Alright, part 2. This part isn't sad. If you missed the last post, I'll summarize the important relevant bit: someone I respect kinda poo-pooed the idea of getting a counseling masters, so I'm having to re-think that decision carefully.
I'm home, wrapping up my application, and I'm going to have to spend some more time really thinking about my next step. Do I go this route, or do I try and forge a less mapped out path? I have a general idea of what I want to do. The creating part seems pretty clear and is less reliant on other people. I could start on that tomorrow, and maybe I should. That's yet another path to choose from.
The working with people part is less clear. There are classes and work with groups that I want to do, but mostly I want to work more intimately, more one on one. Coaching, counsel and therapy, mentoring, all seem like they could fit the bill. I want to do it with a spiritual bent, because I'm all about spiritual/personal growth. Being a counselor seems very much like it fits the bill. I think the draw of getting the masters in it is that it makes getting clients potentially much easier.
If I am state certified to take insurance and I've got the degree, people know I'm serious. I'm already serious, but how do other people know that? Without any certification it's basically just word of mouth, and without some clever angle or niche, I'm just some dude hanging up an "advice $1" sign on the sidewalk. The counseling masters is a really robust way of making sure I've got clients.
The main cost, aside from money (which is also substantial) is time. Even though the degree is pretty on topic, there will probably be things I'll learn that I don't really need to know. I'll have to do things that are of questionable value, to satisfy the degree requirements. Like with becoming a teacher, I suspect pretty much everything important about the job will be learned on the job. I could be spending that time learning exactly what I need to know, doing exactly what I need to do.
I think, as long as the degree is not too all-consuming, I'm still leaning towards it. I'm really not the self-promoter type. In addition to giving me at least a decent amount of the information I need, the degree makes it pretty easy for me to find work. Especially if I get licensed. And the experience, which is where I'll actually learn to do the thing, is built in to the program.
However, I am not yet decided. I could start doing and learning exactly what I wanted to, right now, rather than in 3-5 years (three of school, two of supervised practice in I want to be licensed to practice on my own, which may or may not be similar to what I most want to be doing, based on what's available in my small hometown.)
That obviously sounds more attractive on it's own, but get's balanced out by the fact that I have no idea if I can actually make money and get clients doing that without credentials, or how much time and energy I'd have to put into entrepreneurial and marketing type stuff.
The balance might be a bit of both. The online programs are technically designed for older people who already have jobs and so are technically part-time. I can start doing the degree part time, and start doing the work I want to do, with the other part.
Alright, that's where I'm at. This is long, and the last part is maybe not a downer, so perhaps I'll split it off and make it the blog post for this week.
Oh, and I was reminded about a conversation I had with Suzannah about my deleted "negative" blog post. Afterwards, I had a conversation with her, and maybe it bears on any of you who read me being unhappy and think there's a problem: I use writing to think, and to process my emotions. Like that old catchphrase, "name it to tame it." putting words down for my thoughts and feelings helps make it concrete and get some distance from it. It helps me process my feelings and think through my thoughts. So often after I've had a good negative writing session, I feel better.
If it's really negative though, I'll try and limit myself to my personal journal. I get to swear there and everything :D
Alright, good-bye for this week.
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