What to Know About Being a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner

You’ll Need Boundaries — and Therapy

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“Things are going to go a lot smoother for you if you already have healthy practices in your own life. This means being able to say no to additional tasks, knowing what you can handle, and having good stress relief practices in place. You need to have strong boundaries. Being a therapist can consume you if you’re not careful.”

— Tara Haidinger, MS, LPC, CCTSF, CCTSI, Aegis Counseling PLLC

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“If you are interested in a particular modality of therapy, see a clinician who works in that modality to make sure it is something you believe is truly therapeutic. A common question you get as a practitioner is whether you have been in therapy before. Make sure you can answer that honestly.”

— Courtney Douds, LCSW, Talk Therapy

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“Sometimes clients share experiences that hit close to home and activate an old wound. Seeing my own therapist to process triggers is necessary for my success.”

— Laura Fonseca, MSW, LCSW, Cornerstone Therapy Services

It Isn’t Personal

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“I have had clients quit therapy, yell at me, or become upset at me. Young and naive me would think, ‘what did I do wrong?’ I didn’t do anything wrong. Clients come to therapy with poor relationship patterns and maladaptive thinking. When they encounter the compassion and empathy a therapist brings to the session, it becomes uncomfortable and scary for them. Their reactions are not necessarily your responsibility.”

— Timothy Kelly, LCSW, Propagate Hope Counseling

Some Problems Are Too Big to Tackle

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“Sometimes it feels like a losing battle. For every person who makes positive changes, there are so many more who need therapy and can't access it. Sometimes it feels like you're not even making a dent.”

— Tara Haidinger, MS, LPC, CCTSF, CCTSI, Aegis Counseling PLLC

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“We work mostly on the level of individual change. But it is impossible to solve the ills of capitalism, racism, transphobia, or other systemic issues from the consultation room. You can only help patients find their own paths to desire, creativity, activism, or other forms of liberation.”

— Courtney Douds, LCSW, Talk Therapy

The Learning Never Ends

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“I wish I knew that continuing education is a must — not just for maintaining licensure, but for providing appropriate care for the clients who would become a part of my caseload.”

— Sally Berkowitz, LPC

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“It’s so important to be picky about finding quality field work! I received powerful advice to take one of your clinical intern years to explore working with a population that you don’t naturally gravitate toward. Get experience outside your comfort zone. Be selective and advocate for yourself.”

— Jennifer Gran Schliessman, LCSW and Psychotherapist

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“We learn theory, intervention, life span, addiction, trauma, and so much more. Yet there is very little focus on legislative advocacy and how it informs practice. Legislative advocacy helps us to engage legislators on mental health policies and funding. More education is needed in this area.”

— Dr. Nakpangi Thomas, LPC, TITC-CT

Business Acumen Is Required

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“I wish I had realized how much business knowledge I would need. While most therapists enter the field to help people, you may also have to support a family. That means learning how to run a private practice. And if what you really want is to run a business, you might be better off doing something else.”

— Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin, LCPC, The Marriage Restoration Project

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“I wish my graduate program had included business courses. I have had to learn how to do booking, hiring, marketing, and managing through trial and error. That is an expensive way to learn.”

— Cheri Timko, MS, Synergy Coaching

The Money Doesn't Always Cut It

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“I wish I had understood just how heavy the student debt load would be and how difficult it would be to pay it off. I love my career, but the debt load of a doctoral education has not matched the salary.”

— Shamin Ladhani, Psy.D., Ascension Healthcare

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“Becoming a therapist will not afford you the quality lifestyle you imagine. Be intentional about creating additional streams of income within the profession.”

— Crystal Currie, LCMHC, NCC, BC-TMH, Life Skills and Counseling

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“I wish I had understood that I would need at least a Master's degree and a lot of experience before making any money in this field. If I had, I probably would have taken a different route to helping people.”

— Cheri Timko, MS, Synergy Coaching

You Will Get Therapist-Zoned

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“I wish I had known how people would react to me socially when they find out what I do for a living. Sadly, most people assume I am analyzing or judging them. But when I am not in the chair, I just want genuine connections like everyone else. Those who don’t know me well assume I am always in therapist-mode. Be prepared for people not to feel at ease around you.”

— Allison Chawla, MA, LMSW, CC, Clinical Social Worker and Therapist

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“People will judge you. Once they find out you are a therapist, they will automatically assume you are trying to diagnose them.”

— Crystal Currie, LCMHC, NCC, BC-TMH, Life Skills and Counseling