Dear Nekoshema:

What I know is that in the U.S. to be a practicing psychotherapist, certified and all, you need a Master degree. Funny thing, there is a relatively new breed of ONLINE THERAPISTS also called maybe LIFE COACHES, online or otherwise, that are not regulated, requiring no certification or degree. Some of these people advertise themselves when commenting on this very website.

My question to you is about patience- it requires so much patience just to find out what you need to do- and then the education, certification, internship- lots and lots of patience… and then you are certified and sitting in the office and have your client there, my question is: do you have the patience to not jump in and scream (at the patient or client): “This is what you need to do to solve your problems: X Y and Z! Now do it!”

I used to think I wanted to be a psychotherapist but realized I do not have the latter kind of patience required, to sit with a client hour after hour (although being paid for it is a motivation) and knowing how I have been and how people are resistant to change, how invested in delusional thinking and repeating self defeating behaviors, well, I wouldn’t have the patience to focus on them, flow with their process… What do you think?

anita