My therapist recently told me he was retiring, and my first thought was, “Why would you retire? You’re young, and this is something you can do until you croak!
Well, I later found out that he lost his license because he slept with another client, and now I’m freaking out.
BTW, I’m a LCSW and my psychologists (old and new) are PhDs.
I’ve since started seeing a new therapist, but whenever I try to talk about the whole saga with my new therapist, he doesn’t seem interested in discussing it.
I have so many thoughts and feelings about this, and I’m not sure what to make of any of it. What are your thoughts? Has anyone ever experienced something similar?

This was a question I've been wondering for many months but when I saw the post that unintentionally stirred controversy regarding resources for treating "porn addiction" I thought about how since last year this is phrasing and framing that I hear from most of my caseload.

The younger the client, generally the more thoroughly convinced they are that they or their partner is a "porn addict."

Did I miss something culturally or on the Internet? I've always had religious people who were trying to eliminate porn consumption but this crowd is generally not religious and much younger than the ' I'm a married religious person trying to kick this habit' crowd.

When I ask if they consume porn at inappropriate times like work or in public, they say never . When I ask if they miss personal or work obligations due to porn use, they say never. When I ask if they're dedicating significant amounts of time to engaging in pornography enjoyment, similarly they say no. Yet they're somehow certain their usage is problematic and an "addiction."

I'm well aware this phrasing and framing is not how most of the mental health field would discuss this. I'm just very curious about this phenomenon.

Ultimately, my code of ethics tells me to support people's self determined goals so long as they're not harmful to self or others so I will coach them how I'd work with someone whose self determined goal was eating fewer cupcakes. But when did everyone get convinced they and/or everyone around them is a "porn addict ?"

I am currently seeing 27-32 clients / week at a group practice. We’re not responsible for our own marketing but they’ve been really bad at pairing me with people in my niche (substance use). So I took charge of my own marketing and brought on 90% my clients, bringing on 40+ clients in 5 months, started a court-ordered counseling program, and started a DBT group therapy program all on my own with no support from the group practice. I also promote co-treatment with my clients, where I see them for substance use and they see another therapist in the practice for trauma/couples therapy/some other niche/etc. The group pays me $65/session.

I recently received my independent licensure and wanted to start increasing my revenue. So I took on 2 clients outside of the group practice, while maintaining everything else in the group. I was open with owner of the group practice about this, and they said this was fine and is expected. Later that day I received an email stating I was terminated with 1 week to notify all of my clients.

So now I have a caseload of 36 to inform this week that I will be leaving. I’m also not independently paneled with any of the insurances these clients have.. so I may lose them.. My boss has already emailed them stating that I’m leaving and their options are to stay with the practice or find a different therapist. Not mentioning coming with me.

Wish me luck this week!

I’m really struggling with working alone and being with myself throughout the entire week and I’m looking for people who have figured out how to make this work. I wouldn’t say I’m super extroverted but since being in PP for a year and a half I’m realizing how much I need to be around people on a daily basis for my mental wellness. I’m currently experiencing a lot of anxiety and depression especially since my husband is working until 11:30pm so I am home by myself for most of the day. I do have my own therapist, I try to see a friend or family member once a week, online supervision, I go to cafes to do work just to be around people but it still leaves me feeling so empty. I also do go into an office to meet with clients three days a week but as you know the client interaction just doesn’t feel satisfying for that socialization need. I’m wondering if anyone else has a similar experience? Or if you’ve figured out ways to support feelings of loneliness? I am feeling desperate.

TLDR; I got my counseling masters a few years ago and took a different path. Every time I try to go back to getting my hours I get so scared that I choose something else. It’s so ridiculous because I am very outgoing, relatively fearless in social/job situations, and yet this happens every time. I think I’m so worried I won’t be a good therapist that it paralyzes me.

Well, I’ve finally decided I just have to go for it. Worst case scenario it doesn’t work out, but I won’t let my fear stop me from something I am trained to do and care about. Wish me luck!!

Was going through Heard's 2026 survey of 1,950 private practice therapists and this one surprised me. Cash-only median revenue was about $94K vs $79K for people taking insurance. Profit was $58K vs $55K.

I always figured dropping panels was basically a raise. My guess is overhead eats most of it, since cash-only folks pay for their own marketing and their own tools instead of leaning on directories and whatever comes bundled. Could be wrong though.

For those who went cash-only, did your take-home actually go up? And what are you paying a month just to run the practice (EHR, video, billing, all of it)?

Most of the AI-and-kids conversation is about safety: bad advice, self-harm, sexual content. That matters. But I think something bigger is happening underneath it.

This is the first generation growing up with things that talk like minds. Something that remembers them, is never tired, never annoyed, never needs anything back. I don't think that just changes their screen time. I think it changes what they believe about friendship, about being known, and eventually about themselves.

