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Advice on course/job

  • 05-03-2012 7:39pm
    #1
    Hannaho
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 733 ✭✭✭


    I'm just finishing a master in child psychotherapy. The course has really left me financially in the red, but I was too far into it to quit when the recession hit - it's taken 5 years.

    However, now although I will have a masters degree, even for volunteering they are asking for 2 years post qualification (although I will be fully accredited when I finish in June):mad: Totally disillusioned! I have abou 20 years experience in working in mental health before that.

    Now I have been offered a locum job in the North. Lots of expensive travel! You are taken on as an independent self-employed locum by a voluntary organisation that organisies counselling services for other organisations. The fee is Stg£45.00 an hour, but between travel and having to rent my own counselling space, which has to be approved by them, and expensive up front and continuing CPD courses run by this organisation, it seems to not be worth taking this position. Has anyone here every worked as a self-employed locum counsellor for anyone before?

    Also, the whole cost of seeing clients unpaid during my course has really been a financial drain. We weren't permitted to take even a small professional fee from them. Next weekend I am driving to see a client and her child in Galway. I don't get paid for the session. The cost of the room is e15.00, my diesel to Galway and back is e40.00. I am on state benefits with some part-time work and I simply can't afford this or we, as a family, will be eating cornflakes for the week. I feel like not going due to the cost, but don't want to let anyone down. This lady and her child are my last client, but this is the way it has been for most of the course and I constantly worried about money, the money spent on the course and getting a job afterwards. Those in private practice say it's impossible to make a living from it.

    Sorry about the rambling post. Advice and comments seriously welcome!


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