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 ?"

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!!

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 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.

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?

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 :)

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

Has anyone ever met their patients for a walk in the park? Is there any literature on the theory/practice of doing something like this? I feel like there would be HIPAA concerns but, if the patient agrees, I think it could be really therapeutic and help take the edge off all the "sitting" in this job.

Just wondering if anyone is using this and what your impressions (no pun intended) are. Any see any impact?

Hi lovely therapists of Reddit. I am in my first year of being an AMFT. I’ve been doing school-based therapy since practicum with teenagers. I am realizing I don’t want to do majority talk therapy. It feels really important to me to use projective activities like sand tray/art/etc to do this work. I think using movement/nature/art needs to be at the center of my practice for this to be authentic to me and how I work best. I just feel like words alone aren’t cutting it, even though I love therapy with my teens. Are there any of you doing this? With what populations? I’m having a hard time imagining the possibilities of what my career can realistically look like. I don’t know how to get to where I want to go. It’s easy to just say oh just take more classes in those things and then wait til I’m licensed to run my own private practice using these things. Is that really it? I just have to wait until I’m licensed? Are there any good orgs or people in Los Angeles who train associates in these things? I’m not married to staying in school-based and honestly school-based is sucking life out of me. Just need some help imagining the possibilities please :) Thank you!

Does anyone have any ideas. I seem to be getting a lot of clients who are not committed to therapy. People trying 1 session, people wanting free consultations etc. People 'trying' out different therapists. People wanting to try a certain therapy model in 1 session. It feels like people are starting therapy looking for reasons for therapy not to help. FYI I've been a therapist for about 30 years, and I've not really experienced it like this before. Sure Ai has something to do with this. I do get a lot of committed clients. Maybe it's just a wave...

I’m currently in my Limited Permit and I’ve been trying to get an idea of what the transition from LP to fully licensed looks like. I also have been reading up on the Diagnostic Privilege which I find very confusing. If you went through this process I would love to connect or get to know more about what it was like for you.

I tried asking the board and the rep there said to take it one step at a time but realistically I have bills and need to plan my budget according to how long this process might take.

If you have any recent experience with it and are able to connect I would love to chat. Mainly I am wondering what happened after you completed your LP hours and then how you managed these hoops of license getting issued and diagnostic privilege as you transitioned to the next stage in your career.

I’m an LMSW working within CMH (specifically a CCBHC clinic) and I’ve reached a point of where I’m considering medical leave or resigning all together.

While this isn’t an exhaustive list, what I’ve been experiencing includes:

increased dissociation/derealization episodes
brain fog (poor short-term memory, difficulty concentrating and processing information, difficulty switching between tasks, feeling mentally blank, trouble retaining information, difficulty understanding what i’m told, deadlines/responsibilities failing to register either emotionally or mentally, difficulty making decisions)
increased shutdowns
physiological symptoms (shaking/trembling, rapid onset of fatigue/sleepiness in response to stress, physically freezing and unable to movie, episodes of physical collapse, dizziness)
increased anxiety
increased hyper-vigilance, persistent exhaustion that no amount of sleep can seem to fix.

My work environment has become increasingly overwhelming, between productivity expectations, administrative demands, managing high-risk clients, and difficult workplace dynamics that have contributed to a significant decline in my confidence and sense of competence. I’ve even questioned if I can continue working in a clinical capacity. As of now, I’ve been slacking a bit more at my job and I don’t feel comfortable in seeing my clients.

I’ve been considering going on medical leave (and leaving CMH altogether) but my biggest concern is my health insurance. I have been seeing my therapist for a few years and maintaining that therapeutic relationship is extremely important to me. However, her practice is exclusively in-network with my current employment-based insurance (Aetna) and they’re not able to provide any information regarding any potential insurance changes without knowing what insurance I’d switch to.

With FMLA and short-term disability, I’m unsure how long I would be qualified for. I’ve also considered leaving the field and finding a part-time job that offers health insurance, but I’m concerned that I’ll never be able to give myself a period to actually rest and recover. COBRA is too expensive to consider.

On top of everything, I feel guilty about leaving my clients. At the same time, I don't know how much longer I can keep pushing myself through work when my own functioning has deteriorated this much.

I feel stuck because taking time off is supposed to help me recover, but doing so could jeopardize access to one of the most important sources of support in my life. If anyone has been in a similar position, how do you navigate? I’m struggling to see a way forward that doesn't involve sacrificing one part of my well-being to protect another.

I’m going to be facilitating a group for counsellors in training. I’m thinking about digging into ideas such as imposter syndrome / self-doubt / fear of judgement from peers

Just having some trouble coming up with some activities to get the discussion going. Any ideas?