Topic 1: Your Career after Graduation & Licensure {by 6/1}
Based on last week’s readings/discussions (5/25) and the topics for this week’s class (6/1) consider the following two discussion points: (1) What are your initial thoughts and feelings when you think about your next professional/career steps after graduating? (2) Simply share any thoughts or concerns you may have about obtaining licensure (e.g., licensure exam, application) as a mental health professional. Please see the three links under “LMHC Prep” on my website homepage – bottom of right-hand column. Also, have ready to view the “MA LMHC Prep” documents under “Class Handouts.”
Your original post should be posted by the beginning of class 6/1. Post your two replies no later than 6/3. *Please remember to click the “reply” button when posting a reply. This makes it easier for the reader to follow the blog postings.
Dr. Adam M Volungis 
May 29, 2023 @ 11:57:01
I am excited and conflicted. I am excited because it will be great to be in the field and build hours toward licensure finally. I am conflicted because I am currently working at my internship site as a per diem clinician, and they offered me a full-time position in August when I completed classes. The full-time position is a pretty good setup; I can work from home about three days a week, the salary is in the expected range, and the benefits are pretty good. Additionally, I really like working at Spectrum; I enjoy the outpatient setting, and I like that Spectrum follows a harm reduction model and has a lot of clinicians that are Assumptions graduates. But I worry that I am also playing it safe and I should be getting more experience but also a different experience.
I am not worried about this immediately after graduation, but I will need this information at some point. Something I need clarification on is how licensure works from state to state. I wonder how hard it would be to move to a different state and become an LPC instead of an LMHC. I also wanted to know about this in different countries.
To be honest, my worries are focused on getting through this last semester and passing the oral exam. I feel like my brain hasn’t moved past grad school yet, so it hasn’t started stressing too hard about licensure. Since I have a job lined up, I am not too worried about completing my hours. With licensure, I am just concerned about not passing the test. Many of the clinicians at my work are preparing for their licensure exam, and they have been for about 3 or 4 months; some have reached out to Dr. Doerfler for guidance. So I guess I catastrophize when thinking about it and like the possibility of not passing.
May 30, 2023 @ 12:48:32
Hi Vanessa!
That definitely is a conflicting situation you are in, however if you truly love it at spectrum I don’t see the harm in continuing there! We will have a long career and you will have time to explore other opportunities if that is something you would still want to do.
When it comes to licensure I also need clarification on how it works from state to state. I don’t necessarily want to be tied to MA forever. However, I totally get catastrophizing over licensing and the exam, but I think it seems a lot scarier than it is, hopefully.
May 31, 2023 @ 10:41:43
Hey Vanessa,
I share the same concern/thoughts about clarification on how licensure works from state to state as well as current clarification on working with clients as a non-licensed clinician. I think some clarity on these topics would be beneficial depending on where I might like to live after graduating from Assumption (LPC, LMHC, etc.). There are many variables that go into state guidelines for clinicians so discovering more about that would be important for me and remains among the most important aspects of my career steps after graduating.
Jun 02, 2023 @ 14:27:26
Hi Vanessa,
I am glad you are excited to start building your hours towards licensure. And I completely understand your conflict regarding your current situation. I have felt that way in the past and for me personally, there’s always been curiosity regarding more options and having options has helped me weigh the pros and cons and make an informed decision. But I agree with Victoria, we’ll have plenty of time to try out different settings and work with diverse population in the future. I am a little worried about licensure too, I feel like the long process is stressing me out rather than the exam. But in my experience I have realized that as long as you are doing everything right, things work out eventually. There are certain things which are not in our control and the stress is just not worth the sacrificing the peace of mind. Good luck with everything, I am sure you’ll pass the exam with flying colors.
