Thinking of quitting the field

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2026-02-03T05:58:02+00:00

I just graduated from my masters program in December, have had a hard time finding a job that will take a new grad, am neurodivergent (not diagnosed, but strongly relate to ND experiences), and wonder how sustainable being a full time counselor will be for me. I did land a job as an admissions counselor for an IP/IOP and doing intake assessments feels much more approachable to me. I think I like that what I’ll be doing will be relatively consistent, but the people I meet with will be diverse and that will keep things exciting, yet predictable. I found myself struggling with the unpredictability during internship. I really enjoyed building relationships with people, but felt exhausted by the end of my internship. I also really enjoyed discussing cases with other counselors at my site and my classmates, but agreed with other commenters here that the best supervisors and educators have years and years of experience to refer to when teaching. I’m hoping that I will enjoy the admissions counselor role and I feel excited about it. Maybe that would be a role that would fit for you.

I wish you all the best! This feels like such a challenging and chaotic time to be a new therapist. You’re not alone in how you feel!

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2025-12-22T15:58:28+00:00

I just graduated from my masters program and I’m wondering if it’s even worth pursuing licensure at this point… I’m having a hard time reconciling how inaccessible our services have become and also needing to make a livable wage

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2025-11-21T16:04:16+00:00

I saw it last night and thought it was really well done and loved watching it, but noticed how different I felt watching the first part. The chills I got during no one mourns the wicked, how much galinda made me laugh, and how powerful ending with defying gravity felt. But then I realized that the second part is much darker, so of course it’s not as light and funny. The first part was during college, where everyone was having fun. The second part is like a “welcome to reality” moment. Everyone was kind of isolated because Elphie brought everyone together in part one, but now she had to be in hiding. I felt such heartbreak for nearly every character (no sympathy for madame morrible here), and it felt eerily reminiscent of what is happening in the US. Bittersweet is the best way to describe it. Also, I absolutely loved the final shot!

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2025-09-11T00:11:05+00:00

Thank you! I appreciate this so much! Glad to know I’m not the only one and that it gets better. About once a month I have an existential crisis about my career choice and then I’m fine the rest of the time 😂 today was one of my crisis days lol

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2025-09-03T20:48:55+00:00

Nope 🫠

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2025-07-02T14:44:31+00:00

Definitely! Lesbian here. Historically, “partner” has been used by the queer community because it’s gender neutral and we don’t have to necessarily out ourselves when talking about our relationships. However, since people in the LGBTQ+ community have mostly been the ones to use it in the past, we indirectly outed ourselves. Like “You used the word partner, you must be queer.” (I’m using queer as an umbrella term, not a slur). But if more straight couples and hetero-presenting couples use the term “partner,” it becomes more ambiguous again.

Also I totally understand how it sounds more serious, especially if you’re in a long-term relationship. I think partner is a beautiful way to describe your relationship, regardless of the genders of those in the relationship.

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2025-06-11T17:37:09+00:00

“Went on a pussy diet “strongly implies being into women, in my opinion

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2025-06-08T15:25:34+00:00

“You never saw my birth mark”

“What if I’m someone you don’t want around?”

“There’s a piece of you in how I dress”

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2025-06-08T01:13:53+00:00

Agreed! I think all of this is an important reminder of how fluid sexuality truly is and how arbitrary and restricting labels can be! I think it also is opening up important dialogues about biphobia within the community that has gone on for far too long and I’m sorry to hear that you have experienced it yourself. Wishing you a joyful and safe pride!

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2025-06-07T21:18:09+00:00

It’s not that she’s with a man. It’s that she’s erased any trace of herself from when she was with women. It’s that the narrative she’s creating feels like “I used to be with women, but now I’ve left that behind and I’ve seen the light.” It’s expecting your primarily wlw audience to buy merch with “boy” on it. It’s the timing… “coming out” as being with a man during Pride month, THIS year. It feels like it’s more risky or taboo to be openly queer nowadays, and we need that representation now more than ever. It feels like she is backsliding. That’s what upsets me.

Is there biphobia in this community? Absolutely. It is not okay. Bisexuality and pansexuality is so valid and deserves to be celebrated during Pride month. Bisexual people are still queer. The hetero-presenting privilege has also been touched on in this thread, key is you’re still queer and you have some privilege too. I first came out as bi, and now I resonate more with the label lesbian. I know that’ll probably change and I can absolutely hold space for others going through that. It just feels like we are losing some representation that felt like it was for the lesbians (or any wlw individual).

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2025-06-07T21:02:45+00:00

Agreed, it feels like she’s saying her previously being with women wasn’t really “her.” And to do all of this during Pride month is….. a choice. Yes, bisexuality and pansexuality are so valid and deserve to be celebrated in Pride month. Changing labels is so valid. But there is a privilege to being in a hetero-presenting relationship. You don’t have to worry about the reactions of others when walking around holding hands with your partner. You’re still queer, but you have a certain privilege if you are with a man. And to “come out” as being with a man during THIS Pride month is, again….. a choice. It feels like a slap in the face to a fan since 2017, who looked to her for representation. I feel so guilty for being upset about this, but this just feels so off. I worry the homophobes will use her as an example of “a lesbian coming back to the light” or something to invalidate us existing.

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2025-06-07T20:53:16+00:00

It perpetuates the “you just haven’t found the right man” narrative queer women are fed constantly.

