Should I switch jobs? Passion vs quality of life

amother

OP ↓

Yesterday at 6:34 pm

My personality, training, and goals are extremely suited to my chosen field: therapy. I have had a successful and wonderful 6 years in the field. However, lately I have been feeling very burnt out. Thankfully, it’s not effecting my work and my clients are very happy. However—it’s effecting me and my kids after my work hours. This is an extremely demanding job in terms of putting my whole self into it. It’s high on meaning, but it can be so draining. All day I give and give and listen and support. And after that I go home and give and give and listen and support my children. I’m starting to feel so empty from the one-sidedness and selflessness that characterizes most of my life that I sometimes feel there’s nothing left of me for my kids or husband. I am so depleted and need to be filled up…and how much can a half hour walk with a friend do twice a month, how much can a half hour with my husband at the end of the day do?

I used to think you pick a job that’s your passion. You pick something suited to your interests and skills. Im starting to realize that if your passion is something that you have limited amounts of (like giving), then you have to be careful and prioritize who is going to get that slice of you. And my kids and husband and self need to come before clients.

So what do I do now? I am a creative, artistic, emotionally intelligent, wise, self motivated person. I’m craving the OPPOSITE of my skills and passion. I kind of want to do mind numbing boring work like data entry. I want to reserve the best parts of myself for LIFE and not give it away.

I also have guilt about closing my practice as my clients are attached and thriving.

I’m used to making $175 and hour so it’s going to be very hard to switch to a minimum wage data entry job. What other ideas do you smart ladies have? I’d like something remote, easy, and flexible. I realize I’ll have a pay cut not matter what, but maybe there’s something between min wage and 175.

amother

Camellia

Yesterday at 6:42 pm

I think you will regret it big time
I think you can have both - a rewarding career & not get burnt out.
What about cutting back your practice ?
See less clients ?

Then also do something that you love for yourself. - go to a weekly shir, or exercise class.

You make alot or money per hour. Don’t give it up

Tiredmom3

Yesterday at 6:43 pm

There are many things you can do as a therapist that aren't therapy I.e. teaching, consulting, supervising.

You may benefit from your own therapy for burnout. That would be a lot cheaper than the paycut.

Ravenclaw

Yesterday at 6:44 pm

If going into a new field means a pay cut, then how about staying in this field and cutting hours instead?

Or finding a new niche, focusing on groups, etc

amother

Lime

Yesterday at 6:47 pm

Before you switch careers can I ask if you have good supervision? As a fellow therapist who has been practicing for more than 20 years I can understand how hard the role is and how sometimes yes after a draining day I need to fill my cup. But having a supervisor who I meet with regularly along with a peer supervision group, really helps me to not get to that place too often and have a container to put it so that I don't bring it into other areas of my life.

Also if you are making such a high hourly rate I wonder if it would be helpful to cut down to half the client load. Yes you will be making half your salary but you'll be working half the time. It's likely if you switch into something else entirely you'll be making less than half your hourly rate in any case which means you'll have to work many more hours and won't be bringing in that salary

amother

Anemone ↓

Yesterday at 6:51 pm

You need to work 6 hours a week to earn the equivalent of a full-time minimum wage job. Think about that.

Burnout is highly treatable. Cut your case load, treat your burnout, and you'll be doing a lot better.

amother

↑ Anemone

Yesterday at 6:52 pm

Honestly, the fact that you're posting here tells me that you don't have enough colleagues in the field who you can talk to. Join the peer supervision group. Join a WhatsApp group. Get connected to your colleagues. Of course, also get a supervisor and a personal therapist. Private practice is extremely lonely. You need connections.

Even with all that you'll be making a lot more money. And be happier.

amother

↑ OP

Yesterday at 7:25 pm

You’re right I could use a regular supervisor and peer group. I used to have one weekly and now it’s about every other month.

I wish I could take a vacation. Like a long one. Two months.