May 29, 2023 @ 17:38:02
My feelings about my next career steps are excitement and worry. I am excited to have a real job and a real salary. Hopefully, I will be able to move into a nicer apartment and move out of Worcester. I am worried because I am not exactly sure where I want to work after I graduate and I am worried about how I will do right out of the gate. I know I am not yet an expert, but I am also not an intern anymore. I am looking forward to getting to practice my CBT skills, but also have a fear of making my clients worse. I know this is probably an irrational fear and that making them worse is harder than not making any change at all. However, it is still a fear I have.
My thoughts about obtaining licensure after reading the chapter and looking through the handouts is that it is a much more detailed process than I thought. The hours we need to work seem like a lot, although I think it makes a lot of sense. The application seems a bit more involved than I was expecting as well, and I didn’t realize it took one to three months for the application to be reviewed. I can see why it is really important to not make any mistakes on the application. I am not too worried about the licensure exam, because I think if I really take the time to prepare for it that I can pass. I also am a bit worried about receiving licensure in different states because some states require that all credits come from the same program. I know that I want to remain in New England, but I am not sure which state I will end up living in permanently and which states require that all credits be from the same program. This is something I should have thought of sooner, but I really didn’t have any idea of where I would want to live until recently.
May 31, 2023 @ 10:45:35
Hey Tressa,
I like the point you make about worries about how well you can treat your clients now that there’s possibly a different expectation between being an intern and beginning that next step of becoming a professional in the field. It is difficult sometimes to determine whether or not you are making a positive impact with some clients so I can empathize with the worry of not knowing. I recently had an overall review with a client where we reassessed some of my client’s scores on certain assessments (PHQ-9, BDI and BAI) and there was significant improvement. Being able to review assessments with clients is helpful to me when we see improvement and that definitely helps my outlook on how I am doing with my clients. If you are able to do that with your clients, this might be beneficial for you as well.
May 30, 2023 @ 12:00:00
I can feel the excitement building up as graduation approaches and I can’t wait to start working. I feel like the internship really helped me develop my own therapeutic approach and style but there are still so many interventions, styles and certifications that I can’t wait too explore after graduation. I can’t wait to learn more about DBT, motivational interviewing and TF-CBT, there is just something new to learn everyday. This semester already feels very short and for me there is a lot that needs to be done, and even though I know it’s going to be fine, there is still a lot of anticipation and a little stress until it’s finally done. I am in the process of applying for jobs but I am a little worried as I need a Visa sponsorship and I only get 1 year of OPT, so there is that additional layer of stress to get things done within certain time-frame.
I am also concerned about how licensure works across different states. Since different states have their own specific requirements, I feel like I might have to take additional courses if I am going to move to a state with LPC licensure instead of LMHC. Again I am not entirely sure how this is going to work and if there is a process of transferring licensure from one state to another. As an international student, there is this additional challenge and uncertainty of licensing requirements. I don’t know if there is additional paperwork that I need to submit or any extra steps that I need take care of. For now, I am focusing on one thing at a time. I am reaching out to professionals and other international students for guidance and support. I know this is just a transitional phase and an opportunity for growth and learning. But I am really looking forward to graduating and super excited, I feel like all the hard work is finally going to pay off!
May 30, 2023 @ 12:35:13
Hi Monika,
I am also so excited for graduation!! I also have a pretty heavy course load this semester it seems and it being such a short semester is a little overwhelming so I can totally relate. I also want to learn more therapeutic approaches and I think once I get a job and start working with clients I will be able to explore these different approaches like DBT, MI, etc.
I completely relate to wanting to understand how licensure works across different states, that is also one thing that stresses me out a bit.
May 30, 2023 @ 16:54:18
Hi Monika,
I really related to your post.
I am so excited to be done and graduate, but I also love being a student, and I am excited to continue my education and get additional training on things I am really interested in. TF-CBT and DBT are on my list as well.
Dealing with grad school, graduating, and Visa stress must be challenging. I really hope that all gets sorted for you as quickly as possible.
Our licensure process between states is confusing, and I feel like everyone is on the same and equally confused page. I am glad you have other interactional students to fall back on who can provide tips and guidance during these times.
