When I graduated with my master's in clinical psychology, I knew the next step was becoming a registered associate therapist and working toward licensure. What I didn't know was what that actually looked like.
Where was I supposed to work? How would I find a practice? And why did it seem like everyone else knew something I didn't?
There are so many paths you can take after graduation. You might stay at your practicum site, join a group practice, work in community mental health, or find a position at a private practice. But understanding those options, let alone finding the right fit, can feel surprisingly overwhelming.
I stayed at my practicum site for a few months before deciding I wanted to explore private practice. I assumed finding a position would be relatively straightforward. It wasn't.
I spent hours researching practices, searching Facebook groups, and reaching out to therapists. I couldn't find a local practice hiring associates, and I wasn't even sure where I should be looking. Eventually, I found a job posting through CAMFT, which led me to the practice where I work today.
That experience made me realize how much I didn't know about navigating this profession outside of the therapy room.
I started building my own list of resources, joining professional organizations like CAMFT and LACPA, and connecting with other therapists. I even reached out to my own therapist for guidance. I wanted to understand how other people had found their way.
And finding a job is only one piece of it.
There's the challenge of accumulating clinical hours, which can take much longer than you imagine. There's the balancing act of building a caseload while managing everything else in your life. And somewhere along the way, you're also supposed to figure out your specialty, your preferred modalities, and what kind of therapist you want to become.
As a mother of two, a wife, and someone building a career I genuinely love, I've found that this stage requires more patience and flexibility than I expected.
I'm still in it. Still learning, still asking questions, and still figuring out what feels right for me.
I think that's what I wish someone had told me when I graduated: You don't have to know exactly where you're going to begin moving forward.
And perhaps more importantly, you don't have to figure it all out alone.
That's part of why I created The Interior Table. I wanted a place where therapists could share experiences, exchange resources, ask questions, and feel a little less alone in the process.
Because sometimes the most helpful thing isn't another training or textbook. It's a conversation with someone who understands.