Disabled With Ptsd, But Want To Be A Counseling Psychologist

[Lionheart]

@Solara

I am giving serious thought to entering another field of education and thus another type of career. I will be looking into that and exploring other program options.

I am putting things on hold for now as far as going back to school for psychology, even though I would like to and find it a fascinating subject, I do now have some serious doubts as to whether or not it is want I want to do.

I have given serious thought to this thread and everyone's replies and I will be looking into other fields that interest me and see If I can find another one that I might excel in.

I am still going back to school to earn a Bachelor's degree although it will most likely NOT be in psychology,

I do want to say to everyone that I appreciate the feedback, the candor and the insight.


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[ms spock]

@Lionheart777 you have a lot to offer the world. I think engaging in education will be great for that excellent mind of yours. Who knows what options will open up to you? You could be working in a field that is not even existing at this time in five years. I would not have bothered to post this for many people but you, dealing with the overall denial about this issue on this forum is exhausting and it concerns me greatly. There is a great deal of enabling going on around this stuff.

I think you have impressively responded to all the points of view that you have engaged with. Sincere respect and kudos to you @Lionheart777.

I would encourage you to return to school as education can open many doors and explore the different options that are available. Take your interest and explore the opportunities through classes and volunteering, as through this process you will learn about your own capabilities and conversely limitations.

I agree with @intothelight go out there and really go for it. I know you will. And what you do will be good and the world will be a better place for it.

Here is someone who has been out of work for 17 years and is feeling strong enough to think about seeking employment.

And that is truly amazing @Lionheart777, you worked so hard on yourself for 17 years and now here you are - I would request that you look in a mirror and give yourself five minutes of true praise a day to yourself - this is no small feat. I have seen you work hard, and you deserve to truly sit and comprehend the gutsiness and courageousness that goes with this - that you chose to do, and that is not easy I know.

 

[ms spock]

The discussion in this thread has disturbed and upset me some what. If someone without a mental illness or any trauma in their background said to someone with PTSD "Oh we all know what PTSD is like - everyone has suffered panic and anxiety over public speaking!" Everyone on this forum would scream down the house, but that is what the level of responses feels like to me in this thread (up until I came and read a few of the newer responses a short time ago). If a person with PTSD then tried to clarify that no this is not accurate and then was told they were twisting that the person was saying about everyone understanding what PTSD is like (because they are "triggered" into anxiety over public speaking) was being dishonourable and putting words into their mouths because they don't want to hear that what they think PTSD is is not true - on this forum at least, that would be seen as very unfair. Being minimised doesn't feel good, especially when it is such a crucial issue that determines whether potential clients live or die. No one gets to put other people's lives at risk by being a "bad professional". Sure there are plenty of careers you can go and be mediocre and not so good, but that is not an ethical option within this profession. People seeking therapy are not consumers that can assess whether therapy is good like buying a particular brand of plasma TV. They are human beings whose lives are to respected and cared for, and not put at risk by other people's self indulgence or inability to face up to the truth, or be in some way sacrificed so that other people can follow their dreams or try a new career.

If a neurosurgeon has a car accident and works really hard on his recovery, will he be allowed to operate, because of all his hard work on his recovery despite getting tremours randomly but twice a month? Would you want a neurosurgeon to operate you or your loved one? I personally wouldn't. If a pilot develops epilepsy should he be able to fly 747s anymore? No, because it would be put people at unacceptable risk. What is the difference in this case? That it makes us feel good to support anyone following "their dreams?".

And @Hashi is right, given the prevailing opinion that PTSD is not curable, what is the hell is this discussion about? Is it because we have PTSD and have suffered so much we are entitled to put other people at risk because as we all know there are bad professionals in every profession? Seriously? I don't get it. We have PTSD, better than anyone we should know that inappropriate treatment can have catastrophic effects on fellow sufferers, even cost some their lives.

Even if someone is at the point of appearing okay but not being able to meet someone's needs for a therapist then they are replicating childhood emotional neglect - which is toxic for some one coming from a Complex Trauma background. It is like parents that look good to the community but are actually not there for their children. There are so many levels to it. I have seen the psychologists/psychiatrists/therapists whose own issues have cost their clients their lives. And I have heard the discussion from their peer professionals who despaired at the time. I don't know why as a community we have such a blind spot about this.

It is like a type of magical thinking that we will all get to a point with our PTSD that we can do anything we want, and for some people in some cases, that will be so, but people need to experiment for the next phase of their life in an arena that will not do so much harm if they cannot keep it together. But that doesn't mean people won't have fulfilling and challenging lives. And it doesn't mean that many, many people underestimate their abilities on this forum - or they should settle for less. But you don't get to jeopardise other people's lives.

I think that just blindly supporting people is not always the right thing to do, and is in fact dangerous, immoral and unethical at times. How would anyone like their child, vulnerable family member or someone suicidal go to a therapist who was not really, truly and fully there for their clients but was instead there to meet their own needs by "being able to help others?". Once someone you know has lost their life due to someone who should not have been in the profession to begin with, I think there would be a sincere reversal of opinion.

 

[Lionheart]

I think you have impressively responded to all the points of view that you have engaged with. Sincere respect and kudos to you @Lionheart777.

...And that is truly amazing @Lionheart777, you worked so hard on yourself for 17 years and now here you are .

Thank you so much @Ms Spock I have tried to be honest and respectful with my replies to this thread. I won't lie here, it is hard to give up on a dream, but I think I would be better off, (as would others), if I choose a different career field.

