15 Alternative Career Options for Therapists

15 Alternative Career Options for Therapists
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I know a lot of folks who entered the counseling profession gung-ho about offering direct client care services, only to find down the road that they don’t actually enjoy direct client care.
There are a variety of reasons this can happen, whether it’s just not the best personality match, you feel cynical after taking a peek behind the curtain and seeing how broken our mental health system is, or any number of other possible reasons.
But just because offering direct client care as a therapist might not be for you, it doesn’t mean that you can’t still use your counseling skills and training in an alternative way. If you’re interested in hearing more, then here are 15 alternative career options for therapists:
00:00 Intro
01:47 1. Run a Group Practice
02:13 2. Management at Mental Health Setting
02:34 3. Serve other Therapists with your Skillset
03:20 4. Mental Health Advocacy & Trainings
03:44 5. Mental Health Consulting for Orgs
04:01 6. Teaching
04:10 7. Super-Niche Specialty
04:38 8. Coaching
05:00 9. Work for Company Offering MH Product or Service
05:29 10. Academic or Career Advising
05:51 11. Human Resources
06:06 12. Special Education Teacher/Tutor
06:22 13. Writing
06:49 14. Entrepreneur
07:12 15. MH-Related Career Pivot
07:38 Outro
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This video is geared for therapists of all kinds, including psychologists, MFTs, LPCCs, social workers, and others in the clinical counseling field.
Welcome to Private Practice Skills! I’m Dr. Marie Fang, psychologist in private practice. I post videos offering tools I learned the hard way about starting and growing private practice so that you don’t have to.
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This video is not intended as professional or legal advice. Be sure to seek the services of a professional if you are in need of them.

[@jeremybrownstein9151]

I'm in PP and also teach as an adjunct at our local community college and run a food truck with my spouse. Therapy by morning, flipping burgers by night! Gotta keep it interesting.

[@kit5028]

What is PP

[@jeremybrownstein9151]

@@kit5028 private practice

[@sodiumandspite8880]

Trying to figure out how to preserve my longevity in this field by diversifying how my emotional labor is being spent, thank you for this!!

[@Panda81230]

Thank you for this video! Right out of graduate school I jumped into the field doing mental health counseling and right before the pandemic hit I begin to feel burnt out and decided to try school counseling thinking that would be better but nope lol. That was stressful too and it added to my feeling of burnt out. So I decided to find a work from home job where I can still work in the mental health field and still use my education but have more time to focus on taking better care of myself. Now I work remotely as a Clinical Care Navigator. Basically I provide in the moment support over the phone and connect callers to care. Best thing about it is that I work part time and the pay is great. I’m hoping to use my free time to start my private practice or develop a non profit. Either way, This is the best job that I’ve ever had and it’s very easy. I encourage everyone whose looking to try something new to look into remote work that’s still within the mental health field but not necessarily therapy. Hope this helps 🙏🏾

[@karencoad2411]

Hi! I’d like to know more about this field. What company do you work for?

[@ambientredx87]

I'd really like to know more about what you do. I started therapy right out of grad school from 2018 to 2021 worked in private practice, outpatient agency, and a residential agency. I now have a 3 month old and my last client was in December 2021. Right now just trying to study for the exam but my intern license will expire in February 2023 if I don't pass it and ask for an extension in October/November... I really need to work from home because of my daughter and provide for her. I was so burnt out and didn't really know what mental health counseling actually entailed even though I learnt, studied, volunteered, and interned at places since I was in highschool... I have my MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling since 2017. I need a new career path. Thanks!!!

[@ambientredx87]

Plus I didn't get all my hours either so I'm honestly questioning my professional life because since 2018 I've had bad experiences from those places where I worked but also license expires in 2023 if I don't pass the exam (assuming if I actually stay with counseling altogether, which is up in the air right now, but doing my part with trying to pass for the 4th and last time/final chance)... My daughter is my priority now and I honestly have the best job in the world being a Stay-at-home mom. But professionally, I want more ***cue Ariel scene*** haha!!!

[@angelaramseyrobinson4407]

I’ve been a therapist 28 years. I’d be interested in this. I don’t love doing actual sessions online but something like this would be great.

[@parisjoy7875]

Did you graduate with masters?

