Chose psychology because a school counsellor changed my life at 16. Graduated with first-class honours and an undergraduate research project.

Most peers viewed psychology as a backup; not a career. Career counselling at home was hostile to the field.

Psychology is misunderstood until you need it. Then it is the most practical field on the planet.

Cognitive psychology, research methods, basic counselling skills, statistics

Two-year M.A. plus the supervised M.Phil. with hundreds of clinical hours. Worked with psychiatric in-patients for the first time.

Vicarious trauma. The training programs do not prepare you for the weight of holding other people's pain professionally.

A therapist needs their own therapist. This is the rule, not the exception.

Diagnostic assessment, CBT, DBT, supervised clinical hours, case formulation

Three years in a hospital setting. Severe presentations, short consultation slots, working under psychiatrists who were generous with teaching.

Volume vs depth. You see twelve patients in a day; you take six home with you mentally.

Boundaries are clinical skills. So is rest.

Inpatient assessment, crisis intervention, multidisciplinary team work, documentation

Opened a private practice. Mix of in-person and online clients. Reserve afternoons for supervision and writing.

Setting fees that respect my work without excluding clients. Saying no to evening hours protects the next decade of my career.

An independent practice is a small business with high emotional overhead. Treat it as both.

Steady caseload, two trainees under supervision, monthly writing about mental health for a national publication.

Therapy is a career change-friendly field — many of my best peers came from teaching, social work, even engineering. Late starts are not handicaps here.

Practice management, marketing for therapists, online therapy platforms, peer supervision, supervising trainees