May 30, 2023 @ 12:28:27
My feelings about the next steps are excited but also anxious. I know ideally I want to work in an outpatient setting working with a variety of individuals (kids, adolescents, adults, etc.). However, I feel like I may be too picky with only wanting to work in an outpatient setting. Not sure if that is a bad thing or not. However, I am excited to finally step into my career. I know it will be a big change at first but I think I will grow to love the change even if it is a little scary at first. I am excited to have a real salary too, being a grad student working part time is difficult, frustrating, and stressful! I feel confident starting my career after this program.
In regards to licensure, it is honestly one of the last things on my mind right now. However, when applying to jobs I want to make sure I can have a supervisor who is an LMHC, because I do not want to pay out of pocket for supervision. One thing that has been on my mind however is if I want to take the exam soon after graduating or waiting a year or two/ once I get my hours. I am leaning towards doing it within 9ish months after I graduate though.
One thing that kind of stresses me out with licensure is how all states have different requirements, and I don’t want to feel like I am tied to MA the rest of my career, if I did want to move. I have questions also about if you were to travel state to state, would you still be able to work with clients if they were residents in the state you are licensed?
Overall, the exam makes me worried, but the hours I don’t see being a problem. I guess I am not sure how many months you should be preparing and studying for the exam before you take it, that would be helpful to know.
May 30, 2023 @ 17:03:43
Hi Victoria,
I feel the same way about graduating and starting the workforce. I am excited to be done, but it’s also scary. I feel like being a student has been our identity and job for so long that it is weird to be done with this path.
I completely understand your preference for an outpatient setting. I did outpatient during my internship and cannot imagine doing inpatient now.
I like that you’re already thinking about when you’re going to take your exam, and I think it’s interesting that you’re considering taking the exam about nine months after graduation. That’s a really good idea; it’s in the middle like you will only have a little over a year until you finish. Like you have time to get more experience, but you also won’t feel like you forgot everything. I am in the same spot with licensures; my brain is just not ready to deal with or worry about it yet, but I will start thinking about when I would like to take my exam.
May 31, 2023 @ 15:31:42
Hi Victoria,
I share your excitement and anxiety 100%. I also completely relate to the desire to graduate. We have been putting in so much work in our schoolwork, internships, jobs, and personal lives. It is hard to balance everything. I cannot wait for my main concern just to be my job and personal life. As for your concern about pickiness, I do not think it is overly picky to want to work in an outpatient setting. If that is what you want and see for yourself, that is more than reasonable, especially considering you want to work with such a wide age range. As for your concerns about being tied to a state, I also understand those. I will be moving back to TX, but I am unsure if that is where I will want to live the rest of my life. Thankfully, a lot of states are forgiving when it comes to getting licensed in other states. A professor told me that some state licensing boards will let you get licensed preliminarily, and you will have to make up whatever requirements you’re missing (e.g., a specific course).
Jun 02, 2023 @ 14:37:28
Hi Victoria,
It’s completely normal to feel anxious before starting something new! We are finally stepping into the real world(this is a big deal), so I can totally relate to these feelings of yours. It’s okay to have preferences with working in a particular setting, but I feel like if you try out different settings, you might end up liking something that you never thought you would. I agree with taking the exam as soon as possible after graduating. I feel like we have to take the exam at some point, so it’s best to just get it done with and reduce the anxiety. I am also concerned about the licensure across states, the exam doesn’t stress me out as much! But I am sure there are resources available online that help with the prep. I remember how anxious I was before starting grad school, but I am much more confident now and I am trying to look at the next steps keeping this in mind. Good Luck!
