About a year ago, however, I had a revelation. I was on my way home from a therapy session -- I've been in therapy off and on for years, but that's a story for a different time -- and I suddenly realized that "therapist" was a job description that sounded right to me. I could do it, I'd be good at it, and (most of all) it sounded right: challenging, fulfilling, and useful.
Over the next few days, I discussed it with family and friends, trying to tease out whether this was just another in a long line of (semi-desperate) lunges at anything that sounded compelling. But as I examined the idea, inspecting it from every angle, I became convinced it was a good fit for me.
And so the work began. I had to identify the path from here (Marketing Manager for an insurance company) to there, mainly determining the education I would need, and where to get it. Fortunately, I live in what may be the therapy capital of the Universe: Los Angeles, so there are many options to get started. Several major universities, both public and private, plus a selection of "boutique" colleges, offer programs that lead to a Master of Family Therapy, which (along with a license) would allow me to practice.
My criteria:
- A good program, that would give me the training I need to be successful.
- A local program, since I intend to stay in the LA area.
- A program that is tied to the community, for when the time comes to find a place to practice.
- A program that would be flexible enough that I could continue to work as long as possible. I can't afford to go to school full time.
- A program I can afford.
With these criteria in mind, I began the search.
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