I studied psychology in college, am a certified rape crisis counselor, and wanting to help people - especially women - has always been a core feature of my identity. Still, year-after-year, I talked myself out of pursuing a career in psychology as I watched the industry fumble to figure itself out. There’s nuance difference between counselors, clinical counselors, social workers, licensed social workers, therapists, psychologists, and so on, and while no one can tell you why, they will assure you that picking the wrong one can have disastrous career implications made potentially worse by the ever-changing healthcare regulations of the state you choose to practice in (a decision you must make before selecting a masters program).
One noticeable and seemingly permanent change over the last decade is the lessening stigma around not only therapy but also around “coaching.” When first evaluating the mental health landscape 8 years ago, the only thing more embarrassing than having a life coach was being one. But now, with the help of information sharing platforms like TikTok, packaging your subject matter expertise and charging for it in the name of helping people reach a goal is normal practice. Now, there’s a coach for everything - for everyone.
As someone who believes in the science behind clinical psychology, who believes in the credentials it takes to be able to practice therapy, it’s been admittedly hard to accept this growing segment of person who can call themselves a “coach” and compete adjacently with more qualified experts (at least on paper).
But isn’t a fundamental part of the human experience the sharing of resources with one another in an effort to build relationships and make this life a little less difficult? And, as it seems to happen far less in our modern world as we retreater farther into our individual lives, shouldn’t I be celebrating anyone whose purpose is to enrich the lives of others?
The fact is, whether it be the psych industry or social tech, our world is very different than it was 10 years ago — and if I want to achieve my goal in best supporting the people who want to help other people — then I have to build for the world as it exists today.
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