May 31, 2023 @ 10:38:16
My initial thoughts and feelings about my first career steps after graduating are interesting because I already have received a job from the Counseling and Assessment Clinic of Worcester. My supervisor and the staff are very generous about my hours working there and freedom to have as many or as little clients as possible because of the timing of my current class hours. They allow me to have the amount of clients I want until classes end, and then I am supposed to ramp up the amount of total clients I will have. So currently, I am not worried about that. However, there are many question marks as to what my schedule will look like after classes end in August and if I will eventually move to a different agency. After graduating and my clinical hours begin towards licensure, I will be eager to acquire those hours despite needed a minimum of two years’ experience.
I am slightly concerned about the requirements for different states as I do not intend to live in Massachusetts forever. In fact, I’m eager to move out of state but I am unsure of where at the moment. Obtaining licensure hasn’t been on my mind too much as it seems distant as of now, however, when the time comes I am sure my thoughts and anxiety about passing will come with my approaching eligibility. Currently, I am focused on succeeded in class and start thinking about passing the Oral Exam in the Fall and making sure I am well-versed in my case and will be able to defend it well. Overall, I try not to worry too much about the future and focus on things day by day. When the appropriate time comes to start worrying about the Oral Exam and obtaining my licensure, I’m sure I will be ready to begin preparing and studying for everything then.
May 31, 2023 @ 15:25:09
Hi Will,
I am glad to hear that you have the opportunity to continue working for your internship site! It is great that you have found a supportive and meaningful organization to work for. I’m glad to hear that they are being flexible with your schedule and hours as well. I hope they continue to support you after you finish this semester as well!
I can really relate to your concerns about out of state licensure requirements. All of it can be so overwhelming. I am moving back to TX, so I have to fulfill their requirements; It feels quite overwhelming at times. On the other hand, I was considering moving to CO for a while, and their requirements match pretty closely with MA’s. I hope whatever state you end up in has comparable requirements to MA.
Jun 02, 2023 @ 09:44:05
Hi Will,
Congrats on already having a job lined up that provides you with good hour flexibility while you are still in school! I agree with you regarding the concern for out of state licensing as I do not plan to live in MA forever either (especially because it just ranked in as the #1 most expensive place to live in the US right now). I am hoping that the process of completing additional requirements if needed will be easy and readily available; it definitely is a bit frustrating that all of the hard work we put into obtaining licensure may not transfer to other states due to these strict requirements. With that said, I am also trying to take things day by day, while also making little preparations here and there so that I am less worried when things start to pop up (ie. oral exam, licensing).
May 31, 2023 @ 15:19:01
When it comes to the next steps in my career, I am excited but extremely nervous to get started. Because I am going to move back to TX, I face some unique problems that some of my other classmates will not. For example, I finish classes in August, but I will not receive my degree until December. Many of my classmates are able to continue to practice in their internship sites or have found jobs that will take them before they graduate. In TX, you cannot practice until you have graduated and received a preliminary licensure (LPC-A). This frustrates me because it delays me from continuing in my career for at least three months. I cannot even take the preliminarily licensure exam until after December as well. I am not sure what I will do in the meantime as I cannot go straight into a counseling job.
I have some anxiety about the career itself honestly, but I am honestly incredibly nervous about the licensure process. Becoming a mental health counselor is an important and serious endeavor, and it also requires a ton of hoops to jump through. The licensure requirements are extensive and honestly quite overwhelming. When submitting the required material, I am worried that I will miss something and will not be able to get licensed. Even though I know TX’s requirements, getting licensed in another state than where you went to graduate school is stressful. Overall, I have a lot of anxiety about the licensure process, especially because I am doing it in a different state.
May 31, 2023 @ 16:24:03
Hi Madelyn,
I definitely understand your frustration when it comes to not being able to practice at all until you get your degree and take the preliminary exam. I wonder if there are any job opportunities within agencies near you in Texas that offer opportunity to have your hand in the agency before you are able to practice. Maybe there is a way to keep your hand in the field and continue to hone your counseling skills before you are actually able to see clients. I am also worried about the licensure process and how complicated it seems. I also have worries about getting licensed in another state, as I didn’t even think about living in another state until as recently as this past academic year. I do think that this class will allow us the opportunity to ask plenty of questions about the process.