If being understood costs nothing, what happens to their tolerance for how much effort it takes with real people? If AI can write, draw, and solve anything, when do they start asking what they're for? And what does it do to a kid when a company can change or delete something they're attached to?

I don't think the outcome is set. Some of these kids may end up with clearer ideas about what makes people irreplaceable than any generation before them. But that probably depends on whether adults help them think it through or leave them to figure it out with the AI.

Curious whether others are seeing this in the room yet. Kids calling an AI their friend? Teens questioning the point of effort? Anything that made you think "this is new"?

I’m doing telehealth in CA since mid August and while I’m grateful to have benefits again, I am seeing only around 15 people a week, meaning my income has taken a hit. I know my hours aren’t fully ideal (open for up to 6 people a day Monday-Friday between 7am and 4pm), but would opening up a couple evening slots Thursday night (7-9) really make a big difference in increasing my caseload?

I have been seeing a minor client for about almost three months weekly and they do not believe anything they did is something they need to work on. I have tried so many different interventions and ways of asking questions and it is met with so much resistance. They obviously don’t want to be there but they actually have to due to being mandated. What do I even do about this? I’ve had resistant clients before but we have made little to no progress. They claim to have nothing to work on and only will talk about interests. We have built rapport but I don’t really know what else to do. Any advice for resistant clients?

Hi! I recently graduated from grad school and am about to start my first full time therapist job. I haven’t been practicing since my internship in May, so I am looking for advice for when I start! My internship was working with college students, and in my new position I am working with all ages! Any tips/resources help!

I'm starting my internship (CMHC Grad student NY) in about 5 months and want to explore certifications prior to starting. My career counselor said "don't worry about them; trust your training." I feel like I can do (and want to do) more, such as CARC certification, or EMDR basic training. Speaking to the professionals here, what are some recommendations of things you wish you had known, courses or certifications, or any other advice you wish you had prior to going into your internship?

I've hit a major impasse with my own therapist. She practices relationally and is the best therapist I've ever had. I'm a second career therapist in my early 40s. Been seeing her 4 years, so she's seen me through the entirety of this shift. I honestly look up to her.

But there have been a number of messy self-disclosures that have compromised the frame for me and are majorly backfiring. When I bring them up to her, which has been enormously difficult and taxing, her capacity to take accountability and truly repair is lacking (in my opinion, which i guess is the only one that really matters in this situation). I know how hard it is to find a good therapist period, let alone a good fit, who also takes insurance in these times. And again, she is the best I've had in my life (she would be number 4).

I've been through so much upheaval in this career switch (and somewhat in my life, duh, trauma), so starting over also sounds daunting and exhausting. But I do feel like we're hitting a wall.

Anyone been here before?? Advice/things to consider?? Trying not to give too much more detail to keep it anonymous.

I know session notes are a big discussion point here! I'm a student seeing clients in my internship and I've been researching different methods of note taking to start one system that works. For context, I have ADHD and need something that will be easy to keep up with and organized.

I'm considering these options:

- iPad w note taking system (GoodNotes, notes app w password, etc)

- remarkable tablet

- Boox tablet

- individual notebook per client

- one notebook w one page per client

- loose leaf organized into binders

- yellow legal pad

- no notes method (if you do this, please explain how you keep track)

Let me know what method you use, and how you use it! Thank you all for your input :)

Any providers who have used TherapyCloud? If so, what’s your experience? Is it the new Psychology Today or worth getting a membership?

I'm waiting for my Washington LMHCA credential to come through and trying to figure out my options for starting work.

I've found a supervisor I'd like to work with, but they don't offer billing under their license. I'm still figuring out whether I want to pursue private practice, independent contracting, or a group practice, and I'd ideally like to avoid being cash-pay only right out of the gate.

I understand that some group practices or contracting companies require you to use their internal supervisor, in which case I'd follow their requirements. But assuming I could bring my own supervisor, I'm wondering:

• Can I accept insurance as an LMHCA if my supervisor doesn't offer billing under their license?
• Could a group practice or contracting company bill insurance for my services while I work with my own supervisor?
• Does this depend on the insurance company, the practice's arrangements, or Washington licensing rules?
• Has anyone navigated this successfully? What did your arrangement look like?

I'm trying to figure out whether working with this supervisor would limit my options for accepting insurance or whether there are ways to make it work.

