How I Became a Licensed Therapist Part: 1

By Jonathon Nixon, LMFT

Sometimes I get asked this question when a new client is feeling out the therapy space. And although, my answer hasn’t changed over the years, it does seem like every time I answer this question another small detail reveals itself when it comes to connecting my interests to the mental health field. 

I’m not the type of clinician that will tell you that I have “a passion for helping people.”  To be quite honest, people and their problems tend to burn me out, really quick, after I hear too many reasons “why” someone can’t do something compared to the things they could learn and do to overcome their own problems. 

I originally wanted to write stories for video games.  In fact some of my most fondest of memories are shared side by side with popular video game characters like Mario, Link, Samus, Crash Bandicoot and their ongoing dramas of overcoming whatever evil forces await them next in their digital adventures. 

When I started my college journey, I actually signed up for a video game production course that quickly revealed to me how the bread was made when it came to some of my video games. 

“Screw this,” was my first reaction after reading the first chapter in my introduction to game design textbook that spoke a language I really didn’t care or want to learn.  Needless to say, my enrollment counselor probably didn’t even have enough time to complete my student bio by the time she heard from me again. 

“I was thinking…?” I auspiciously asked. 

The counselor responded calmy, indicating to me that she must have been in this scenario thousands of times before.  “Well, what is it that you like to do in your free time?”

“I don’t know, I mean I like gaming but I don’t really want to burn myself over it.  I mean I like television but I’m not interested in what goes on behind the scenes.” I replied.

“Ok, what about business? Do you like managing an operation or being in a leadership type position?” She asked.

“Meh, I mean I know it makes good money, but I’m not really the guy who likes to be in front of things, I kind enjoy being the guy behind the curtain – the one you don’t really know about when it comes to how things get done.”  I said.

My response must of clicked something inside of her because her questions started to become more linear and focused. “Ok, do you enjoy working with people?”

I responded, “Yeah. I mean everything is working with people in some degree, but I generally like meeting people who aren’t all corporate and like customer service fake.”

“Got it,” she said with a laugh.  “I get the impression that you are a pretty intuitive guy, have you ever taken any psychology classes in high school or with your associates?”

“Yeah, a couple.  Didn’t do too well grade wise but it was pretty interesting.  I do like finding out why people do what they do.  I’m definitely a huge people watcher.”

She was quick in her reply, “That’s great! I mean you have a really calming voice, have you ever thought pursuing a career in counseling? Maybe help people growing through mental health crisis?”

When she asked, I have to admit the thought was very perplexing and instantly I thought about what little I knew about the counseling field.  It was a suggestion that never crossed my mind until then and I tried picturing myself sitting behind a large wooden desk with towers of books and papers littered about my office.  Turns out I really liked this image and idea.

“That’s interesting?” I followed up, “like a doctor?”

“Yes and no,” she said, “You don’t have to be a doctor to be a therapist, but you do need a masters to get into private practice, if I remember correctly.  But there are plenty of jobs that you can do once you get you bachelors and work your way up to that point. There is a huge market and need for male therapists and I would imagine you would do really well for yourself once you got some experience.” 

I could hear the sales pitch in her voice, but the idea was already juicy enough I didn’t need more convincing to switch my major.

Eventually she concluded, “how about this, I’ll set you up with an introductory to social psychology class that is kind of the best of both worlds when it comes to psychology and sociology and if you like it we’ll go ahead and add some more classes toward this major. Deal?”

“Deal,” I replied and for the next two years I would apply myself to the general understudy of social psychology and receive my bachelors that would be my key into graduate school.