Jun 02, 2023 @ 09:50:01
Hi Madelyn,
Thank you for sharing! I can imagine that getting licensed right away in a different state can be very overwhelming, especially when you have to “start from scratch” (so to speak) in regards to job connections. If it makes you feel better, my internship does not offer any job opportunities and other companies are hesitant to hire me on early to do clinical work (because I did not intern there and do not yet have my masters). I think this period of limbo can be very difficult, especially since we are so ready to begin working in our career field after completing internship. I am also trying to figure out what I am going to be doing for work until I graduate in December which can be very overwhelming especially after the financial hit you take from a year long unpaid internship. With that said, we will get through this and it will be here before you know it!!
May 31, 2023 @ 15:36:44
Thinking about next professional and career steps, I am starting to feel excited but also nervous. I am definitely excited to graduate. It will be nice to be finished with school and classes. It will be nice to have more free time and be able to focus more of my time on work. I also feel ready for a career and to begin this next step. On the other hand, I am nervous because this will be a completely new chapter of life and I am more used to a school schedule. There are so many career choices out there and I want to make sure I chose the best placement for me as I hope to gain more experiences needed to be successful. I have received a job offer already but am indecisive because I feel that there are better opportunities for me elsewhere. I already work for Lifespan – Bradley Schools so I am hoping to stay in a field that focuses on children with behavioral and mental disabilities. I know I still have plenty of time to decide, but the end of the semester will come up soon and then I would have hoped to accept a job offer by then.
I have similar thoughts about licensure. I am excited to work towards that next step but I am also nervous. I live in Rhode Island so am hoping to get licensed in that state, but I also live close enough to Massachusetts that it would be another great opportunity to gain a licensure there as well. I am wondering if it is possible and realistic for me to gain both states licensure, or if it is recommended to just focus on one licensure at a time due to them having different requirements. Before worrying about that process, I am both nervous and excited for my oral exam. I am mostly excited to get it over with and be completed with the Masters Program. I am nervous because presenting in front of professors for a big final project is very intimidating and I am afraid of messing up or forgetting important pieces to the exam. I will try to focus on one day at a time so that I do not get too overwhelmed before the time comes when I need to prepare. Overall, I am excited for the next chapter of life as graduate school has been moving really fast.
May 31, 2023 @ 16:28:07
Hi Lauren,
Congratulations on already having a job offer. I completely get wanting to take your time before deciding on where you want to work, and you should. It’s important to pick a job placement where you feel you can be successful. I don’t think it’s a bad idea to get licensed in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. This offers flexibility of where you can work and live, which is nice. I wonder too how it would be to apply to licensure in too states at the same time or if it is better to just do one at a time. If the requirements are different it may be hard to do them together, but I think its a great idea to have them both later on in your career.
Jun 03, 2023 @ 16:19:21
Hi Lauren,
I am also very excited to have more free time and be able to focus on work once we graduate. Choosing a job is a big decision so I think it makes sense to feel indecisive and want to weigh your options. You still have plenty of time to weigh your options and I think your current job will be a good bar to compare other potential positions to. Also congratulations on the job offer! I’ve also wondered about the feasibility of being licensed in multiple states and I’m glad you brought that up in your response. Hopefully we get a chance to talk about that issue some in class. I feel nervous about forgetting something during the oral exam as well. I don’t think I’ve ever had to talk that long without any kind of cue or visual aid so it is rather nerve wracking to think about. That being said, I agree that taking things one day at a time is the way to go.
