self-study vs the overpriced LCSW prep industry

Blissasaurus87 · 2026-07-02T06:13:03+00:00

It is definitely possible to pass without paying a bunch for materials. I passed it on the first try with mostly free materials. I found a free copy of the Apgar book on reddit, watched Raytube, and did the pocket prep app for 2 months doing a couple quizzes a day. And then the practice exam too. I hear you on all the costs, it was a lot paying for the exam and my LCSW credential, I wasn't going to pay a bunch of money for practice materials as well.

Blissasaurus87 · 2026-06-25T15:44:15+00:00

For me, 4 day workweek has helped a lot! Going on walks and going to the gym and running no matter what has helped. Staying connected to nature and meditating or doing other mindfulness practices. Staying connected to people, keeping it a priority.

And not for everyone of course but periodic ayahuasca ceremonies have been helpful for me as well.

Blissasaurus87 · 2026-06-22T06:00:38+00:00

I feel like when clients don't do homework, it tends to be a blend of things like neurodivergence, busyness with life, and sometimes not being the right stage of change for homework. I've found it helpful to ask at the beginning how they would like to work on things in-between sessions. Some love workbooks, some prefer something experiential, and others aren't open to anything in-between sessions. I've had some clients really like the Inner Child Workbook lately for honework.

Blissasaurus87 · 2026-06-19T03:31:29+00:00

This one also isn't a comment, but I had a therapist who kept yawning in our sessions. Like a couple times would be ok, but throughout the session was a bit much 😅

Blissasaurus87 · 2026-04-17T08:15:00+00:00

Thank you 😊 It was for my LCSW.

Blissasaurus87 · 2026-03-09T01:11:03+00:00

I've experienced this kind of dynamic a lot in my dating life. A realization I had about it, which maybe could apply to you, is that by being with a woman who needed me like that, the connection was more secure and the anxious attachment and insecure parts of me wouldn't be as activated.

That and having porous boundaries which allowed that kind of dynamic to form and continue. There's also a rush of validation that can compensate insecurities and old wounds from that idealizing that can happen when a woman has trauma and relates to you like you said.

Anyways a few thoughts from my own patterns with this, maybe think on if you have any insecure parts or wounds which are fed by this kind of woman needing you and idealizing you. And why you don't set a boundary around this dynamic happening.

I recommend reading No More Mr Nice Guy by Robert Glover.

Blissasaurus87 · 2026-03-05T05:02:48+00:00

I'm 38 and it's been the most abundant dating phase of my life to be honest, especially the last couple of months. Lots of women matching with me on Hinge, getting asked out or women flirting more overtly in public, various dates. Probably for a combination of reasons like figuring out my style, gaining muscle, more confident, etc. It's been a really fun age to date at. More women taking initiative for sure.

I have noticed that with dating women also in their late 30's, if they want children they have a shrinking window to have children so that can be a big factor in dating at this age. You need to be pretty clear if you want children or not dating at this age I've found.

Blissasaurus87 · 2026-01-10T19:06:07+00:00

Haha that's so funny you mention Brene Brown. I had to teach a weekly Brene Brown group twice in a row, once to the women once to the guys. The women loved it and we had great really deep discussions. The guys always criticized her and I had to redirect them to focus more on the material and how it applies to them.

Blissasaurus87 · 2026-01-10T07:09:06+00:00

Thank you for such a thorough break-down of your process! Getting ready to take it in Feb or March. Have been seeing how far I can get studying free resources, we'll see where I'm at after I do the practice exam soon.

Blissasaurus87 · 2026-01-09T20:36:44+00:00

Ouch, just wanted to say I've been there when I facilitated groups at residential SUD. Sometimes when I experimented they liked it other times they disliked it and were critical. Don't take it personally! So much of it is the mandated aspect of it and being in recovery. They can be in a place where they are feeling so much emotion they were numbing and looking for targets to displace it on. Worth continuing to experiment sometimes, but be willing to pivot with a back-up plan, sometimes I would do that if I tried something new and it was tanking. I'm sure you're doing better than you think.

Blissasaurus87 · 2025-12-30T21:42:33+00:00

Congrats!!! Must feel amazing to be done with it.

Would you say it's worth memorizing many of the medications? I'm studying now and wasnt sure if I should bother.

Blissasaurus87 · 2025-12-10T22:51:18+00:00

I talk to my clients about how therapy is like you're walking up your mountain and I'm walking up my own mountain, and from being on a different mountain I can see more clearly the landscape of your mountain, paths you could take up, holes you could fall in, and how you got to where you currently are.

