I think a certain degree of anxiety is a good thing when dealing with the lives of other people, Bridges. I suppose it can be considered a lot like a test. You only do well when you care about whether you're going to do well or not. Beyond that though, that insecurity becomes an issue that affects your performance.

I hear and understand your concern though. It's hard. It's a lot of responsibility. It's important to note, I think, that the best counselors I know have counselors of their own. I think it's important to design a support system that will not only help you do your job, but help you excel. I think you're being very responsible in dealing with how you feel in a positive way and establishing a network that will help you be who you need to be for your clients.

As for burnout. If I can be candid for a moment, being achievement oriented can be a bad thing. Graduating is all well and good, but at the same time it has to be accompanied by other strategies to fulfill those achievement needs. For the most part, and this is just my opinion, some who achieve because they feel it will make them happy to achieve end up being unhappy with the result.

I don't think it's fair to use the metaphor of life as an uphill battle, but in some ways it is. You have to learn to love the climb as well as the completion of the goal. One of my professors said the worst part of his education was his graduation: he had worked so hard to get his Ph.D. that when he finally got there he felt lost and a little betrayed. He didn't feel any smarter than before, and still had bigger problems, and bigger responsibilities to deal with.

Education, and achievement, is a life-long process. I would dare to say that the value of the result is what substantial affects we have on the lives of others. I think my friend would agree.