[@blahblah579]

Great video! Another one I did for a while was behavioral health utilization management. This is when you work for an insurance company and approve authorizations for services that require prior authorization. It includes zero client contact and most insurance companies let employees work from home.

[@whitneymarshall5059]

Is the pay the same?

[@Allybaba55]

I love working UR!

[@blahblah579]

@@whitneymarshall5059 A lot of the time it’s better. I left a Director position where I made 50k to become a UM where I made about 60k.

[@ambientredx87]

I'd love to know more about this!!!

[@nsanenthembrane]

Utilization reviewer too and working for eap program

[@salliejl77]

Wow, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!! 💜 I am a therapist in PP, have been for 8 years now. I have burnt out a number of times and been really blocked with what to do with my skills that isint direct work. Its such an exhausting (and amazing) career and I struggle to get the headspace to think outside the box ❤

[@lapetrawhigham205]

Thank you! This was thought provoking. I love being a therapist but get bored doing direct care daily.

[@zafriabailey7651]

I really appreciate this. I am struggling to stay motivated with this profession.

[@ronnie10151]

Thank you so much for this!!! I really needed this, as I’ve felt burnt out and wondered if I chose the wrong career path and wasted my time. All I’ve seen as options for therapist are direct care. Thanks!

[@PrivatePracticeSkills]

I'm glad you found this helpful - there are so many options available and I hope you find the right path for you!

[@parisjoy7875]

How’s it going for you now? Any change?

[@Honest000w]

Clicked right away!

[@drmichaelaphd]

I love the alternatives you shared here, Marie! It's so easy to confine ourselves to (very) specific tracks (and our training often reinforces this), but we have such unique + varied skillsets! 😍🌿

[@A_Corte]

So nice to see this topic being discussed, diversifying to avoid clinical burnout is a real passion of mine. I just want that although there's much we can do outside therapy, it's still often the road less traveled and usually requires therapists to advocate/sell our skills. Also as someone who is also doing employee wellness/organizational consulting, I don't require taking these entrepreneurial steps if you're trying to reduce burnout! Would also be cool to see deep dives into what these careers are like, maybe through interviews.

[@YourInspiredLife]

Love these ideas for flexing your career! I'm a dietitian but incorporate a few of these options for variety- advising other RDs and health coaching and writing. I still do 1:1 nutrition counseling, but the other activities keep me from burnout. Great video!

[@enatp6448]

Keep'm coming! This is great!

[@g.h.9913]

This video was amazing thank you!

[@MissCupcakeslover]

Super interesting video which is something I have been thinking about a lot! I wish you would have elaborated a bit more on each option. The longer the video on this topic, the better!

[@pegbayless]

Burned out on 1-1 svcs, trying to figure out "what's next!" Thanks for the ideas and info!

[@tyronetownsend2608]

Thank you Marie! This list was awesome and very helpful. I would also add my specialty. I’m a police officer and also a (temporary-licensed) Professional Counselor. So one great job in Crisis Intervention with a law enforcement agency! It’s very exciting and the therapists that work with our agency love the fast pace & ability to directly change/save lives. Our program is called a “Co-Responder” program where the therapist is paired with an officer & responds to MH calls.

[@amiesteinbach7773]

Thank you soo much!!! ❤ this helped alot!

[@margheritaadornato7523]

hello Marie, your optimism and smile are so helping to me! I am starting my new job (i was a manager in a food producer) as a counselor in Milan

[@PrivatePracticeSkills]

How exciting! Best wishes to you!

[@ChristopherBetancur]

Great information thank you for sharing.

[@annakatherine4410]

great ideas! i’m in my first semester of a licensed counseling program, and i’ve been overwhelmed with having to choose a theory and a population to work with. this is such a diverse field and i’m glad that that’s acknowledged here, thank you!

[@laylarivera8647]

I don’t know if this helps, but I’m about 5 months away from completing my MS in Mental Health Counseling and the theory/population thing will evolve as you continue. Also, you might find as you continue to learn that one particular theory doesn’t fit your personal style as well as pieces from multiple theories that complement each other well :)

[@annakatherine4410]

@@laylarivera8647 ah yes, thank you so much! congrats on wrapping up your program soon! 🤍☁️

[@surbs500]

This gives me hope, next part is getting fear of failure and learning how to transition my Instagram from personal to professional posts.