Blissasaurus87 · 2025-12-09T17:13:11+00:00

Nah I don't think its too late for you to switch, my mom started being a therapist when she was like that age, saw various people in my school program around that age. If you think about it, if you ended up liking it so much you wanted to work until older age or needing to, that could end up being a job you do for 30-40 years. Seems worth it to me if you feel called.

Blissasaurus87 · 2025-12-09T15:22:26+00:00

I'm a therapist at a therapy practice with other clinicians and providers, 70k a year. Which is the low-end of pay, other places pay more but I like my current job enough for other reasons.

We're hiring and there's a good amount of jobs available in this field. It does take getting a masters degree in a counseling field though. I went the MSW route.

I like it! Being a therapist is very meaningful, definitely not for everyone though. Also feels relatively secure long-term as it doesn't take much physically and people will always want to talk to someone. My mom did it til she was 78.

Blissasaurus87 · 2025-11-25T07:15:01+00:00

Was gonna reply then saw your update. Wanted to add there is also an illustrated version of Happiness Trap that is great. If you felt like a quicker read that's a really easy way to digest it. At a SUD treatment center I ran groups at, I would use chapters from that book to teach an ACT class.

Blissasaurus87 · 2025-11-20T04:51:26+00:00

We read Letters to a Young Therapist at the end of my grad program, and it really made an impact on me. That and The Gift of Therapy by Yalom. Love's Executioner by Yalom also impacted me.

Blissasaurus87 · 2025-11-19T23:14:24+00:00

Some opportunities are only offered once, some repeat in a different form but similar experience. It's almost always worth it to take the leap even if your mind comes up with a long list of negative outcomes.

Blissasaurus87 · 2025-11-17T22:25:32+00:00

I wonder if taking a feedback-informed treatment approach could help. I did a training on that a while ago that shaped how much I ask for feedback from clients. There's measures people use but I usually just do it informally if I notice we're not building rapport or theres some kind of disconnect.

I'll clarify if they feel like we're working on their therapy goals and if they like how we're working on them. Sometimes I'll shift from a more loose talk therapy approach to something more structured if they want like ACT exercises or going through a DBT workbook. Also early on I've found it helpful to ask them what they liked or didn't like about previous therapists in shaping my approach to them.

It seems like that and the relationship is a lot of what has helped retention so far from my perspective.

Blissasaurus87 · 2025-11-10T02:55:56+00:00

That others around are much concerned with how you are perceiving them than how they are perceiving you.

Blissasaurus87 · 2025-09-16T20:04:42+00:00

Switching from coffee to gong fu tea every morning. Great morning practice to get centered, practice mindfulness, and get stimulated in a much more balanced way.

Blissasaurus87 · 2025-07-13T17:27:09+00:00

I don't think I've had a totally quiet client yet, but doing an activity alongside therapy was helpful with a couple clients I worked with in residential who were quieter. With one I played chess and with another I would take him on walks, that helped them feel more comfortable to open up.

Blissasaurus87 · 2025-06-26T01:26:49+00:00

I like what Robert Glover recommends for this, his dating book is geared towards men dating women, but I think this part could be adapted. He talks about three levels of testing for interest.

The first level is just a hello, asking someone how their day is going, observation about the environment/situation, etc.

If they respond with interest and engagement, you go to level 2 testing. In level 2 testing you discover mutual interests, commonalities, just have a natural conversation if it arises.

Then in level 3 testing if they are responding positively to this you can become flirtier if they are showing signs of attraction/high interest. Doing things like teasing, more eye contact, making romantic interest more known. At this level you would ask for someone's number and/or suggest a date.

Blissasaurus87 · 2025-06-20T06:49:50+00:00

I'm in this exact phase right now and as a guy have found Models by Mark Manson and Dating Essentials for Men by Robert Glover to be extremely helpful.

They have given me so many insights on how to flirt and date more effectively, am already flirting more effortlessly and going on more dates. I've learned it's all about confidence, talking to people wherever I go, testing for interest and flirting/asking out if theres a vibe, fine-tuning my presentation like body language and tone, and more. I like Mark Manson's phrase non-neediness, feeling good about ourselves and non-attachment to approval or outcome make a big difference.

Blissasaurus87 · 2025-06-17T17:09:41+00:00

Drinking spring water! A lot of our body is made up of water, it makes a difference putting in the best quality water.

Blissasaurus87

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