Best cities to work as a master's level psychotherapist

[1vanguy]

I'm a US citizen studying to be a therapist in Vancouver, BC. Does anyone have advice for the best job markets for MA counsellors? Salary? Working conditions? demand?

Aside from Vancouver BC, I am interested in Portland, OR..but am open to any and all suggestions.


Thanks.

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[JustNoticing]

Just to make things more complicated for you - You should also look into what states will take your curriculum+internship hours with the least amount of hassle.

 

[1vanguy]

Just to make things more complicated for you - You should also look into what states will take your curriculum+internship hours with the least amount of hassle.

haha of course. how about Canada vs US if that is easy for anyone to answer? however, it depends province vs province..for instance here in BC I can only be a therapist..if I move to Calgary and put in extra internship hours, I can be a psychologist.

 

[Qwerk]

I'm a US citizen studying to be a therapist in Vancouver, BC. Does anyone have advice for the best job markets for MA counsellors? Salary? Working conditions? demand?

Aside from Vancouver BC, I am interested in Portland, OR..but am open to any and all suggestions.


Thanks.

I'm from the Portland area, and the job market for college graduates in general is pretty bad, sadly enough. Since it's been getting trendier over the last few years, it's become saturated with educated people. The underemployment rate (qualified people working part-time or at crappy Starbucks jobs) is much, much worse than the actual unemployment rate. Someone at PSU actually did a study on this -- wish I had a citation, but you might be able to look it up.

 

[1vanguy]

I'm from the Portland area, and the job market for college graduates in general is pretty bad, sadly enough. Since it's been getting trendier over the last few years, it's become saturated with educated people. The underemployment rate (qualified people working part-time or at crappy Starbucks jobs) is much, much worse than the actual unemployment rate. Someone at PSU actually did a study on this -- wish I had a citation, but you might be able to look it up.

Thanks for the reply. Though therapist jobs may be different than others. Do you have any insight on those graduates in particular? Pay rates vs other states? Demand?

 

[Qwerk]

Thanks for the reply. Though therapist jobs may be different than others. Do you have any insight on those graduates in particular? Pay rates vs other states? Demand?

I wish I did, but I moved from Portland before I decided to get my M.S.W. and haven't been back in a while. I do know that Portland is the best place in the world to live, and the rents are insanely low. I'd be out of NYC in a flash if I could get a job there!

Are you thinking of any particular type of clinical work (agency, clinic, private practice)? I believe that counseling graduates can become licensed as either MFT or LPC in Oregon, and that the scope of practice is different for each one. The one MFT counselor I know in Oregon does not take insurance, and I believe private pay is the norm there for MFT/LPC.

 

[1vanguy]

I wish I did, but I moved from Portland before I decided to get my M.S.W. and haven't been back in a while. I do know that Portland is the best place in the world to live, and the rents are insanely low. I'd be out of NYC in a flash if I could get a job there!

Are you thinking of any particular type of clinical work (agency, clinic, private practice)? I believe that counseling graduates can become licensed as either MFT or LPC in Oregon, and that the scope of practice is different for each one. The one MFT counselor I know in Oregon does not take insurance, and I believe private pay is the norm there for MFT/LPC.

Well I only just about to start my internship (well have to secure one first). But I'd like to work with an agency and eventually do more and more private practice. Vancouver, BC here is a great place to live but the rents are insanely high! I lived in NYC as well..that's a great city! I have yet to visit Portland, though...I hear great things; although they say not as pretty as here in BC.

 

[LivingOffLoans]

I do know that Portland is the best place in the world to live, and the rents are insanely low....

I have a friend who moved there on a whim a couple of years ago and would back this up. I have been dying to move to Portland! But what holds me back is the employment situation there. Otherwise, I'd be there in a flash. I just can't let go of the 90's!

 

[1vanguy]

I have a friend who moved there on a whim a couple of years ago and would back this up. I have been dying to move to Portland! But what holds me back is the employment situation there. Otherwise, I'd be there in a flash. I just can't let go of the 90's!

I wonder if the unemployment situation effects therapists? I am thinking the job market is slightly different for us types.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I wonder if the unemployment situation effects therapists? I am thinking the job market is slightly different for us types.

Unemployment and general economic downturns tends to hit therapists pretty steeply as well. After all, if clients/patients are struggling with financial strain, then they're going to need to cut back on expenditures. At least in my experience, therapy is often one of the first areas to be cut.

Never mind the hecticness that state budget crises can have on individuals working for government/publicly-funded organizations.

One additional indirect impact is that a bad economy generally = more people going back to school. More people in school = more therapists in training = more eventual market saturation.