I am a therapist. I work with clients, trying to figure out where they are in the process of their growth. Human beings are complex and all of us have experienced roadblocks at different times in our lives that slowed our progress towards inner wholeness. I take people forward on this path, by holding their hand as they work thru and remove these roadbocks, achieving inner peace and harmony.

EDUCATION | Master's Degree in Social Work from California State University, Fresno. I am currently enrolled in a PhD program in Clinical Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria

HOW TO GET STARTED | If financial fulfilment is your primary goal, then this profession is not for you. There are better paying jobs out there that require less education. However, MSW, or MFT will get you started. Subsequently, we require 3000+ hours of supervised internship, a licensing board exam thru BBS, before you get your LMFT or LCSW licensure. If you wish to go deeper, PhD in clinical psychology is an option.

MUST HAVE TRAITS | Empathy, a deep passion for selfless service, being able to put your own needs aside and be available for them (sometimes 24/7), dependability, consistency, creativity, maturity and wisdom (vs. knowledge). One of the most important traits for this profession is the ability to tolerate uncertainty. This is an inexact science, and sometimes breakthroughs come in a month, sometimes it takes many years. I have to work at their pace.

how I got started | I worked in the technology management for 20 years until 1998. I went through a divorce and had the choice of going back into technology full-time or making a break. At the time technology jobs were scarce. I dread the thought that I could still be in technology. I enrolled in a career management and counseling course for six months and decided counseling would fit me. I enrolled in a Master's program to make sure I liked the work, and then I moved toward my PhD, which provides a deeper knowledge of human psyche.

why this job?| As women we are always taught to exist for others , to put others ahead of ourselves. And then as mothers we put our lives on hold to take care of our kids and our families. We take that attitude with us to work. In the technology career, I've always been a mentor my employees, for instance. The skills came naturally to me, and career counseling course validated them. I proceeded cautiously because counseling is not a field for everyone. Besides, my priorities at 20 years of age were different than they are now when I am 47. Money is important but generativity is more important, giving back to society is important. This career supported a natural transition in life and perhaps thats why it is so blissful.

why I love this job!| (1) I'm blessed to meet different kind of people. Every client is absolutely different and they challenge me in different ways. Every client and every session is a mystery that unfolds minute to minute. (2) I love the flexibility. I can choose my clients, my hours, the subject I want to study and my areas of practice. I can set my own rates, and have enough time to take care of my kids. I'm a one woman show. I can write, speak, research, teach, work, see clients - all in parallel, sequentially if I want - I have absolute freedom to define my own environment and learning, to be who I am and to recreate myself anytime. (3) I love the fact that I can take these skills and information I gain from my clients and apply them to my own life and my children's life. It makes me into a much better person, mother and friend. I can see how my behavior is impacting others. I learn a lot about all facets of human existence . I become a better person with each client - it often seems like my clients are paying to educate me.

my typical day| I read up on my clients and then see them in 50 minutes sessions, sometimes longer. After, I analyze their dreams, ponder on them, research mythology, etc, update charts between clients or at the end of the day. I can work from home. There are no barriers to what I can explore with my time. I work anywhere from 4-5 hours per day to 8-9 hours per day, or more. During the less intense season I teach in the Master's Program at a local university or I write research papers. And since I am a student, there's always readings and assignments to catch up with and motherhood takes up rest of the day.

what they are | Patient rights in mental health are protected under stringent law. I never know what the client is going to do when they're not with me, and yet, I am held partially responsible for their outside behavior. Think homicidal client! Apart from that I fears unconscious retraumatisation of a client. The fear never leaves you. As a professional, I have to put my own needs aside to manage the client, staying calm, collected and confident no matter what is going on inside of me. When I am there I have to BE there. I also have my own values and beliefs, particularly from living in India, that need to be watched. I always have to ask myself: are these my issues or my client's issues?

all about growth | Its a very growth oriented industry but where I live in Fresno, CA there probably are more therapists than there are patients, because we have seven institutes that train and turn out hundreds of therapists every year. However the demand for good therapists who passionately believe in their work, is pretty high. We're expecting veterans to start coming home all at once. Job losses and related psychological issues are also surfacing. These services are not covered by insurance and managed care.

my website| http://www.madhusameer.com