Jun 01, 2023 @ 12:32:45
My initial thoughts and feelings when I think about my next professional/career steps after graduating are ones of excitement, nerves, and uncertainty. I have started looking into potential job opportunities, but feel a little overwhelmed about where would be the best fit for me. I think I would like to be in an outpatient setting and know that I am not that interested in residential/in home. With that said, I have the long-term goal of private practice work, but short-term I am mainly focused on finding somewhere that can provide me with the appropriate supervisor (as I need to fulfill my post-grad LMHC supervision requirements) and somewhere that I enjoy to be (as I have done many fast paced, high burnout positions in the past). I also am interested in pursuing my school adjustment license as well, which requires post grad supervision by a licensed school adjustment counselor and passing the communications and literacy section of an MTEL as well.
Currently, I am focused on completing my masters and passing my Oral Exam in the fall of 2023. Although, as it becomes closer, I will most likely have more anxiety regarding what to expect on the licensure exam/the application for it. Hopefully what to expect is something that we will be discussing in further detail in this class, which should help boost my confidence in this area. With that said, I feel like I second guess my competence as a counselor a lot, as I am so new in my career. I worry about being viewed as a “quack counselor,” as I have experienced many of these during my own therapeutic journey and find it incredibly frustrating. I know that I am working very hard in school, but just strive to be my absolute best which can be hard when much of a therapists insight comes with experience. I also want to help people and not make them weary of the therapeutic process, so that is a fear of mine.
Jun 01, 2023 @ 16:17:01
Hi Cassandra,
I share a lot of your same feelings of being excited and nervous and with feeling uncertain about the best fit for me. I think a lot of us are in the same boat as we start out our careers. It is great that you do have a long-term goal of being in private practice, and a shorter-term goal of being a licensed school adjustment counselor. I think having those goals puts you in a great spot.
I am also glad that we have this class to prepare us for many of the difficulties that might come up with with licensure process. I think it is natural to second guess our competence as a counselor- I certainly struggled with this throughout my internship! I think it can be helpful to remember that we are at the very beginning of our careers and still have so much to learn. I also think continuing to be concerned that we are competent counselors will help us assess our own work, be open to feedback, and continue to become more and more competent.
Jun 01, 2023 @ 15:18:46
Hi Everyone,
I feel a mixture of anxiety and excitement when I think about my path after graduation. I am very excited to step away from school and focus on work, but I feel a lot of uncertainty about what kind of population I want to work with or what kind of setting. I am not the biggest fan of uncertainty so this has been kind of stressful for me. I feel like the only thing I know is I do not want to work with people under the age of 13. However, I am definitely ready to start a new chapter of my life away from school and fully be able to focus on developing my career.
Truthfully, I have so many concerns about the oral exam and figuring out what positions to apply to that I feel like I do not have the space to worry about getting licensed at the moment. I probably do need to start focusing on it more to reduce the amount of stress I feel about it in a few years from now, but that is difficult to do at the moment. I do have some frustrations about how different the requirements and procedures are for being licensed across the nation. I think most of us would prefer for there to be more consistency between each state.
Jun 01, 2023 @ 16:07:15
Hi Sandra,
I certainly relate to your feelings of uncertainty. It can be hard to not know what is next, but I am confident that you will do well in whatever population you end up working with.
I agree, licensure can feel really distant, and it is certainly hard to focus on during the semester and prior to the oral exam. Starting to think about it is probably a good idea, but we do have time, and it probably doesn’t need to be a major focus this summer. And I also share your frustration with the lack of a standard licensure process across states.
Jun 01, 2023 @ 16:24:48
Hi Sandra,
I definitely think the stress you’re feeling right now is normal. I also do not like the thought of uncertainty, but I think you are in the right position. You were able to determine that you do not want to work with young children and I think thats a big first step to determine the population you’d like to work with. I encourage you to keep researching and maybe even shadow different agencies and programs to see where you could see yourself fitting in!
I also was hoping requirements for the licensure was more consistent throughout the states. It is a stressful situation, but just keep telling yourself that it will all be worth it one day. It is exciting to be so close to the end and I am also excited to graduate and be done with school.
