Counselor and Therapist not just a job, it’s an adventure! Becoming one:What they don’t teach you in grad school…
I realized today it’s mid-April and we are in Counselor Awareness month. I think of how far counselors have come in our field, and how far we have yet to go. Some days I am so proud of what I do, my profession and my career choice; some days I want to scream when I hear of people who do not make ethical choices, and make people who work in my field look badly. There seem to be a few people in my profession that don’t care, or they just act as if they are above the laws, or maybe they aren’t even sure of the laws. Those people make me shake my head and feel bad, and wonder why they even stay in this field. I know that this is the same for many people in other professions and job, but it is a fine line for a therapist on staying on top of our standards and ethical practices.
When I started graduate school I remember my professor asking the question on why did we chose Mental Health Counseling, and everyone giving their answers on why they wanted to be a therapist or a counselor. Many stated ‘I’m told I give great advice’, some were brave enough to state I wanted to make more money, and some stated this is my passion and where I am needed (yeah that was me, not going to lie). The next two years I learned so much, yet I now realize, they don’t necessarily prepare you for the reality of the actual career in graduate school.
I often have heard interns state, I thought I would be able to afford to do this, I know I have to pay my dues, but it’s overwhelming at times to do case management and therapy at once. This is the reality of the career and the dues we have to pay to get where we want in life. We all have this wonderful belief we graduate, get a license, then Bippity, Boppity Boo, Magical Private Practice with all the clients there. Then we find out the reality of our career path (Disney didn’t give us a fairy godmother). It is a great career, don’t get me wrong, but it’s hard work, and it’s not about giving advice, it’s about helping people reach goals and working through difficult issues, sometimes touching areas they never wanted to remember. It’s about encouraging a person to sometimes come to reality and realize they aren’t being fair to themselves or their loved ones, or maybe living a lie.
So some things to remember with Counselor Awareness Month…
We aren’t magical creatures we are Human Beings:
Though I would love to state we magically can get through everything without issues, we actually have feelings, and sometimes our feelings do get hurt, we aren’t superheroes, but if you push a person too far, or break our trust, be aware you probably will have to face it sometime in therapy as a way to get through the issue you are dealing with one way or another, it’s therapeutic for both the client as well as a learning experience for the therapist, so it will happen believe me.
We aren’t in this for the money (trust me):
Though people would love to believe we are rich etc. YOU are in this because you love what you do, and love to help others help themselves…END OF STORY!!! If you aren’t, you are in the wrong field my friend. Most people don’t understand even if we are making enough to live on, we are probably paying off student loans or waiting on checks from insurance companies. We have bills just like you do, and believe me, now tack on 2 years of graduate school and student loans that we are still dodging Sallie Mae or whatever it’s called now. Ever see those ads stating the starting salary is not what they say it by any means!!!!!!
You cannot save the world:
No matter how much you try, at the end of the day, you can just help others do the best they can do, listen to their problems and help them sort things out. You can take a horse to water but you can’t make them drink. No matter how much I try, I can’t make my client do their “homework” or their DBT diary card, stay sober, or continue on the right path. I am just the person guiding them in creating the artwork that is the canvas of their life. That is my job, and that is what I am here to help them to do. Their non-compliance or willingness does not affect how I will carry out my job. I will continue to do my job the same way every day, with every person I work with.
At the end of the day you are the person who has to look yourself in the mirror and say, did I do right by me, and am I doing the next right thing? If you can say yes, then you keep going. If you aren’t then re-evaluating what is going on and keep working on it. Remember nothing comes easily and it takes time and patience to get where you want to go. I will remember some sage advice that I live by. Love what you do daily, and learn something new every day, and be happy doing so. I have chosen every job, every path in my career with those words, and continue to do so, even while in private practice.
I wish everyone a great journey and Happy Counselor’s Awareness Month!!!
I encourage you to join some great sites if you are a grad student or a counselor
American Counseling Association
American Mental Health Counselors Association
