The problem with becoming a psychoanalyst for the rich is that the costs to become a psychoanalyst are insane. And they’re always wondering why they can’t get numbers in their programs. Because it’s 4 years of tuition + PERSONAL ANALYSIS AIN’T CHEAP 😫
Unironically endorse working in eating disorders tbh, assuming you get the appropriate training. My waitlist is a mile long. Adolescent/child EDs are great but even adult EDs can be lucrative. Find yourself a good dietitian friend and develop a good working relationship and your schedule will be full. A lot of parents will pay OOP for these services too.
My point is that the legal world is not the only area to make money. Those were just two ideas from someone who doesn't really do treatment. There are many other niches. Money is made in market gaps or inefficiencies.
The barrier to entry in psychoanalysis is a good thing, from the provider's side. It prevents market competition. Sorta like neuropsych, without the safety concerns.
Other areas:
1) Marriage therapy- Getting divorced is one of the most expensive actions someone can get into. I can't tell you how many times attorneys have asked me to negotiate between two parties getting divorced.
a. Some high net worth couple makes a pee-pee video, and all the sudden they have to work out who gets custody of the videos.
b. You know how intense borderline's relationships get? Some fools marry those people.
c. I wonder if there is a significant intersection between some software engineer people with ASD, and the rule bound nature of some of kinky practices. They probably need help, and can pay for it.
d. Someone is probably doing couples therapy with those sugar daddies/sugar babies. They have some money.
e. Gay marriage only became legal in like 2009. I wonder if the LGBTQIA population will have new marital issues, as the first legal marriage group ages.
2) Substance abuse- The American cultural process is to do something hideous, blame it on substance abuse, and then go into treatment. There has to be a market there.
a. Corporate America, med school, and law school have to be drowning in adderall and testosterone abuse. Median age of dx of hypertension is 46. Mean age of prostate cancer dx is like 67. Something is going to happen when those people can't take that anymore.
b. How many jobs would require very quiet outpatient substance abuse treatment? Lawyers? Physicians? Clergy? Cops?
3) Religious and cultural stuff- There has to be some religious sects and/or ethnicities that are ashamed of psychological issues.
a. Like 40% of 90210 is Persian. Presumably, they over represent the smart/wealthy groups that got out of the country pre coup. Sounds like a patient population of wealthy, intelligent, and educated individuals, if you know about Iranian stuff.
b. There are a ton of ethnic groups with inbreeding, that probably need culturally informed services related to the associated risks (e.g., Anabaptists).
4) Online stuff- Pure conjecture, but the number of people who need help with getting off video games or online stuff has to be unreal.
a. What happens when your kid fails out of college because they watched twitch for 19hrs straight? Relative to the lost tuition, a specialist psychologist is cheap.
b. What happens when grandpa "falls in love" with an AI girlfriend?
c. The neckbeard dudes probably need social skills training.
5) Political stuff- There HAS to be a need to treat people for being over involved in politics. Can you imagine how many spouses would pay for their spouse's treatment?
There are tons of opportunities there.