Jun 01, 2023 @ 16:01:33
I am very excited and nervous for the next steps after graduating. I am very excited to be able to apply what I have learned in this program and at my internship. I am also excited to have a job and be out of school. I have several job opportunities in Massachusetts, but I am leaning towards moving home after graduation, and I know much less about the job opportunities and agencies in the Austin area. I have been exploring this, but staying here until licensure feels like a safer option. I am also nervous because I feel like I still have trouble knowing what population specifically I want to work with. I feel like I could do well in a variety of settings and with a variety of populations, and I just have a hard time narrowing my interest. I did really enjoy my internship setting which was outpatient with children and family. I am also nervous because I will have more responsibility than when I was an intern. Of course, I will still receive supervision, but I still feel like I am so far from being an expert.
Obtaining licensure seems daunting to me, especially if I move to Texas. Throughout my time at the program, I have double and triple checked that I will meet licensure requirements, I am just nervous that the licensing board won’t accept something for some reason. I do really wish that the process was much more standard across states. It is a little frustrating that my ability to obtain a license in a state will be always be a factor in where to live. I am also nervous about the responsibility and liability that comes along with licensure. I know licensure is still several years away, and I will gain quite a bit more experience and confidence before I take on that responsibility and liability.
Jun 01, 2023 @ 16:31:50
Hi Emily,
I have the same feelings and I think its pretty reasonable to feel both excited and nervous during this time. It is nice to know you already have several job opportunities in MA, so just know that if you end up moving back home, I am sure you will have the same, if not, more job opportunities there as well. It sounds like you had a great experience at your internship working with children and families, but if your interests go beyond that, I am sure you will work well in any population you choose.
It seems like you are on top of everything which is so helpful in this stressful process! Being reminded that licensure is still several years away is helpful because it does mean we all still have plenty of time to figure out our end goals.
Jun 03, 2023 @ 16:11:12
Hi Emily,
I relate to having difficulty on deciding on a population, on the bright side it sounds like you are very versatile which will be a great strength throughout your career! I do think that wherever you go you won’t have much trouble finding a job. Although you may currently have more connections in the New England area, you could always reach out to professors from undergrad if/when you decide to move back home. I’m sure they’d be happy to help you. I also feel quite frustrated with the differences in licensor requirements between all the states. I knew there were some differences when I was going into grad school but I didn’t realize how extreme the variation was at the time. Although it is an anxiety inducing process I’m confident you’ll be able to obtain your license without any major issues.
Jun 01, 2023 @ 18:08:17
I’m excited for the next steps because after being in internship and actually doing therapy I absolutely loved it and want to get back to it. I enjoyed working with the children and their families. I learned a lot about myself and what areas and groups I really like to work with and began to develop my therapeutic style and would like to continue to grow my techniques and learn different interventions and treatment modalities. I am a person who learns best by doing it so I’m ready to graduate and just be doing therapy.
One thing I’ve been thinking about working and beginning to collect my hours towards licensure and then eventually sitting for the exam and based on talking to people who have taken the exam I am a bit worried but when I talk to others I feel less worried( these are people who took the Connecticut exam which I will be taking) so I don’t know what to expect based on that. I’m curious about how we will be tracking our hours and what happens if we need to switch agencies while acquiring those hours.
Since I will be getting my license in Connecticut and I’m at a Massachusetts school I am a bit nervous since we will mainly be learning about acquiring licensure and requirements for MA. While I do hope to be licensed in both MA and CT at some point, I am a bit nervous because within the program so far I have not felt much support with figuring out requirements for Connecticut and feel pretty on my own outside of the guidance I have received at my internship that was in Connecticut. I am not sure how similar the exams or the requirements are and only found out upon starting the internship that I needed additional courses outside of the scope of what is required for MA. So I am a bit concerned about my next steps going into that process of next steps in my career. Additionally I chose to not continue at my internship placement so have been looking for other jobs and am a bit worried because in my searches I have mainly been seeing adult work in the areas in CT I hope to work and I would like to continue working with children and adolescents.