after I'm fully licensed, I may write a longer-form thing about the problems I see in the therapy industry today. I have a lot of thoughts about what works and what doesn't. Unfortunately, the trendiest things seem to be the things that don't work or are harmful, and pointing that out makes enemies

there are so many good therapists out there, but unfortunately the crossover between good therapists and the kind of therapists who take on associates for their cheap labor is razor thin

I can't tell you how much I look forward to not having to be an associate anymore. As a pre-licensed clinician, you have to beg to have your labor exploited. The power dynamics are absolutely fucked, and many of the people who have power over you are deeply unscrupulous/stupid/unwell.

by the time I'm fully settled in (about 6 months), it will be about time for me to apply to take the test for my license. I have plenty of worries about that process (not the test itself, just getting approved to take it). Assuming nothing goes wrong (and so much could!) I should be licensed by 2027

naturally I've started having stress dreams that take place in and around schools. presumably that will stop once I've settled into the job and have firsthand experiences showing me what it's like and that I can handle it, but in the meantime I'm increasingly nervous about it starting

My hope is that working for a place that doesn't bill per-session (via insurance or otherwise) will mean that there will be less of that used car lot / pyramid scheme energy that pervaded group practices I've worked or applied at, where you're expected to hit certain quotas and productivity numbers