Over the summer, I listened to some friends explain why they were leaving the therapy industry for good.
Their main reasons were burnout, low pay, and lack of sustainability.
But their experience wasn't unique.
According to Motivo Health, 57% of mental health graduates abandon the path to full licensure (report here).
That’s wild.
That means that in a classroom of graduate-level student therapists, every other student in that room will abandon this career track before getting fully licensed, due to the same reasons my friends are leaving the industry.
In fact, Motivo even breaks down the listed reasons for leaving, shared by Associates (post-grads who have finished school but aren’t fully licensed yet):
For those of us currently practicing, this isn't so surprising.
The road to becoming a therapist is HARD, and as a result, many therapists often vent or commiserate when talking about this career. And it's not just personal opinions; a lot of therapists are in survival mode, frustrated by the barriers in our field. Adding insult to injury, we’re constantly reading news articles and politician updates about the "need for mental healthcare".
With these challenges before us, a lot of our conversations about the industry can be doom & gloom. Sometimes, these conversations are validating... and other times, they can feel defeating and hopeless.
So, I've decided to try something different.
I've started asking myself:
Who do I want to be through these challenges?
And I've found the answers to be a guiding light.
When people talk about the difficulty of being a therapist (ongoing trainings, fees, limitations, restrictions, challenges with sites or supervisors, etc.)...
I ask myself:
How can I become someone with a diverse skillset, so I'm not reliant on just one career forever?
Who do I know that has a skillset like this, and how can I learn from them?
What kinds of roles and projects can help me create "career insurance"?
When people vent about how grad school and licensing fees are a ripoff...
I ask myself:
How can I be someone that focuses on the value of an experience, and not just the disappointments of it?
Yes, everything we're doing costs a painful amount of money...
And yes, the weight of these expenses is massive in our current economy...
But who am I through it all? I am someone who deeply LOVES what I do. I love seeing my clients work hard to change their lives. I love seeing myself grow. I see myself becoming a professional with a solid professional network. And I am (humble but expensive brag) a scholar. I have a Master's degree, for the rest of my life, in something I care deeply about.
When people are frustrated about the exploitation of student and Associate therapists who work for free, or for very low pay...
I ask myself:
How do I stay in an industry I love, while seeking a reasonable income as a working adult (i.e., not the $30/client session roles I'm seeing and hearing about)? How can I be an independent person who blocks out industry voices of what I “should” be earning, and listens to my inner voice about what income is right for my life?
Because even if we love our work and the people we serve- nothing else matters if our baseline needs aren't met, and our future doesn’t seem feasible.
With this in mind, how can I be someone who prioritizes my needs and continues exploring options in my career, rather than getting “too comfortable” and avoiding change?
I’m not saying we should lie to ourselves…
I don’t think toxic positivity is the answer. I’m not trying to talk people out of their fears or concerns, which are absolutely logical (and which cross my mind as well). The things people hate about this industry aren’t untrue.
I’m just insisting that we present ourselves with the options or mobilization that this industry doesn’t give us.
For example, my solutions have been to develop a side business for coaching and workshops that gives me added flexibility and income.
I am also giving myself permission to constantly explore my options, rather than staying in one role or place. I know it’s possible to balance my work with my need to provide for myself in a way that supports the expenses of my life.
In the future, I would love to see a dedicated group of therapists create a petition for additional staffing of the BBS (Board of Behavioral Science), so that therapist applications can get reviewed faster.
I would love to see more therapists join BBS committee meetings to offer their opinions on legislation.
I would love to see more therapists support each other in professional development and creative ideas, rather than just having vent sessions.
Tell me more
For my fellow therapists out there, I'm curious to hear how you navigate the choppy waters of our industry. What are your life rafts, the things that give you hope on the stormiest of days?
Let me know in the comments below, or email me at dreamspacewellness@gmail.com to continue the conversation.
Thank you for this important post, Jenn! As someone who wants to become a therapist, it's eye-opening to see that almost a third of Associates don't become licensed because of the pay. I know what I pay my fully licensed therapists, but I know very little about how much Associates make and what the fees are associated with getting licensed. The one Associate therapist I've talked to about this said she thinks she makes enough to live on (with the support of a partner), although she also did not pay for graduate school (because she was an employee of the university that she went to).
I think your mindset in taking on this career shows a lot of flexibility and grit, and the determination to take action to make things better. Bravo!