For years, I built my career in tech—launching startups, managing products at Meta, scaling fast. But like many ambitious women in tech, I hit a point where the metrics, meetings, and hustle didn’t feel like enough. I wanted to help people, not just optimize products. I wanted to understand the human mind, guide others through transitions, and bring healing into spaces where burnout and pressure are the norm.

This wasn’t a sudden pivot. It was a slow inner calling. And now, one year into my master’s in counseling psychology, I see more women like me—smart, successful, driven—choosing the path of therapy and healing.

Why Therapy? Why Now?

We’re in a moment of collective burnout. The systems around us—corporate structures, digital overload, economic uncertainty—are starting to crack. At the same time, we’re waking up to what actually matters: meaning, emotional safety, mental wellness, and connection. For many high-achieving women, therapy isn’t just about healing ourselves—it’s about helping others reclaim their balance and voice.

So You’re Thinking of Becoming a Therapist?

Here’s what I’ve learned from my journey so far—from research, applications, and conversations with mentors:

1. The Logistics: What to Know

• Programs like CIIS and Northwestern welcome career changers and people from non-psychology backgrounds.
• You may need foundational courses (like in Bridge to Counseling programs).
• Most programs require 800+ practicum hours, and some states require post-grad supervision before licensure.
• CACREP accreditation is key if you want national licensure across 50 states.

2. The Application: What They’re Looking For

• Self-awareness and emotional insight matter more than your resume.
• Letters of recommendation, transcripts, and a thoughtful personal statement go a long way.
• Programs want to see what you bring—especially if you’re blending fields like tech, wellness, or design.

3. The Inner Work: What Comes Up

I’ve asked myself:

• “Am I behind in life?”
• “Why do I still feel anxious or uncertain after achieving so much?”
• “How do I integrate privilege and power with empathy and impact?”

These are the same questions my future clients will ask me. That’s the point: we teach what we’re here to learn.

Therapy vs. Coaching: What’s the Difference?

As a coach, I can help someone find clarity, build habits, and take aligned action. As a therapist-in-training, I’m learning how to help someone explore deeper patterns, unconscious blocks, and past traumas. Both are powerful. The difference is in scope, depth, and regulation.

If you’re a coach thinking about this path, ask yourself:

• Do I want to help people process emotions more deeply?
• Am I ready for structure, clinical training, and ongoing supervision?
• How do I want to work—1:1, group, corporate, educational?

The Vision: What’s Next

For me, the goal isn’t just to become a therapist. It’s to create a new model of well-being that merges Eastern and Western tools, science and spirituality, tech and tradition.

Here’s what I see coming:

• Mental health workshops at companies—not just for burnout prevention, but for leadership and emotional intelligence.
• Therapy-informed digital wellness products and AI coaching tools.
• Community spaces that feel more like circles and less like clinics.

I believe the future of mental health is creative, integrative, and deeply human.

And more of us—women who’ve lived the hustle, survived the burnout, and done the healing—are uniquely equipped to build it.

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