Does healing mean no money?

[Clothesman]

Hello UKBF,

I am currently training to become a psychotherapist. The training is quite intense, and after working with students and teachers it seems there is a real culture of selflessness here. Most (all!) of my group have pretty much made peace with the fact that they will never earn very much money, and they see this as something they can live with. I, however, seem to be cut from a different cloth. I want to help people, and I love the subject matter with a passion, but I also want to make as much money as I can.

This seems to be at odds with the whole career, and it's something I'm having trouble coming to terms with. I'm a smart person ( I hope!), and do have other options open to me (career-wise). I chose this path as it is where my interests and skills meet, but now I'm wondering if this is wrong for me. I just don't see how I could grow this (it is only me, after all) into a successful business. It has been on my mind for a while now, and I thought that a forum full of entrepreneurs might have a different take. Am I missing something? Is it possible to have both the career I want and make a load of money?

Hopefully this is not misconstrued, and I thank you all for giving me the chance to air my feelings.

C

 

[GraemeL]

Doctors, Dentists etc all make lots of money if they wish to. But the baseline on income is set by NHS payments.

Am I right that in your field, NHS is not involved? If so, the baseline is your peers. And they apparently want to almost give the service away? Then you will struggle. Really struggle.

End of serious bit.

Unless you have a vendetta against them all and slowly but secretly poison their food, make millions of nuisance calls, let down their tyres, give them tickets to the USA where there are lots of patients.......... I might need help ..... know any good and very cheap psychotherapists?

 

Hello UKBF,

I am currently training to become a psychotherapist. The training is quite intense, and after working with students and teachers it seems there is a real culture of selflessness here. Most (all!) of my group have pretty much made peace with the fact that they will never earn very much money, and they see this as something they can live with. I, however, seem to be cut from a different cloth. I want to help people, and I love the subject matter with a passion, but I also want to make as much money as I can.

This seems to be at odds with the whole career, and it's something I'm having trouble coming to terms with. I'm a smart person ( I hope!), and do have other options open to me (career-wise). I chose this path as it is where my interests and skills meet, but now I'm wondering if this is wrong for me. I just don't see how I could grow this (it is only me, after all) into a successful business. It has been on my mind for a while now, and I thought that a forum full of entrepreneurs might have a different take. Am I missing something? Is it possible to have both the career I want and make a load of money?

Hopefully this is not misconstrued, and I thank you all for giving me the chance to air my feelings.

C

I made the decision to quit psychoanalytic training over 35 years ago based on my belief that I was not emotionally strong enough allied to my liking for the good life.

Of course you are entitled to earn a good living out of whatever you choose to do.

As a psychotherapist you will be limited in your earning power due to the constraints of being paid per session allied to the vast competition in this area..

A psychoanalyst in general will charge according to the clients earnings allowing the possibility for much greater earnings.

Earl

 

[Jacky Mac]

Hello UKBF,

I am currently training to become a psychotherapist. The training is quite intense, and after working with students and teachers it seems there is a real culture of selflessness here. Most (all!) of my group have pretty much made peace with the fact that they will never earn very much money, and they see this as something they can live with. I, however, seem to be cut from a different cloth. I want to help people, and I love the subject matter with a passion, but I also want to make as much money as I can.

This seems to be at odds with the whole career, and it's something I'm having trouble coming to terms with. I'm a smart person ( I hope!), and do have other options open to me (career-wise). I chose this path as it is where my interests and skills meet, but now I'm wondering if this is wrong for me. I just don't see how I could grow this (it is only me, after all) into a successful business. It has been on my mind for a while now, and I thought that a forum full of entrepreneurs might have a different take. Am I missing something? Is it possible to have both the career I want and make a load of money?

Hopefully this is not misconstrued, and I thank you all for giving me the chance to air my feelings.

C

I'm not sure if I'm mis-interpreting your dilemma but are you saying that the fundamental principle of your chosen career (to help people heal emotionally) means that your being selfish by wanting to earn lots of cash from doing so? I think most people want to earn as much as they can and it's not going against the ethical side of things. You will be offering a great service to your clients and helping them emotionally could change their entire lives. Sorry if I'm offtrack here as you may be referring to your earning potential not being high enough

 

[TotallySport]

Hello UKBF,

I am currently training to become a psychotherapist. The training is quite intense, and after working with students and teachers it seems there is a real culture of selflessness here. Most (all!) of my group have pretty much made peace with the fact that they will never earn very much money, and they see this as something they can live with. I, however, seem to be cut from a different cloth. I want to help people, and I love the subject matter with a passion, but I also want to make as much money as I can.

