So you Want to be a Therapist?…

So You Want to Be a Therapist? How to Decide if You Should Go to Therapy School
Tea Time with Tara

Becoming a therapist can be one of the most rewarding, challenging, and transformative career paths you can choose. But how do you know if it’s the right path for you?

As a licensed therapist and clinical supervisor, I’ve worked with many students and emerging clinicians at various stages of their journey. Some knew they were born to do this work. Others figured it out along the way. A few realized it wasn’t quite what they imagined. If you’re considering therapy school, this post is for you.

Ask Yourself: Why Therapy?

Therapists don’t just “give advice” or “fix” people. We hold space. We sit with discomfort. We use evidence-based tools and deep empathy to help people heal, grow, and thrive. It’s intimate, emotional, and—let’s be honest—sometimes exhausting. But for the right person, it can feel like a calling.

Before you dive into applications, let’s break it down.

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Checklist: Are You Ready for Therapy School?

Ask yourself honestly:

• Do I enjoy listening more than speaking?
• Am I curious about human behavior, emotion, and relationships?
• Can I sit with discomfort without needing to fix it immediately?
• Do I have strong emotional boundaries—or am I willing to learn them?
• Am I open to examining my own wounds, patterns, and beliefs?
• Do I want to help others in a sustainable, ethical, and structured way?
• Am I okay with school, debt, licensure exams, and delayed gratification?
• Do I understand that being a therapist means ongoing learning, growth, and supervision—even after graduation?

If you checked most of these, you might be on the right track. If not—pause. It doesn’t mean you can’t pursue therapy, but it’s worth reflecting on what’s drawing you in.

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Tips Before You Apply

1. Go to Therapy First
   One of the best ways to understand the profession is to be on the other side. Find a therapist. Experience what it’s like to be a client. You’ll gain personal insight and professional empathy.
2. Shadow or Talk to Therapists
   Ask therapists in your network to share their experiences. What do they love? What’s hard? What do they wish they’d known before starting?
3. Research Programs Carefully
   Look at accreditation (CACREP, COAMFTE, etc.), specialization options (e.g., LMFT, LPC, LCSW), cost, clinical hours, and licensure rates. Make sure your program sets you up for success in your state.
4. Think Long-Term
   Becoming a therapist is a marathon. Grad school is just the beginning. Consider the time, financial commitment, and emotional labor of the field.
5. Explore Adjacent Roles
   If therapy school feels overwhelming, consider adjacent fields: coaching, case management, peer support, or community health. There are many ways to help people.

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Final Thoughts

You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t need to have it all figured out. But you do need self-awareness, curiosity, and a willingness to grow. If you feel called to help others, therapy school might be a beautiful step. Just make sure it’s truly for you—not for validation, not for prestige, and not because someone else said you’d be good at it.

And if you need someone to talk it through with—I’m here, tea in hand.🤩🍵

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