If you’re thinking of changing careers to become a therapist, here’s what you should consider
As with any career change, re-educating yourself as a parent can be incredibly hard. Even if you have an abundance of savings behind you, it can feel like a dicey move to. Going into the world of therapy is certainly not something you would dive into without passion and drive. You have to have fundamental empathy to work closely with your patience. The robustness to listen to experiences of trauma and challenging life experiences is a factor to consider as well. If becoming a therapist is a career path you would like to enter into, here’s what you need to consider.
Part-time education
There’s no need to go back into full-time education at all if you are a parent. Part-time education allows you to work around your child’s needs and still obtain a degree. What type, of course, you opt for will entirely depend on you. You may wish to start with a course that is partially online or take on and off days at a local on-site college.
Therapies are developing
As you begin your studies, you will learn about different types of therapy, such as talking therapies, graded exposure, and flooding. These have been used for decades to combat the unhelpful thought process and rationalize them. Nowadays, however, therapies are adapting and changing. VR technology is being increasingly used in therapy, with innovation therapy techniques being used to combat irrational fears. The e-health industry is creating brands such as C2Care, which use virtual reality technology to combat a number of fears.
Keep learning
When you finally qualify, this won’t be the end of your education. In the same way that you will need to keep an open mind about the patients you receive and care for, you will have to keep an open approach to adapting and learning. Whether you talk to other therapists, absorb literature, or attend seminars on modern techniques for therapy will keep you up-to-date on the latest research. Other practitioners may also have some sound advice for new starters in the field.
You are a fallible human being
Unlike being a medical doctor, there is not always a straightforward cure for your patients. This means that you may not always be the right therapist for them, or your approach may not work the first time around. It’s important to remember that you will not always have the magic resolution to help some patients and that it is not always your fault. If you are not the right therapist for someone, it is important that you help them to find someone else. Sadly being a therapist isn’t as easy as Hollywood would let you believe – but that doesn’t make it any less satisfying or enjoyable as a career.
Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash
If you have the people skills to make patients feel comfortable, the empathy to understand problems and the passion to make it work, you may want to consider your path in therapy. Technologies are advancing every year, which makes this an exciting industry to be a part of.