[@russellbernheisel4861]

I’m completing a masters in school counseling which also satisfies the requirements for my LPC. I am unsure if I could handle being a full time therapist but I love one on one care/coaching/mentoring and I am looking to work at the high school level. Also, I have found that counseling is still stigmatized in athletics and I would like to partner with a local college and work in their athletic department as a mental health/mental performance therapist/coach on a part time basis. I’m pursuing licensure and certification in multiple domains so that I can 1. Carve out a niche that serves my community and sets me apart and 2. Make additional income outside of my 9-5.

[@charlesituah]

Thank you

[@TheMaskedThearpist]

all of this still sounds counseling related

[@melissacastelly6402]

I think HR is a fantastic option. Really great pat too

[@lizdestefano4905]

Interesting I loves my college Psych 101 and 102 teacher, the class was so interesting and she definitely made it that way! I only took the class so I wouldn't have to do Biology 101&2 and it just sounded interesting! We took a list of moved she recommended and it was a semester project, we had to Analyze the movie I took the movie Cybil split personality and we used the DSM it was hard i got a B- but i wss fine with it, i wasn't studying to be a therapist! We talked about serial killers and that's always be interesting topic for me! Especially going into the law enforcement field

[@denisecatlyn8703]

I graduated 9 yrs ago with a Master’s in Counseling I try getting a job in school I can not get job. Then I try getting a job with mental health can not get job because I am not license no one will supervise me. I have been working at dead end jobs that pays no money. I am a very dedicated worker and cannot get an opportunity.

[@zafriabailey7651]

start in a case management position at a company that has therapist, build relationships then ask if they will supervise you. that's how i got my supervisor then they hired me as a therapist.

[@tiffanyhuggins2195]

What state are you in?

[@denisecatlyn8703]

@@tiffanyhuggins2195 NY

[@megan7206]

I am interested in consulting for larger organizations, but do you know where I should start looking? I keep finding a lot of information about these roles but cannot find out what organizations work with mental health consultants, or where to find a job opening- the search "mental health consultant" just gives counseling job postings! thanks for the video!

[@pamelatopjian]

Thank you for mentioning Hypnotherapy

[@grumpyschnauzer]

Is this list for licensed therapists or just with a masters education? It’s a bit scary to think about halting the associate hour gathering process.

[@spiralkk]

I wonder what would be the best pivot for a creative introvert who is a licensed therapist with additional training in expressive art therapy. Currently working virtually for an organization providing up to 30 hours per week of direct service.

[@megan7206]

this sounds a lot like me! did you find a pivot?

[@spiralkk]

@@megan7206 not yet

[@spiralkk]

@@megan7206 Not yet.

[@novacado3]

What are your thoughts on building a Coaching practice while in grad school, in order to start everything early and build on experience working with clients?

[@nessness_x]

Did you end up doing this? I'm interested in the same.

[@novacado3]

@@nessness_x I did! Its helped me with the business end of what private practice is, but I struggle to find clients

[@nessness_x]

@@novacado3 ah that’s amazing that your started. I hope finding clients becomes easier for you!

[@tiffanyhuggins2195]

Can i do coaching under my therapy practice or do i have to have a different business?

[@satisfiedcustomer]

Different business. Counseling is governed by a different set of laws and legal standards state by state as well as ethics. With coaching there is no governing body meaning you can sort of do whatever you wanna do with no jurisdiction borders etc.. If you have a PP don't add a coaching to it there are too many liabilities. Just start a LLC as a coaching business. Also in doing so you can't advertise yourself with your credentials as a therapist for your coaching business. This is what my lawyer told me when I was thinking of doing the same thing. Just way too many risks and you have to ensure that you protect your license!

[@TiffanyHuggins30]

@@satisfiedcustomer thank you!

[@midrashchannel9940]

The sound is mute

[@lauragore5489]

Most people in special education have to have a special education master's degree in education to be of a special education teacher.

[@Neptune466]

They are desperate for Special Ed teachers in general. You can work under a temporary teaching credential in public schools, and need no credential at a private school.