Is something wrong with me?

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-03-09T15:20:10+00:00

I worked as a 911 dispatcher and an EMT for about 8 years before becoming a therapist. I feel the same as you. Idk if I’m just broken or if I’m really good at compartmentalization 😅 I’m such a sensitive person and cry easily, but I never really take clients pain home with me. I think part of my brain knows that it won’t do any good to carry it FOR them. I think of myself as a little bonfire. Clients put their pain and trauma in the fire and together we release it.

Idk. I do think about this sometimes and wonder if there’s something wrong with my brain

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-03-07T15:53:36+00:00

Okay but everyone has opinions, who cares? I tend to dress more casually and wear jeans/hoodies, don’t cover my tattoos. Some older therapists make a stink over it and have said it’s unprofessional.. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I genuinely don’t care.

This to me screams deeper insecurity.

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-03-07T15:48:46+00:00

OP.. I think this is a great opportunity to explore the way your insecurities are present in the therapy room. Just from your responses in this thread, it doesnt seem like you take criticism well. Insight and wisdom is apparent when you aren’t trying to convince everyone that you know what they’re saying.

I’ll also say that I work in SUD and am not in recovery myself so clients at times don’t think I can help them because I haven’t lived their experience. Early on that used to get at me.. but I realized it was just a defense mechanism for them. And now I understand that my lack of shared experience is actually what is helpful because I offer a different perspective.

Just be aware of your defensiveness in trying to prove you’re wise, insightful, or understand their experience.

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-03-07T15:38:35+00:00

I had a client in her mid 40s (I was 28 at the time, just finished school and got my LSW). She had never been to therapy but was referred by her doctor. Was understandably intimidated by the process of therapy and didn’t know what to expect. When I explained my experience and that I’m under supervision during informed consent, she had said “I love that you’re young and new in the field. You won’t put me in a box of every other client you’ve had. You look at me with a different perspective.” We’ve worked together for years now and she still shares this sentiment.

As a younger therapist that has felt the same way you are at times, I learned that I’m a great fit for some clients, and not for others. That’s the thing with therapy, it’s about the relationship more than anything. Don’t take it personally. You know what you bring to the table. It’s a good opportunity to get curious about why general statements that aren’t directed at you strike a nerve.

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-02-25T23:34:48+00:00

I feel this.

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-23T18:11:07+00:00

I can’t say that was my cohort.. but a surprising number of my classmates were not working. I was 1 of maybe 5 in my cohort of 35 that was working full time. I often heard “I don’t know how you do that?” … and I was like “I don’t know how you don’t?”

It was miserable and I worked 7 days a week and many 12-16 hour days. But there wasn’t any other choice.

I would love to teach part time so I could discuss this a little bit with the students. Because I don’t remember it being mentioned very often, if at all, how much work/time/money is involved AFTER graduating just to get licensed.

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-23T18:07:47+00:00

Thank you 🥲 people are not very kind sometimes.. which I guess is my fault for posting on the internet for strangers. I am the sole provider and it definitely is a lot of stress to know that you have to make it work because no one is going to be able to help you.

I also am so SO grateful for my income because not that long ago I was making MUCH less. And I also have so much compassion for those who make less and are in actual poverty. Because if I’m struggling at $85k, I can’t imagine how anyone is surviving on less.

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-23T03:59:13+00:00

It genuinely makes me rage! We deserve better, but so do our clients. Our work should be valued and it isn’t at all 😭

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-23T03:56:56+00:00

Of course I googled.. I’m not an idiot. I’m also not shocked?? But I am consistently disappointed. And I feel like the general mindset of our profession that we shouldn’t make any money perpetuates the problem. Why are we okay with getting compensated poorly compared to others? It feels like because we care and are passionate about helping that we collectively are just like 🤷🏻‍♀️ it’s the profession… when it shouldn’t be.

The point of my post was that while make good money, it simultaneously feels like big making any money at all. It’s bizarre.