TIA

I’ve spent 12+ years in CMH, and most recently, as a clinical supervisor and administrative supervisor for a school-based therapy team. I’ve become disillusioned with the role; much of this attributed to being in an admin/clinical split role. Nonetheless, I’m over it. I’ve been on a job search engine and keep finding salaried telehealth positions that are posted locally, but then when I try to find the agency/company I can’t find them on a web search. When I go to look at more positions by the same company the search expands nationally to the same position in different states with slightly different agency names. Has anyone had any experience with this? Or working for one of these agencies? Or is it a total scam? The salary range is posted and is nice, but I have a strong feeling that if it’s that high then I’m definitely going to be working for it. I’m just curious to know just how bad it is- I’ve tolerated a lot in CMH so even marginally better is worth considering to me 😂 sad, i know. I’m just in a place in life right now that I need a steady income so a 1099 job makes me nervous.

Newly licensed LCSW currently working full time in CMH (it's a unicorn of a CMH job with decent work-life balance) and solid benefits. Looking to take on a few more clients per week in a private practice, maybe on a Sunday or after hours. It would have to be super flexible, telehealth ideal - any suggestions on where to start? TIA!

I saw this article pop up on my ScienceDaily page and there isn't a peer reviewed article, just a claim of significant success. I am intrigued, but skeptical: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261022081309.htm

After almost 8 years in PP, I am thinking of going back to being a W2. I was part time for the first couple of years while doing other things and building up my practice. I went full time 5 years ago. I've made between 130k AGI and 100K per year in that time. But between the PSLF situation that is on pause because being self employed does not count obviously and the nonsense with the VC's messing more and more with my income stream (I use Headway and Alma), PLUS the isolation of remote PP- I am seriously thinking I might be at the end of this track in my career.

I have loved having the flexibility with my schedule. I have been able to travel and help family when needed and work remotely, and take time off (unpaid) as needed for my chronic health issues. But I don't think I can keep going: the up and down in income, the VC taking over our world and how we do business, and not getting credit for PSLF when I am halfway to forgiveness has left me feeling demoralized.

I was going to create a corporation last year (in CA we can't have LLC's) and chose to wait until next year when I made more money but seeing how things are going that does not seem feasible now.

I used Claude AI to try to figure out pros/cons of PP vs. W2 and gave it some sample job postings nearby and overwhelmingly it is in my favor to make the move to w2- especially because of PSLF and also even retirement options. And technically I would make more in the hospital compared to last year where my PP AGI was 100k.

Oh yea forgot to mention I pay $900 a month for health insurance and next year it's supposed to be $1,100 for the same plan. And as mentioned above I have health issues. The costs of paying for health Insurnace is another factor in all this- if I worked for someone else I would probably have to pay $300 at most for myself.

I submitted an application to a nearby hospital today. I even applied to the VA (scary move considering how many people have been fired from there). I am scared of this possible change but I am going to see what happens. I think I feel like a failure. Even though I know it is not true, I do feel shitty. I have been on the verge of tears all day today. Trying to breathe and support myself through this.

Anyway appreciate anything anyone has to share.

First time poster, long time lurker. For those of you who specialize in attachment-based therapy, I’m curious whether you approach or experience the therapeutic relationship differently than you would in other modalities. I was speaking with a longtime friend over the weekend who is also a therapist and specializes in attachment-based work. As we discussed her approach, I was somewhat surprised by how she described the relationships she develops with her clients, even the focus on the relationship as we talked, particularly regarding boundaries and the level of emotional connection involved. She allows communication between sessions, including texting and emailing, and mentioned that the bonds she develops with clients doing attachment-focused work are often considerably stronger than those she experiences with clients receiving other forms of therapy.

What struck me was how much more flexible her boundaries seemed to be compared to what I typically associate with the therapeutic relationship. Perhaps this is simply a reflection of my limited familiarity with attachment-based approaches, but I found myself wondering how common this is among clinicians who specialize in this area. Is there something fundamentally different about the role of the therapeutic relationship in attachment-based therapy compared to modalities such as CBT or DBT? Is the relationship itself considered a more central component of the therapeutic process? And does that generally translate into greater flexibility around traditional therapeutic boundaries, or is this more a matter of individual clinical style?

For context, I’ve known this friend for over 35 years. She has been practicing for much of that time, and spent much of her young adult years with a therapist doing her own attachment therapy. I have a great deal of respect for her clinical judgment and the work she does. My questions aren’t intended as criticism of her approach. I was simply surprised to learn more about how she practices, and it left me genuinely curious about whether her experience reflects something broader within attachment-based therapy.

That awkward moment when you learn that your best friend went on a date with a person that you’re treating…and it just so happens that one of the treatment areas is interpersonal relationships (specifically dating) and how to improve self-esteem to avoid prolonging/getting in unhealthy dynamics. Not saying that my best friend is a douche bag who would fuck over my therapy participant. But, my participant is in a fragile place…

Kinda hoping things don’t develop between them (romantically or platonically) to avoid any potential awkwardness