in that way, as well as intellectual knowledge.  

Another plus of doing it is that, though I may have to start by working for some sort of organization, it would A) give me some credentials on the resume which could help down the road if I want to create something with others, advertise myself, etc., and B) could eventually lead me to run my own practice and then from their, if I can sustain it, move on to doing things "my way" moreso and really having more freedom financially and time-wise.  

One worry I have is that A) I might not be able to afford it, B) counselling may be wayyyy off the mark for me and be too exhausting emotionally.   Though, I suppose if that's the case, I'm sure I can make it work some other way.  It's not like a master's in counselling isn't useful elsewhere. 

I welcome your thoughts. 

[Yarco]

 

14 hours ago, Matt23 said:

On the other hand, I mean, what else is there?  What else is there that is somewhere in the vein and domain I'm best suited for, and that will also increase my wage (thus free-time as well)? 

Consider becoming a life coach instead. With an accredited organization it'll take you about 1 year instead of 5 and only cost a few thousand dollars I think. Leo and Emerald (The Diamond Net) have done these kinds of courses, I don't know any specifics or what organizations are reputable so you'd have to research more for yourself.

[Matt23]

7 hours ago, Yarco said:

Consider becoming a life coach instead

Ya, that's been a thought I had as well.  But, I just spoke with my Dad's friend who's a coach and she shared her experiences in the field and taking a program to start her off.  

Basically, she took this coaching-business program with like 88 people in it, and week after week she noticed the number 1 issue was that after people had used up their "warm leads" (people they knew), they couldn't make a living off of the cold leads.  It was too hard.  What struck her was how hard the business is, how crowded it is, and that only if you hustle hard 24/7 chasing down leads will you maybe be able to make a go of it beyond play money.  

The only reason she found success she that was because she A) didn't need the money as she already had a 15 or so career coaching university and Olympic women's basketball, B) she had a huge advantage in terms of credibility and reputation (e.g. Olympic and University basketball coach), and C) her niche was crowded (e.g. she focuses her coaching on sports and helping athletes).  

Her thoughts on coaching programs, I think, was that credibility and reputation are probably more significant.  Though, I could be mistaken in her saying that.  

She said "Wow, I'm glad I'm not a coach".  She even said there was all kinds of coaches in her coaching program, reiki, emotional, personal development, drums, etc. etc. etc.

Now, I know the old adage of "If you hustle, you can do it", but I think it's probably too difficult in combination with my desire to do it probably isn't high enough to make it worth my while.  I'm assuming.  Especially since I do deal with lots of mental health and stress stuff already, and find just regular life pretty difficult already, so adding the extra hustle 24/7 thing is probably, I'm guessing, not the wisest move for me.  

This is where getting the counselling masters degree and becoming a registered clinical counsellor might be a better option I'm thinking.  It's more easy (I'm trying to balance what's difficult/easy for me compared to what regular people consider difficult/easy and trying not to have others' definitions of what easy/difficult is be what mine is as, I think, I need to go a lot more easy on myself than most people).  

...

Anyhoos...

Ya. 

Thoughts. 

[puporing]

I have seriously considered counselling psychology as well. My main conflicts with it are more values-based and personal.

First of all the expense of the programs like you say (this is a problem I have with most degrees in general). 

I would have a problem charging vulnerable people something like $150-200 an hour just to talk to them/help them. It feels highly exploitative..

Having been on the receiving end of therapy myself, I think it was always a bandaid solution. Most of the work I had to do myself.. and it's not super reliable even as a temporary fix and have caused more problems than it fixed as well. The thought of having this artificially created relationship with a therapist can really make hell when you wake up to this fact and that none of them would want much to do with you when you stopped paying them, so there's this pretentiousness of being 'caring and loving' but only when money is exchanged.

Generally, most therapists are operating on stage Blue to Orange ideas and are not spiritually developed. That's why I say it's a bandaid solution.

I think if you're someone who grows alot spiritually, you will have a hard time staying in this profession due to the above limitations.. there are therapists who quit it because of these things.

That said.. I can understand if having a stable and paying career is more important to you right now than considering all of the pitfalls that goes with it.

Edited January 14, 2022 by puporing