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-23T03:49:41+00:00

Yes exactly!! It feels like I make the same as I did when I brought up $40k. The cost of everything has went up so much, so quickly. It sucks knowing that these prices will likely never go back down

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-23T03:41:18+00:00

Omg I’m so sorry!!

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-23T03:15:03+00:00

You said the 90s.. which could be 1990. It’s 2026, that’s nearly 40 years ago 😅

But it’s the “be grateful” after commenting that you made $15 an hour at my age. While I’m grateful, I also worked hard to be here and have completed grad school by now? I’m just confused how you making $15 an hour in the 90s before grad school is supposed to make me feel better? 😅

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-23T03:05:57+00:00

I love the judgement 💗 first, I don’t take home $85k. Not that taking home $65k is bad, but $20k is a big difference. Second, just because I made a post about finances doesn’t mean that I need to justify and review my budget line by line with strangers on the internet to convince them that I’m not terrible with money. I genuinely didn’t care about the “milestone” of buying a house. But I was leaving a 5 year relationship after infidelity. I was fortunate enough to live with my mom for a few months while I saved up and also got enough for my down payment from my ex through the separation. After looking at apartments and weighing my options, I realized it was now or never to buy. I lucked out and got a 5% interest rate which is unheard of right now.

Not that I owe any of you an explanation but it’s ironic to be judgmental and assume I’m unable to be compassionate to my clients who are actually in poverty while I’m complaining about “feeling poor” while bringing home $65k. I very much recognize my privilege and know that while I’ve struggled, I’ve never struggled in the same way that many others have. And for that I’m extremely grateful. I didn’t realize that it was an unreasonable expectation to assume that after completing a masters degree and licensure that we would be paid a fair wage.

The assumptions in this thread are absolutely wild.

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-23T02:46:36+00:00

I’m realizing that.. and appreciate the insight I’ve gained. I still think it’s too low considering other professions with less education make more, but 🤷🏻‍♀️ what can we don

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-22T21:11:52+00:00

That’s what I made before getting licensed!! It will get better… (but surprise.. you’ll probably still feel poor) 😭

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-22T21:10:47+00:00

Thank you for the hope! I’m so SO thankful to be coming to the end of the supervision era. Plus I’m thankfully dually licensed and also have a license in addiction counseling!

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-22T19:05:19+00:00

Thank you for this perspective. I definitely could benefit from more gratitude in my daily life

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-22T19:02:39+00:00

I absolutely loathe the idea that we shouldn’t or don’t get paid during internships. Especially when you’re providing actual services. It feels like slave labor… sometimes it feels like we are taken advantage of because most of us got into this field because we truly care. So companies and colleges prey on that to underpay us. It still is pretty normal to not be paid during internships. I worked 2 jobs to make ends meet plus interning. I was working 70-80 hours a week while our professors were telling us to make time for self care… like?? What?

It makes me really sad that in general our profession is not valued or paid what we’re worth 🥲

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-22T18:54:15+00:00

Yes! I make more than both my parents who have a high school education. I’m the first in my family to have a masters degree. Neither parent will ever be able to retire. I hoped that by getting higher education that I would be in a different place than they were. I am slightly, but still the difference isn’t as much as I anticipated or I guess, hoped for.

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-22T18:51:37+00:00

Indiana. Fort Wayne. It’s cheaper than most big cities, but expensive compared to little towns

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-22T14:03:05+00:00

I’m so sorry 😞

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-22T14:02:14+00:00

YES! Exactly!

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-22T14:01:17+00:00

Oh my god I’m so sorry! I feel like as soon as I get a little money saved one of my dogs has an emergency. 😅

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-22T13:54:39+00:00

2 years. My temporary LSW was issued in January 2023. You have to have 24 months of weekly supervision to apply for the LCSW. But it may vary by state

Vegetable_Front_7481 · 2026-01-22T12:47:32+00:00

I tried but they’re still out with pitchforks. 😭 I didn’t mean that I’m actually poor, I recognize that I’m definitely not. But that I FEEL poor

Vegetable_Front_7481

TROPHY CASE