Hi - I'm new here and really need advice on my next step. I've been lurking here and just had a conversation with a psychiatrist who encouraged me to make my next move.
I'm in NJ (in my mid-40's and mother of two young children). I obtained my Master of Arts from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1987 and worked as a liaison with Greystone Psychiatric Hospital and well as Crisis Intervention Therapist for the same community mental health organization for a year. At the time, I came in contact with a very ill population and was overwhelmed at the age of 25. Decades later, I still find myself interested in doing therapy even though my career took quite a detour and then I became a SAHM, which I've been doing for the past 7 years. Since that time, I've experienced a lot more of life and have often thought about if I'd ever return to therapy. Several years ago, I did complete a two year coaching course with Coach U and have been dabbling in generating a practice. I just think coaching is more easily marketed to those interested in corporate coaching, which I am not.
I came across a local university who has a 30 credit post-grad certificate program that allows students who already possess a Master's to complete the additional requirements to be eligible for an LPC license. It includes 3 courses which gives you 900 hours of field placement that can be applied to the 3000 hrs needed for licensure in NJ.
When I asked a psychologist (PhD) I know about it, she really tried to dissuade me. She said it takes years to get on insurance panels and that she knows of a patient who is very discouraged because she went for an LPC and can't get on any insurance panels and is stuck working for a non-profit making very little money.
I read many things online about getting onto insurance panels and I came across an interesting thread talking about the competition between doctoral level psychologists and masters level therapists. Many of the PhD's were complaining about their salaries, hours worked, etc. compared to others with a similar education level. Then I asked a psychiatrist I know and she said there are definitely "issues" between the two camps and that roles of psychologists are changing and it's not to their liking. She said that there's some talk about them lobbying for prescribing rights which infringes on her business. It seems like the lines are getting blurred.
All I want is to practice privately, on a part-time basis and really be able to use my education, even if it means going back to grad school for awhile. I just don't have the money or the desire to go for a PhD at this stage of my life. Does an LPC have an impossible time getting on insurance panels without many years of experience? What about getting into a group practice? The psychiatrist I spoke with said the LPCs she works with are phasing out of accepting insurance and are charging $130 per 45 minute session. She said I may need to accept insurance to build up a client base but didn't seem to think it was an issue.
I hope I didn't offend anyone here with this talk of competition but I really need to know if this exists because it will affect whether or not I pursue this license. Even a few years of pursuing this, along with tuition and other things, will be a waste if I can't get into private practice (which is really what I want.) Thanks for your time. Sorry this is so long 😳
I'm sure I'll have many more questions as I move along so I appreciate any insight you can give me. TIA..
I'm in NJ (in my mid-40's and mother of two young children). I obtained my Master of Arts from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1987 and worked as a liaison with Greystone Psychiatric Hospital and well as Crisis Intervention Therapist for the same community mental health organization for a year. At the time, I came in contact with a very ill population and was overwhelmed at the age of 25. Decades later, I still find myself interested in doing therapy even though my career took quite a detour and then I became a SAHM, which I've been doing for the past 7 years. Since that time, I've experienced a lot more of life and have often thought about if I'd ever return to therapy. Several years ago, I did complete a two year coaching course with Coach U and have been dabbling in generating a practice. I just think coaching is more easily marketed to those interested in corporate coaching, which I am not.
I came across a local university who has a 30 credit post-grad certificate program that allows students who already possess a Master's to complete the additional requirements to be eligible for an LPC license. It includes 3 courses which gives you 900 hours of field placement that can be applied to the 3000 hrs needed for licensure in NJ.
When I asked a psychologist (PhD) I know about it, she really tried to dissuade me. She said it takes years to get on insurance panels and that she knows of a patient who is very discouraged because she went for an LPC and can't get on any insurance panels and is stuck working for a non-profit making very little money.
I read many things online about getting onto insurance panels and I came across an interesting thread talking about the competition between doctoral level psychologists and masters level therapists. Many of the PhD's were complaining about their salaries, hours worked, etc. compared to others with a similar education level. Then I asked a psychiatrist I know and she said there are definitely "issues" between the two camps and that roles of psychologists are changing and it's not to their liking. She said that there's some talk about them lobbying for prescribing rights which infringes on her business. It seems like the lines are getting blurred.
All I want is to practice privately, on a part-time basis and really be able to use my education, even if it means going back to grad school for awhile. I just don't have the money or the desire to go for a PhD at this stage of my life. Does an LPC have an impossible time getting on insurance panels without many years of experience? What about getting into a group practice? The psychiatrist I spoke with said the LPCs she works with are phasing out of accepting insurance and are charging $130 per 45 minute session. She said I may need to accept insurance to build up a client base but didn't seem to think it was an issue.
I hope I didn't offend anyone here with this talk of competition but I really need to know if this exists because it will affect whether or not I pursue this license. Even a few years of pursuing this, along with tuition and other things, will be a waste if I can't get into private practice (which is really what I want.) Thanks for your time. Sorry this is so long 😳
I'm sure I'll have many more questions as I move along so I appreciate any insight you can give me. TIA..