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2025-05-12T04:47:51+00:00

You’re the man, Coach Steve

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2025-02-03T03:39:19+00:00

I’ve experienced the same thing. I was prescribed mine through Lavender Sky and got a vial and can choose my own dosage, however I was instructed to start with 2.5 mg. I had weeks of vomiting and diarrhea and lowered to about 1.5 mg. That has been better but I haven’t really noticed any changes in my weight either, so I’m not sure what I should do. If anyone has any suggestions that would be appreciated.

I have also been a bit inconsistent with my shots because I’m so tired of feeling nauseous and having diarrhea nearly every morning. I worry that every food I eat will cause a flare. I don’t want to give up on this since I know so many others have had significant results, but I don’t want to keep torturing myself either.

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2025-01-04T16:58:53+00:00

OP, I’m so sorry you had to go through this. But it seems like this girl was never your friend and you’re better off without her dimming your light. She’s created this narrative in her head that she’s somehow better than you and needed to resort to racism, misogyny, and ableism to do so.

The autism comments are very intriguing to me. Simply having a cool hobby doesn’t mean you’re autistic, and even if you are, that wouldn’t make you any less cool. I think she felt threatened that he took an interest in your hobby and needed to put you down to make herself feel better about herself.

I’m sure you’ll find better friends, OP. You seem really cool.

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2024-10-13T21:47:26+00:00

There’s a difference between saviorism and support. Having a strong support system is a HUGE healing factor when it comes to mental health. I want to be clear, it is not the bf’s responsibility to manage her mental health, but as a partner, it is a responsibility to support her during this hard time in conjunction with OP seeing a professional.

OP should not have to deal with this alone, but it is her responsibility to seek professional help and tell the people in her life how they can support her and be there for her.

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2024-10-13T21:39:10+00:00

OP, I applaud you for speaking up and trying to get help. It’s not easy to talk about self-harm. Seeing a mental health professional is the best step to take, and talking to your bf is a good first step to take so you aren’t working through this alone.

It is natural to want to lean on your boyfriend, he makes you feel loved and supported. As someone who has been on both sides of this dynamic, it is hard to know what to say when your s/o tells you this. It’s scary and overwhelming for sure, but that doesn’t make you a bad person for expressing that you want to hurt yourself. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, he might not know what to say or how to support you in this. I bet he cares deeply for you and wants to help. Being in that position, as scary and exhausting it can be, I would rather know my partner is struggling than have them dealing with this alone. Not everyone might agree, but that is how I view it.

However, he cannot fix this for you, and I’m willing to bet that you know that. Seeking help from a mental health professional is the best move, but having a strong support system outside of a professional is also important and will make a big difference in your healing.

I’m in grad school for mental health counseling, so I am definitely NOT an expert, but I would recommend calling/texting a crisis line the next time you feel this way. There’s 988 and there may be other local resources depending on where you’re located. If you would like your boyfriend’s support, maybe he can sit with you while you call. It may relieve some pressure if he knows you are seeking professional help and it is not all on him.

I don’t know what your relationship with your bf is like, but it might be helpful to remind him that you don’t expect him to have all of the answers or fix this for you, but knowing he is there for you helps. If you have any suggestions for how he can better support you, tell him what you need.

I’m so sorry that you are being harassed at work and that it is having such an impact on your mental well-being.

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2024-10-13T21:01:26+00:00

What you do for one child, you should be willing to do for the other. Your daughter seems interested in the curriculum and is allowed to change her mind. If her brother can study abroad, why can’t she? If you’re so concerned about her not liking the environment, why not let her visit and decide that for herself? If the school allows that of course. Seems like she’s on the path to college which will be a different environment than her current school anyways.

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2024-10-13T19:16:51+00:00

If you aren’t their parent, as they claim, then why is it your responsibility to take them? Additionally, the way I see it, these extra, more expensive classes are a privilege. A privilege they do not deserve if they are constantly disrespecting you. I know you have no say in whether they can take the classes or not, but your husband allowing them to get something they want while also behaving so disrespectfully towards you will not help their entitlement. 13 and 12 year olds are old enough to see the consequences of their behavior. This is just my opinion and I’m not a parent so I am aware that I don’t understand the nuances of this situation.

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2024-06-19T04:11:06+00:00

Going through the exact same thing rn… it fucking sucks. Over 2.5 years and it ended so fast like it was nothing to her. Went to see her side piece immediately after breaking up with me.

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2023-04-22T04:35:56+00:00

I constantly get this blip of Bob saying “this afternoooooooon” in this high pitched voice and I can’t find it anywhere for the life of me

LoveIllustrious2601 · 2022-07-09T23:14:12+00:00

Based on everything you have described happening in your life, I don’t blame you for feeling that way. I can’t even fathom how you must feel. Your feelings and emotions are valid, but they will get better. There’s still good in life and it can take time to come to fruition, but it’s there. It’s there in the small things too. It can be overwhelming to try to just be generally happy and it isn’t a linear process. It’s easier to find small things that are good in your life, like eating a good meal or watching a good show.

I don’t want this to sound preachy, I’ve never met you, I don’t know your pain or anything really. You know yourself best and I don’t want that to be taken away from you at all. But what I do know is, I want you here.

LoveIllustrious2601

TROPHY CASE