A Therapist's First Year on the Job, Part I: What Do I Need to Know?
BRIDGETTE W. GOTTWALD LPC, NCC
Calling all new therapists! This is a two-part blog series that provides new clinicians insight and intel as they head into their first year on the job as a therapist. Spending time helping others lead more productive and happier lives is deeply satisfying and rewarding. You have worked hard to get to this point and it only gets better from here!
Leaving graduate school after getting my master’s degree in professional counseling was a confusing time. Not only were my husband and I looking for a place to live in a new city, but we were also saying goodbye to a place we called home for two and a half years – and of course I was feverishly looking for a job. Oh, and let’s not forget applying for licensure in a different state and the twenty-plus page application that takes months to get approved. Talk about overwhelming! I tried to research and learn more as I went along, but it turned out to be a learn as you go experience and I always wished I had known more before jumping into things headfirst. This blog post is dedicated to new therapists that are embarking on their first year on the job and it was written in hopes to help their transition go smoothly as they acclimate to their new credentials and role within the profession of clinical mental health counseling.
Know Your Role
Even though you worked with a large array of people amidst internship while you were in school, you will still experience new things for the first time in the work world – new diagnoses, people, types of personalities, disorders, coping skills, etc. When this happens, don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn more so that you can assist the patient effectively. I cannot put enough emphasis on the importance and value of continued research.
Never Stop Learning
Just because you have finished your degree, that does not mean your education ends. It will never stop and investing in yourself (and your brain) is a continued work in progress. Enrolling in continuing education courses is encouraged, as well as attending seminars, reading books, blogs, relevant articles, and researching less familiar subjects.
Enjoy Your Co-Workers
As you likely already know, being a therapist can be a lonely profession at times given the amount of autonomy and independence we can have. This can serve as a double-edged sword. Engage with co-workers and other therapists as much as you can, and utilize them as a resource and part of your support network. Never hesitate to ask for help when you need it. Your clients have mustered up the courage to reach out and ask for help and you should, too! Hopefully, these tips have helped you to feel prepared and ready to take on your first job out of graduate school. But, it’s not over! Part two of this blog series continues to discuss helpful tips for what you need to know before you embark on your first job.
Reference:
Careers in Psychology. (n.d). 12 things I wish I knew before I became a therapist. Retrieved from: https://careersinpsychology.org/12-things-wish-knew-before-became-therapist/