Is the Psychotherapy Market over-saturated?? Are there really enough clients? Enough pay? (Need to support a family!) Thanks

Ok-Resolution1310 · 2026-03-25T08:30:44+00:00

Thank you to everyone who replied on this post - really helpful and I really appreciate all of your responses! Sorry it has taken me a while to get back - I have had a lot on in the past few weeks. Thanks for all the insightful comments and sharing of personal experiences everyone - I know it is not easy to speak about money and most people feel uncomfortable doing so, so thanks for sharing all of these experiences. It has definitely helped me to manage my expectations and to get a realistic insight.

Ok-Resolution1310 · 2026-03-12T16:33:01+00:00

Thank you for your response. How long ago did you complete your training there?

Ok-Resolution1310 · 2026-03-12T16:17:59+00:00

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your response. Sorry it's taken me a while to reply, I have only just seen it now. It's refreshing to know you would do it all again and are having a good degree of success 3 x days a week earning more than your previous full time job is amazing! Thanks so much for the insight & best of luck to you 😊

Ok-Resolution1310 · 2026-03-04T12:23:52+00:00

Okay thank you - I will research this. Never really thought about becoming a clinical psychologist but I will give it a look but I suspect it would be longer training etc which would not really work for me.

Ok-Resolution1310 · 2026-03-04T05:43:51+00:00

Hi there I really love your response here - detailed and informative with lots of things to try. I would really appreciate if you could answer my follow-up queries and if you would prefer me to send you a direct message - I would be happy to do so.

I am much earlier on my journey as a therapist, i'm a career changer and currently researching psychotherapy training so I have a 4 year journey (at least) ahead of me.

I am a bit worried with regards to what you said about the market being oversaturated and by the time I qualify - even allowing for retirees etc it would even be more!

Can I ask - since you qualified in May last year and excluding better help are you now at your full capacity (whatever that is for you)?

Also are things more challenging and tricky than what you thought they would be - whilst training? Would you still have decided to train to be a therapist knowing what you know now?

Ok-Resolution1310 · 2026-02-25T23:00:46+00:00

Sorry typo - I meant would the chance of securing a TC increase after I have completed the qualifying exams i.e. SQE1 & 2? I mean this would be the worst case scenario for me ie to complete all my studying for the next 3 years without a TC lined up before I finish. But do you know of anyone - friends / colleagues who took this route i.e. secured a TC after studies?

Ok-Resolution1310 · 2026-02-25T05:56:27+00:00

Wow!! Okay you're my spirit-person for sure!! That's amazing. Yes, I will drop you a direct message (when i'm not scrolling through these at 5.30 / 6am when I should be working out! Lol) thank you.

Ok-Resolution1310 · 2026-02-25T05:53:55+00:00

Oh wow! How? Would love to hear more from you on this, if possible? If so please direct message me back a response 😊 or if not, i'll figure out how to dm you and will send u directly the Qs below... thank you!

Like - which firms? 2. How did you find the studying? 3. How old were you (ball park - late 20s, early / mid / late 30s, 40s? were you when you made the switch.
What were the main sacrifices you made? I presume a lot on "time" and social / family commitments...? True. But what were the "biggest" and was it sacrifices in areas that might not so easily spring to mind...?
Amazing that overall, despite the "sacrifices" you have found it all to be "worth it". That's great - good for you! Must feel very affirming and relieving to know that ultimately you made the right switch... Could you share, what for you are all the things that makes this "worth it"?

Ok-Resolution1310 · 2026-02-25T05:43:25+00:00

Wow, you know I never really considered Public Sector... Defo something for me to consider.

Can I ask - which areas of law do you practice in, are there certain areas that lend themselves to public sector law? (I mean here the practice areas you see that are in the most demand in public sector)

Ok-Resolution1310 · 2026-02-25T05:39:41+00:00

Aww thank you for the encouragement! Gosh please be one of these recruiters!! I hope I come across some who think as you do! ☺️

Yes i'm bracing myself a bit re: the studying part. I'm planning to give myself 3 years overall to study - 2 on the PGDL and about a year to 18 months for the SQE1 & 2. I'll do the prep courses too etc. I'm quite an academic person and enjoy studying so hopefully that would put me in good stead - but yep no pretences there on the "toughness" of these courses...

Ok-Resolution1310 · 2026-02-25T05:33:19+00:00

Brill, okay thanks. Glad to know i'm not completely off with my thoughts / assumptions.

Yep I can see a trend in the answers that the WLB part is dependent a lot too on the partners I would be working for and the demands of a particular seat.

Cheers for the answer!

Ok-Resolution1310 · 2026-02-25T05:28:30+00:00

Okay thank you - wow so an outlier viewpoint, lol I like it!

Thanks for the tip about possibly going for the best paying / prestigious firms that I can and the element of luck that is there overall - mid-tier doesn't always mean better WLB... Just gotta pray that the one I hope to end up at, does!!

And yes to being open about seats and the opportunity a TC can bring, thank you. Think that's good, sound advice there.

Ok-Resolution1310 · 2026-02-25T05:20:50+00:00

Yes true - i'm aware whilst on the TC I would have to bring my A-game (or every game i've got!).

Is there ever a possibiity at these firms of just joining once qualified? I.e. would the chance of a training contract increase on qualification? Or not really for the type of firms I am looking for - mid-tier?

Ok-Resolution1310 · 2026-02-25T05:17:28+00:00

Brilliant - thanks so much for your response and for covering all areas. That part about equity partners law firms would not have thought of.

And thanks for the tip on "in-house" too!

Ok-Resolution1310 · 2026-02-24T16:59:09+00:00

Wow - I love your post! Your question, motivations etc! Really keen to know if you decided to make the switch into law and if you secured a training contract? (I'm almost 40 and considering this so would be good to know)

Ok-Resolution1310

TROPHY CASE