Video Transcript

Guest Answer: It is important to pick a specialty that speaks to you. I would advise future students to go in the direction that they would like to work in. If you don’t like working with young children, then perhaps a school counseling job is not the direction to go in. And you should closely consider mental health or couples therapy because it’s hard work and you need to be passionate about it. Having that passion and that drive will really help you in those times when the job gets stressful. Find a specialty or area of counseling that really speaks to you and you love.

Guest Answer: I would say be realistic about your schedule. When I pursued my master’s degree, I had been out of undergrad for a few years. I was a working professional and I couldn’t afford to just stop working to go back to school. I needed that income. So I think be realistic about your schedule and what you’re going to be able to commit yourself to is key.

Guest Answer: Making sure it’s accredited. I did not do that, and it made my journey towards licensure a bit more difficult. I also chose to go into a program that said, you have to get your PhD. Like deciding whether you want to get your PhD to go on and to hire academia or if you want to become a counselor, I think that really dictates which avenue to choose. And another that I think it’s about choosing a program that fits your life circumstances, whether that’s location or, you know, their hours in the classes, whatnot.

Guest Answer: I say do your research, but then also talk to some people that are currently in the field. When I was applying to and those conversations really, really helped to inform my path forward and the areas that we’re going to be of greatest interest and also just align with my strengths. So those conversations I found to be really powerful. I think you can research on the internet and about particular programs and that’s all helpful. But talking to people that were actually in the field and being able to ask them like, what’s the great thing about your particular role within the counseling profession? What’s challenging for you was really helpful for me and making up my mind that counseling was the program that I wanted to do and that I was looking for this more like general clinical mental health degree and not something that was super specialized. And so I found those conversations to be really helpful.