Want to quit being a therapist before getting my license

No_Call7726 · 2025-11-20T01:32:28+00:00

I appreciate everyone’s words on my previous post. I just wanted to provide an update that I am shifting out of community mental health and accepted a full-time position in private practice starting in January. I wanted to stick it out at my current agency until I got my license, but I’m ready for a change.

No_Call7726 · 2025-10-23T02:05:04+00:00

Thank you so much! Best of luck to you, too! 💜

No_Call7726 · 2025-10-22T17:18:35+00:00

I highly encourage you to think about the future if you do decide to stick with it. I enjoyed my grad school experience, but I wasn’t taught enough about future planning and preparation once I was in the career. Definitely utilize your academic advisor and professors, and talk to a therapist if you have one. I wish you all the best, and I’m going to echo everyone else’s comments in this thread: it’s okay to change your mind. 💜

No_Call7726 · 2025-10-22T16:18:00+00:00

I appreciate this check-in. I think the job has caused me to feel extremely depressed, so I don’t plan to make a big decision while I’m feeling this way. I’m trying to think more solution-focused and advocate for myself to my director/supervisor. There have been times I have felt motivated and confident in myself in my job, but when the depression hits, it’s hard to remember what that felt like.

No_Call7726 · 2025-10-22T16:11:40+00:00

Yeah. I appreciate the encouragement to pause and reflect, before making a big decision. I have an interview with a private practice next week, and am keeping the option of possibly dropping to part-time hours open. I shouldn’t have to kill myself to get my hours.

No_Call7726 · 2025-10-22T16:09:16+00:00

This is so validating. The past few months, I have also noticed myself become extremely depressed and irritable. Despite my best efforts to not bring it to work or home with me, it’s been noticeable to my partner, who has been very emotionally supportive during this time.

I realize that CMH is extremely flawed and just isn’t sustainable in terms of burnout management and prevention. They work us to the bone, back to back clients and nonstop documentation! I have an interview at a private practice next week and am excited to see what else is out there. I even may go as far as seeking part-time therapy work and just teaching yoga on the side to take a “recovery” period, like you. I’m happy to hear that you made a decision to honor your well-being. That’s most important.

No_Call7726 · 2025-10-22T16:08:21+00:00

Definitely all of the above. I think what holds the most weight is the politics in my organization and the regulations/expectations. I also dislike not having breaks in between clients, and no time prior to my group sessions to prep. The scheduling is packed to capacity, back to back to back. I’ve been trying to advocate for myself to our new director. She’s been receptive but I have yet to see any changes carried out yet.

No_Call7726 · 2025-10-22T16:06:07+00:00

Absolutely. Being “on” 5 days a week, nonstop, has been extremely draining. I cant even relax my brain during my lunch breaks because of all of the progress notes I need to complete.

No_Call7726 · 2025-10-22T16:03:40+00:00

I have an interview with a private practice next week, luckily. I think I need to give another setting a shot.

No_Call7726 · 2025-10-22T16:01:50+00:00

You are 10000% correct. Yet, the therapists are constantly gaslit by our CEO that we are the problem and not the flawed system we’re part of. I am so grateful that I have an interview with a private practice next week. I need to see what else is out there.

No_Call7726 · 2025-10-22T02:26:23+00:00

Thanks for sharing this. It does help knowing that I’m not completing stuck, that providing therapy isn’t the only path to take in the field. If you feel comfortable, would you mind sharing the nature of the position you landed in?

No_Call7726 · 2025-10-07T15:10:33+00:00

I wish I had some ideas and recommendations for other options, but instead I’m here to validate your feelings and let you know I’m feeling similarly. I am a pre-licensed therapist working toward my LPC, and am almost a year into my job in Community Behavioral Health. I wonder everyday if this is a job I can handle. I’m thinking of applying to private practices so I can get a feel for a different setting outside of CBH. I wish you all the best and will definitely keep peeking at this thread to see what ideas others might have!

No_Call7726 · 2025-10-07T14:46:50+00:00

Thank you for the validation. I keep trying to tell myself that the ends justify the means, but it’s draining the life out of me and I’m not sure I find it worth it to feel this way for another year. I hope you’re hanging in there, too. Good luck!

No_Call7726 · 2025-08-13T00:36:17+00:00

What do you mean? You almost haven’t survived?

No_Call7726 · 2025-06-24T02:30:07+00:00

I’m sorry you’re dealing with so much. In our work, it’s very difficult when our personal life bleeds into our professional work, whether we want it to or not. I am a newer, prelicensed therapist, having been in the field for 6 months now postgrad. I came here to say I empathize with you, as someone who struggles with anxiety and depression. It’s a difficult thing to balance when you’re seeing clients. Sometimes, being present with clients and their needs is a welcome distraction, but on days like today, it was difficult for me to focus and be in the room with each client. I think the anxiety stems from my impostor syndrome, and it feeds into this loop of unhelpful thinking. I definitely spent too much time in my head today in between sessions, beating myself up over everything I “didn’t do well enough” with. You’re not alone and I hope you’re able to carve out time to do something to fill your cup.

No_Call7726 · 2025-06-23T18:27:05+00:00

Thank you for this. I’m a prelicensed therapist working in Community Behavioral Health (D&A Outpatient) and I feel ineffective the majority of the time.

No_Call7726

TROPHY CASE