I Just Graduated, Now What? – Career Advice for New Mental Health Clinicians

Curt and Katie discuss how clinicians can decide what types of jobs to pursue when they first graduate from their clinical program. We look at whether you should go into a community mental health organization or a private practice. We also dig into what you might want to consider when making these choices and looking for these jobs. Curt and Katie share their own perspective and experiences to help you consider many different options at this stage in your career.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about a new therapist’s career path

We received a listener email asking advice for how to approach getting their first job after graduating. We decided to answer that listener and to address the question of how to start your career more broadly.

Should you go into a community mental health organization or private practice?

“I'm of the philosophy that, especially if where you imagine yourself being is in private practice at some point, my recommendation is start doing that as soon as reasonably possible” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT

Considerations related to longer term goals
Practical and logistical factors related to compensation, benefits, and time
Clinical training and opportunities

What to consider when looking to join a group private practice

“When you are looking for a group practice, don’t look for something that’s just a duplication of a community mental health organization… there is a discernment that needs to happen to identify: is this actually preparing you for the private practice that you want to have in five years? Or is it a mill, where you're churning through insurance clients that don't align or… you're working for a fee that you wouldn't be able to sustain?” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT

Caseload and pay expectations
Training and supervision opportunities
What you are willing to do to obtain your own clients
Whether you will stay at an agency while building a caseload

What are the job options for therapists when they graduate?

The importance of informational interviews to understand the options
The benefits (and detriments) to different types of work settings
Community mental health versus private practice
Moving around and getting different experiences versus starting in a niche
Identifying what is right for you

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