Not because I don't think I would be a great therapist, but because of serious consideration for the concern of my own and other's well-being. I just do not want to take the risk and I think it is time I do something else with my life besides focus on trauma issues etc.

Perhaps, I will be a travel agent or go into small business management, or communications etc. I know there are many possibilities out there for me and that I am capable of a higher education and eventually returning to the workforce.

I have worked very hard to get where I am today and although I have some challenges and limitations I will not let them hold me back. Whatever I end up doing I will give it my all, just as I have with healing from my past.

 

[ms spock]

I find it surprising that on a forum where the predominant theme is that PTSD symptoms can hit you at any time, even if you've been managing symptoms or in "remission" for a year, or five or ten, people ... can also argue that it isn’t putting clients at unreasonable risk to become a therapist.

It is beyond me, and it made me feel like I actually don't want to be part of a community that has such a lack of courage and moral fibre. I mean if we are able to enable people to put other human beings, vulnerable humans at that, at such a risk. What type of community are we anyway?

It wasn't just that I got minimised and then accused of not being on the up and up - it was that other people could come and say the same (to me) horrendous thing - and then go on as if they are even in any way present or cognizant of the multiple levels of insight needed to be discussing these issues. I find that appalling the terrible lack of insight, and yet that 'insight' is used to say people should give it a go, they worked hard on their therapy with the implied right that they have a right to try whatever profession that you want. No. You don't if you have a tremour, epilepsy or some other condition that puts the people around you in danger. You don't have a right to do whatever you want. It is like some deprivation thing, that is little and small - we missed out so now we aren't going to miss out so we have a right to do whatever we want to do. It is not adult thinking.

How do these two things fit with becoming a therapist oneself? What if you're triggered or symptoms flare up? What if you dissociate, or become fearful during a session? What if depression or anxiety make it too hard to do your job adequately for a time, leaving you with the options of "abandoning" a client or treating them inadequately?

Indeed.

Personally, I don’t believe PTSD has to be @ therapist has to make a commitment to therapy clients who may have their own abandonment and attachment issues, and who need a therapist they can depend on.

That simply on its own is enough to exclude most people with PTSD from being a therapist. And gosh I have met some people on this forum who are alleged practitioners and it has made my skin almost crawl off my body. Their complete lack insight of how they are projecting their stuff on to people around them, and again that is only one minor level of concern.

 

[ghotiff]

This has been a challenging thread and I'm impressed with your ability to stick with it @Lionheart777

I wish you well with whatever you choose to do.

 

[Lionheart]

This has been a challenging thread and I'm impressed with your ability to stick with it @Lionheart777

Thank you @ghotiff it has been challenging, but well worth it I believe.

I am very much pro medical marijuana and who knows, perhaps I will travel to a state where it is legal and work in a dispensary. ;):):p

But seriously, I will find my niche and I appreciate you wishing me well.
Thanks again!!!

Lion

 

[ms spock]

First of all, do no harm.

Yes other people's lives are not something to be gambled with on the off chance someone with PTSD is going to get it together in the time it takes them to study counselling, psychology or do a Phd.

I think this is a common misperception with any field. The truth is that no amount of training or education with prepare you for all aspects of any given job. What I mean by saying this is that we all have certain traits within us that make us suitable or unsuitable for any job. I think it may be a little naïve to believe that training and education can eliminate the effects that PTSD may have on our career.

And this means that going down that path can put other people at risk, and that is unacceptable.

 

[Ed Norton]

I have a friend who majored in psychology and he says that, possible over identification and a relapse is a risk but you won't know unless you try. You could limit your practice to something like psychological testing or assessment. I know for a fact that there's one person on the forum who is a physician that may go into critical care. Where lives will be on the line everyday...I don't think that that person should leave medicine as a result of her PTSD. I think that the answer is, it depends.

 

[ms spock]

@Ed Norton You have missed the points of the whole unfolding conversation - it has been general and it has been specific. In the case of the large hearted lion it has been discussed that given his circumstances that no this is not the career for him. So saying "It depends" is irrelevant as it has been discussed with specificity. It has been answered in that way.

In terms of general discussion in my opinion it is absolutely immoral, unethical and self indulgent to "give it a try" - because you don't know whilst a person is "experimenting" and "giving it a try" what damage that they will do. Like a pilot who has black outs and is grounded from flying - it is not an acceptable risk. A pilot with epilepsy is not allowed to "give it a try".

Having said that @Lionheart777 has so much in him, and there are literally thousands of other careers that he can give a try without risking himself (and @Solara went through that quite well - but more could be said on the risk to Lionheart himself or any other PTSD person as well - and sometimes people don't come back from over identification or a relapse - a relapse can be fatal we all know the suicide stats) and other people.

 

[Ed Norton]

I have read the whole thread..but in the U.S. there's very strict supervision of psychology students. Even if counseling is not the best career for Lion. There are many other things that could be done with a degree in psychology. He could limit his practice to assessment or psychological testing or research.

When I was in middle school I had a psychologist who definitely had her own issues but she helped me a lot.

I sometimes wish that my own T could better identify with my PTSD but having never suffered herself I feel the frisson. She understands me academically but not on a personal level.

 

[Lionheart]

Although I am going to choose a different career path, I may still take a couple of psychology classes just out of pure interest, but I have no intention of going into counseling.

A person who is, "in danger of having a heart attack" does not need to be "driving a car," the need to get to point "A" is not worth the risk involved. Sometimes it is best to let others drive you instead.

However, I do appreciate the support and the warnings that this thread has generated. Hopefully it will be helpful for everyone involved.