[ramonajones]

I've been depressed for many years and have gone to a LOT of therapy, and especially lately I've found myself envious of my therapists (I have two!) for having jobs where they really get to help people and affect other people's lives. I know it's a huge responsibility but I think they must feel good about doing work that's both important and meaningful and that's something that I really long for too. Is it crazy to think that I could go to school and become a therapist some day when/if I get better?

Has anyone else felt this way about therapy? Inspired to go into the field?

[itjustis]

Yes! In fact, I'm starting my course today

[stopdog]

For me -Absolutely not. But I don't see the therapist as having a difficult job or actually doing anything especially useful beyond sitting there. I do not find what they do meaningful or important. Plus I already have a combination of two careers that I like.

The second one I see has said she decided to make therapist her second career because it helped her.

Not a therapist but a psychiatric nurse perhaps

Absolutely NOT.

The Cons:

I wouldn't want to be responsible for the mental well-being of others. What a heavy burden.

Nor deal with all of the accompanying drama of being a therapist. Transference...

There is very little margin for error or "off days" and the potential to cause damage to someone is very high.

They have to listen about grief and pain all day.

They have to give a lot of themselves emotionally - and have to "fake it till you make it" with keeping intimate relationships with many clients.

They have to worry about being stalked.

They have days where they wonder if they are really helping anyone. Some clients get worse. Once in a while someone might kill themselves.

Sorry to any therapists out there - it's just not an area I have any interest in.

[justme1234]

I don't, but my therapist thinks it's my calling due to my intuition. One friend calls it "the force", and my other friend calls it the gift. My therapist even admitted to me that while she knows a lot more about me, she thinks I know her better.

But I like computers way too much, no feelings and they do what you tell them. Haha

[mostlylurking]

I'm not sure I'd want to be a T but I do read books about the life of a T, and find them fascinating. The Gift of Therapy, The Making of a Therapist, and On Being a Therapist are all good, and I think I learn things about myself and the process that are helpful, along the way. My T suggested that my reading these books might be a way of "lessening the gap" and I don't know if he meant the simple human gap (i.e. I would feel closer to him by understanding his profession) or if he meant the power gap (i.e. I would know what he was doing and know his language and so that gap would shrink). Anyway, you could read some books about being a T and see if it changes your mind or cements the idea.

[Argonautomobile]

When I worked in minimum wage customer service I absolutely envied my therapist's job.

Anyway, Lots of people get into therapy first as patients. I think that's fine. Follow your dreams.

[stopdog]

It is a job that is indoors and does not involve complicated math or heavy lifting.

When I first entered treatment I wanted to. Now I've had years of therapy, I see I am not cut out for it.
I've seen lots of people within the treatment industry imho there's a lot of sick people in the field. To find that pot of gold I had to find a T who was fully trained in analyst and had had her own. For me, nothing less then that level of being would do.

I wouldn't want to be a therapist, but I think I would like volunteering at a crisis hotline (suicide or sexual assault). I am also looking into perhaps becoming a Peer Support Specialist.

[atisketatasket]

I figure if I find teaching emotionally taxing - and I only have to do that for 2 1/2 hours a day - there is no way I would make it as a therapist.

[Pennster]

I don't want to be a therapist because my work interests lie elsewhere, but there are an awful lot of therapists who had a lot of experience with therapy as a client. I would have a hard time seeing a therapist who didn't go through a lot of therapy himself. I want him aware of all his unconscious motivations and whatnot.

[Myrto]

I don't think being a therapist is such a hard job. No offence to the therapists on the forum. You're sitting in an armchair all day listening to people. Honestly there are far more difficult jobs than that. I wouldn't want to be a therapist because it would annoy me to listen to people all day. I would lose patience.

[Ellahmae]

Yes, I do.

[junkDNA]

no...no way. i am not a very compassionate person. i struggle with expressing empathy to people. doesnt mean i dont feel it, its just hard to express. actually, there are only a few people i really care enough for to feel empathy for. prob could count on 1 hand. i often think i am a bad person because of this.

also i have social anxiety and i dont think it would work out well, haha.

my T originally got a masters in atmospheric chemistry. he went to work in that field. something changed his mind and he went back to get a masters in counselling at naropa university in boulder, CO which is a program for "contemplative psychotherapy". he is finishing up his dissertation to get a PsyD. My T told me his mom died when he was in college, early 20s. i think this is what affected him , and he sought treatment in therapy. i asked him once about all this, why he wanted to be a therapist. he said he was in his own long term therapy and it inspired him.

[CyclingPsych]

Almost done with my BA in Psychology. Going for my MA soon; applying!

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by Myrto

I don't think being a therapist is such a hard job. No offence to the therapists on the forum. You're sitting in an armchair all day listening to people. Honestly there are far more difficult jobs than that. I wouldn't want to be a therapist because it would annoy me to listen to people all day. I would lose patience.

Thats pretty much word for word what i have said to my t! but also that im glad hes doing it.

Not for me, but I am training as an independent MH advocate. Too old to retrain in law.

[therapyishelping777]

I would like to be more like a social worker and run groups all day.. for various things since I love groups..

[ramonajones]

It is so interesting to hear so many perspectives on this from people who have sought a lot of therapy!

Originally Posted by itjustis

Yes! In fact, I'm starting my course today

Good luck today

I really do think you can do it Ramonajones, I hope you can see that it is really possible for you to become a therapist and to follow your dreams!

[ramonajones]

I feel like if people on this board think I can do it, when you've seen the fully extent of my "crazy", then maybe I really could!

I definitely wouldn't want to do it until I felt very stable myself and I'm a ways away from that, but I'm randomly having a really good day today, and part of it has been thinking about a different life for myself where I could stop chasing after a career in the entertainment industry that's brought me nothing but pain and focus on something where I could feel like I'm doing some good for the world.

[itjustis]

Originally Posted by monalisasmile

Good luck today

Thanks Mona, I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to getting stuck in