Exploring a Career in Therapy: A Personal Reflection

My Journey Towards Therapy

Last spring, during a session with my therapist, I expressed my desire to pursue a career as a therapist myself. Peter Carnochan, my therapist, suggested that I might consider becoming a coach instead. To clarify, Peter is not just any therapist; he holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, has trained as a psychoanalyst in the Freudian tradition, and charges premium fees for his services in San Francisco. His practice also extends across the Golden Gate Bridge, where he operates from a stunning home nestled among the towering redwoods.

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For over a decade, I have had the privilege of working with Peter Carnochan, a blessing I cherish for two primary reasons. Firstly, the surging demand for therapy in our nation has far exceeded the available supply, making it challenging to find a skilled therapist anywhere, especially in a city like San Francisco. Secondly, my experience with Carnochan has been profoundly healing, leading me to view psychotherapy as a noble and beautiful profession. I regard Carnochan as the beau idéal of therapists: he is deeply knowledgeable, emotionally attuned, and possesses the remarkable ability to seamlessly transition in a single conversation from the intricate theories of D. W. Winnicott concerning the false self to the soulful melodies of Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay,” and from the boundless wisdom of the Lotus Sutra to the exhilarating joys of backcountry skiing.

In our discussions, I had previously shared my concerns about finances and my career path. Carnochan mentioned that he occasionally assisted company executives with professional dilemmas, suggesting that he could also guide me in a similar capacity. This revelation struck me as somewhat unusual—much like confessing to a priest about my desire for marriage, only to learn that he moonlights as a matchmaker and might have someone in mind. Nevertheless, a significant part of me found the allure of a tech executive’s lifestyle quite enticing. Thus, I eagerly responded, saying, “Yes, please, do not hesitate to share any career advice you might have.”

It was within this context that Carnochan informed me of the daunting realities of becoming a therapist in today’s regulatory landscape. He explained that the financial and time investments required would be prohibitively high, particularly given my age (I am 56). The journey typically entails years of expensive graduate education, often followed by additional years of interning under licensed therapists, all while earning little to no compensation.