This seems to be at odds with the whole career, and it's something I'm having trouble coming to terms with. I'm a smart person ( I hope!), and do have other options open to me (career-wise). I chose this path as it is where my interests and skills meet, but now I'm wondering if this is wrong for me. I just don't see how I could grow this (it is only me, after all) into a successful business. It has been on my mind for a while now, and I thought that a forum full of entrepreneurs might have a different take. Am I missing something? Is it possible to have both the career I want and make a load of money?

Hopefully this is not misconstrued, and I thank you all for giving me the chance to air my feelings.

C

Different people want and strive for different things, there are plenty of psychotherapists that make good money and plenty that are happy living with less, its about make the most of what and who you know, and making sure your in the right place at the right time, with the right attitude.

Becarefull not to judge other people for not wanting to make lots of money, there are far more important things in life, they just don't pay the rent, well sometimes they might.

 

[leemason]

Surely the whole point of psychotherapy is that you hook clients for the long term. Freud new all about that. Very clever man with a theory that can almost certainly never be disproved.

There is a huge potential for profit in psychotherapy: it take a hell of a long time to get the insight that you are the victim of yourself. And then a much longer time to come to find any answers. A real money spinner.

 

[Mattlock]

Do your research , find out what others locally are charging, you need to stand out from them, find out what they offer and go one better

 

[Christine Hough]

I think anything where you are selling your own time creates an earning ceiling just by how many hours you can work. My husband is a very good piano teacher and the same applies that not many piano teachers earn a lot.

However if you are ambitious it is a case of looking for something you can produce in greater quantity that does not rely on your time for each appointment.

With us he developed a web site where students can practise their aural skills.
We still want to make it priced to be available for anyone who wants to use it and give a really genuinely valuable service, but it can be being used by many students simultaneously. This raises the ceiling.

So its up to you to spot the opportunity: write a book; set up self analysis things on the web, devise programmes, broadcast, become an expert in some field from psychometric testing to effects of foods and get paid for training others.
I think this is the way to think and as long as you are giving a good and valuable service in whatever way I do not see that you are being unethical.

 

[cjd]

A GOOD psychoanalyst in private practice in the right specialist field in the correct location can earn whatever he feels like. (Didn't you see the Sopranos? How much do you think the guy/gal gets for treating Man U after the City game?)

But getting into that situation requires work, planning and cash - and usually - contacts.

 

[deniser]

What is the difference between the professions starting with psy?

 

Psychoanalysis fully explained for those who do not understand it.

http://www.iraresoul.com/psychoanalysis.html

Earl

 

[IE152]

CJD offers good advice - don't get disheartened, but start to plan how you can eventually increase your income.

I have a friend who is currently coming to the end of a similar course to you. One of the conditions of the course is that at the end she has to spend two years working for the NHS. The NHS isn't stupid, and knows that it can get away with paying her and her colleagues low wages, and even after the two year period is over wages are still low. And many of her colleagues are already whinging about x years of study for such poor wages.

But my friend isn't. She is already looking at, at the end of the two year period, leaving the NHS and setting up a private facility, and taking advantage of the low NHS wages to employ people rather than doing it herself.

So use your spare time now constructively, and try to find ways of ensuring that when you qualify you are going to be able to earn the sort of money you want.

 

[Christine Hough]

What is the difference between the professions starting with psy?

Psycho analysis; psycho therapy; psychology; psychiatry; psychometrics; psychodelia

I think there is a very broad range of functions starting with 'psy', and also a lot more related ones which do not have those three letters!

 

[Nuno]

Write books, become an expert for TV, do articles for the tabloids about how such and such a famous person is loopyloo: become a celebrity yourself.
After a while you won't even have the strain of healing people, and you can always convince yourself, not falsely, that by bringing your talents to the masses you are helping vast swathes of people, some of whom didn't even know they needed help.
Oliver Sachs, (Psyachs?), did it in an associated field, make your field your own.
Gillian McKeith also did well in her field, (the'Doctor' poo lady).

 

[deniser]

Psycho analysis; psycho therapy; psychology; psychiatry; psychometrics; psychodelia

I think there is a very broad range of functions starting with 'psy', and also a lot more related ones which do not have those three letters!

Was just wondering as the OP is a -therapist and some of the replies refer to -analyst. I assume there is a difference?

 

[Nuno]

"psychotherapists tend to focus more on the "nursing" of one's suffering, often offering specific advice or suggesting coping strategies, while psychoanalysts refrain of doing so, focusing rather on the whys and hows of that suffering"

From here, which is a bit 'clear as mud'.

(Also, don't forget 'psychobilly': a customer who thinks swearing, rudeness and aggression will result in better service and a discount.)

 

Was just wondering as the OP is a -therapist and some of the replies refer to -analyst. I assume there is a difference?

This may help:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSVYUj6ksqQ

Earl