Psycho-Babble Social | for general support | Framed
This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | List of forums | Search | FAQ

Re: Career counseling? (long)

Posted by afatchic on December 8, 2003, at 18:52:13

In reply to Career counseling? (long), posted by Penny on December 8, 2003, at 12:57:09

Penny,

I think career counseling would be great for you. Maybe you could talk to a someone where you work. They usually have those types of tests available through student services.

Also, you should be able to get student loans even with terrible credit. I know because I'm going to school full time now and using student loans. My credit could not get any worse. At this point, bankruptcy would actually improve my rating, but like you I can't afford it now.

Going to school has been wonderful for me. No sadistic supervisors!

Good luck,
Alex


> Have any of you been to a career counselor, taken tests to see what kind of career would best fit your interests and skills? I'm interested in hearing about experiences...is this something you found helpful?
>
> As I see it, I have two primary problems that leave me feeling hopeless, overwhelmed, frustrated and just plain unhappy, and that, in turn, weigh on the rest of my life and make it harder to deal with other issues (family, weight, etc.). Those problems are (1) finances and (2) a job I dislike. And, unfortunately, those two things go hand-in-hand.
>
> I work in public relations, which is the area my degree is in, and I'm doing exactly what I was trained to do, but I don't like it. I don't like sitting behind a desk all day. I would like to change careers, am thinking about going back to school to get my MSW and become a psychotherapist (wouldn't that be a hoot?), but the reality is that it is going to be difficult (though I don't think impossible) to make it through two years of school. I have to have insurance, I'm not married, I have to keep a roof over my head, giving up therapy is not an option, I need to keep my car, etc.
>
> If I were making enough money right now to pay for my expenses and have something to set aside in preparation for going back to school, that would at least give me something to strive for. But that's not the case. I naively thought when I took my job that it would pay the bills...but it doesn't. And so, in the last year (as I said in the thread above), I have ruined my credit, I'm debt way over my head, and I just see no way out. And it's when I see no way out that I start getting seriously depressed and then thinking about suicide. I know, or I guess I know, that suicide is, as they say, "a permanent solution to a temporary problem" but this problem doesn't feel temporary.
>
> When I spent a week in the hospital this summer, my financial trouble was part of the reason I ended up there - it was part of the reason I was so low. I kept telling everyone that what I needed was for someone to help me out of my situation. I don't mean by giving me money (though that would be nice!) but by helping me to figure out my options and helping me to make some decisions that would get me out of the trouble I'm in. But I have yet to find anyone who can do that. I have spoken with a credit counselor (at a reputable place), and was told that I should seriously consider bankruptcy. I have spoken with a bankruptcy attorney, and she has been most helpful...but the reality of it is, I don't have the cash right now to even FILE for bankruptcy!!! How crazy is that???
>
> So, I feel stuck. My T told me that she doesn't specialize in helping people make career decisions, but that there are people who could help me with such things, and I'm wondering if it would be worth my while.
>
> I surely wish I could make a living taking care of other people's kids. But that's not realistic.
>
> I'm afraid that I've really screwed up my life, and I don't know how, at this point, I will ever get it back on track (and my T would point out all of the extreme thinking I'm doing right now...). I need help. Not another therapist, not more medication, not another pdoc, but someone who can guide me in the right direction as far as my career and finances are concerned.
>
> Any thoughts? Have any of you been at the bottom of the financial ladder and found a way up that didn't require selling your soul?
>
> P


Share
Tweet  

Thread

 

Post a new follow-up

Your message only Include above post


Notify the administrators

They will then review this post with the posting guidelines in mind.

To contact them about something other than this post, please use this form instead.

 

Start a new thread

 
Google
dr-bob.org www
Search options and examples
[amazon] for
in

This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | FAQ
Psycho-Babble Social | Framed

poster:afatchic thread:287721
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20031207/msgs/287818.html