I Didn't Become A Psychologist For The Money, But...
Denver Simonsz
I help psychologists develop their best practise. Board approved supervisor. Passionate psychologist. Writer.
I bet you've told yourself, “I didn't become a psychologist for the money”.
I have.?
And it's the truth. I became and stayed a psychologist because of my values. I make a living out of curiosity, compassion and a desire to help others.?
But what happens when you work for your values but start really caring about the money? Well, it can be uncomfortable.?You can feel like you're being shallow. Like you're compromising your values.
And are you? Nope.
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What compromises your values is encouraging clients to value themselves, but not valuing yourself.? What compromises your values is pretending you're ok with the unfairness of being underpaid. What compromises your values is lying to yourself and acting like money doesn't matter.
The honest thing to do is admit that it does and you're no less of a psychologist for caring about it. You have a life to live that depends on money. No mortgage gets paid using goodwill. No groceries are bought using kindness. And AHPRA certainly won't scrap your registration fee this year in an act of charity.
You might enter the industry to embrace the more obvious values of compassion, empathy, kindness and service to others, but there's also a place for practical considerations. Or even better, a place for values that don't get enough of a mention. What about self-respect, self-worth, achievement and security? They matter too.
My point is this, caring about the money doesn't have to take center stage. You can make your core values the driving force of your work. But it helps to remember that there's more than enough room in the profession for the right values and the right money. When a psychologist works for both, they are taking care of themselves in a way that makes sense.
My mission is to get you feeling better, faster, by focusing on what we can change right now without years of talking therapy. | 10+ yrs exp. | 10k+ lives transformed.
10 个月I think this article should be read by as many psychologist as possible! Every word.. so true! And what many psychologist dont know is that when you make the shift and see your practice as a business not as charity, your clients have even better results than before because YOU ARE A DIFFERENT PSYCHOLOGIST who is aligned with their values..
I help you build a brand that stands out.
10 个月Thanks for sharing your perspective! It's a reminder that prioritizing self-respect and financial stability doesn't detract from our core values; rather, it enhances our ability to serve others effectively.
Psychology Major at Georgia State University with a particular interest in trauma therapy.
10 个月This was a great article, thank you! ????
Principal Psychologist at Gallagher Psychology, EMDR Accredited Practitioner, Board Approved Supervisor
10 个月Yes- and necessary to run a successful business (private practice). We’re not a charity!