5 answers
Ethan
Student
Ames, Iowa
2
Questions
Asked
426 views
how can I find the right job for me?
I want to be a therapist for mental health and I want to be a person that does hair makeup and nails. I suffer from mental health and i want to help people with the same problems as me
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5 answers
Judith-Ann Anderson
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) at AndeersonCounselingTexas( ACT)
106
Answers
Grapevine, Texas
Updated
Judith-Ann’s Answer
Ethan, I love that you are thinking outside the box. How to combine a mental health career with a cosmetic career is definitely a creative choice. It sounds like you really want to help people with their mental health and with their nails makeup, and hair! I can see you in a salon that makes it a really safe place for people to talk and to be who they are. Sort of like a gathering place for people of all cultures, ethnicities, and identities to be heard and affirmed in your salon for hair, makeup. and nails. The main credential is the licensing of your salon and your ability and skill to help people feel at home and your ability to LISTEN!
I can see a gathering of wonderful diversity getting their hair, nail, and makeup done for their outside appearance and being able to talk and be heard by a good listener. I don't know if you can put your shingle out as a Licensed Therapist and Licensed Salon in Iowa, but you could definitely get training in both and merge how ever the state boards will allow. Or you could have your salon and train your personnel to be good listeners!
I can see a gathering of wonderful diversity getting their hair, nail, and makeup done for their outside appearance and being able to talk and be heard by a good listener. I don't know if you can put your shingle out as a Licensed Therapist and Licensed Salon in Iowa, but you could definitely get training in both and merge how ever the state boards will allow. Or you could have your salon and train your personnel to be good listeners!
I would go to that salon for sure!
Gena Holmes
David Slay
community / clinical psychologist (retired)
25
Answers
Seal Beach, California
Updated
David’s Answer
Wanting to help other people with mental health problems, motivated by your personal struggles is an admirable goal. It shows you have compassion for other people and would like to put your personal experience to work helping others. Fortunately there are many ways to get into a position to be helpful, from volunteer work to peer support and on to various forms of counseling, substance abuse services, case management, social work, or maybe being a part of a multidisciplinary mental health treatment team. Some positions in mental health service delivery require many years of higher education and supervised training, but others require only a few years of training and ongoing supervision.
I'm not sure how old you are, but career counseling is usually available at all levels of schooling, in high school, at community college and in college. Checking in with a career counselor would be helpful to sort through the various pathways and what kinds of preparation is required for each. Most people going to school or college also want or need some part-time employment, and if you think you would enjoy working with hair, makeup, and nails, that could be a good fit for you while you're pursuing longer range goal of providing some kind of mental health services.
Congratulations on having a good idea what's important to you. Sometimes it's really difficult to figure out what you would like to do while you're young and just starting out, but the more information you can pull together should help you on your way.
I'm not sure how old you are, but career counseling is usually available at all levels of schooling, in high school, at community college and in college. Checking in with a career counselor would be helpful to sort through the various pathways and what kinds of preparation is required for each. Most people going to school or college also want or need some part-time employment, and if you think you would enjoy working with hair, makeup, and nails, that could be a good fit for you while you're pursuing longer range goal of providing some kind of mental health services.
Congratulations on having a good idea what's important to you. Sometimes it's really difficult to figure out what you would like to do while you're young and just starting out, but the more information you can pull together should help you on your way.
Caitlin Regan
Mental Health/Addiction Counselor
10
Answers
Boynton Beach, Florida
Updated
Caitlin’s Answer
Wanting to help others with mental health struggles when having a personal understanding is an admirable goal. I too am a mental health counselor with a mental health condition of my own and I find it extremely rewarding to help those who I have a personal understanding of their struggles. All the time I have clients tell me that my personal understanding of what they are going through helps them to see there is more than just being institutionalized or labeled as disabled. As other’s have stated there are many ways to be involved in the mental health field. Working to understanding which way you would like to be involved will be an important first step. I also encourage you to work to choosehealthy day in and day out for yourself in order to be able to provide help for others. Providing my self self-care and working with my own therapist are key pieces to my being in a healthy frame of mind in order to best serve my clients. Much success to you in your future endeavors!
Gena Holmes
Clinical Psychologist
14
Answers
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Updated
Gena’s Answer
Hi Ethan,
The career advice I mostly read says to go with what you enjoy and what you find interesting. You have varied interests so would likely be happy with a career path in either.
It might even be possible to do both careers: make up artist and mental health clinician. The mental health side could be a primary career with the nails / make up something you do on the side?
I don’t know much about becoming a make up artist as a career but in the mental health filed there are many pathways and various courses you can do.
I only know the system for studying psychology here in Australia so hopefully someone who knows the regulations in your area can answer more specifically about the various pathways to becoming a mental health clinician where you are.
I became a clinical psychologist which involved 6 years of intensive university study and 2 years of practical experience. It took me a long time to finish all this study (15 years) and I had breaks of several years in between my psychology degrees. During these breaks I worked in a lot of roles: childcare, disability support work, a counsellor, case manger and youth worker. I also volunteered at a crisis centre. More than anything my work experience and volunteer work helped me figure out what I wanted to do.
I do like the idea of having something in addition to a mental health career. Something a little bit lighter to balance the heaviness of the work like a make up artist.
All the best with your career. I don’t see why you can’t do both your passions. I think with work experience, volunteer and study experience the path that is right for you becomes clearer.
Gena
The career advice I mostly read says to go with what you enjoy and what you find interesting. You have varied interests so would likely be happy with a career path in either.
It might even be possible to do both careers: make up artist and mental health clinician. The mental health side could be a primary career with the nails / make up something you do on the side?
I don’t know much about becoming a make up artist as a career but in the mental health filed there are many pathways and various courses you can do.
I only know the system for studying psychology here in Australia so hopefully someone who knows the regulations in your area can answer more specifically about the various pathways to becoming a mental health clinician where you are.
I became a clinical psychologist which involved 6 years of intensive university study and 2 years of practical experience. It took me a long time to finish all this study (15 years) and I had breaks of several years in between my psychology degrees. During these breaks I worked in a lot of roles: childcare, disability support work, a counsellor, case manger and youth worker. I also volunteered at a crisis centre. More than anything my work experience and volunteer work helped me figure out what I wanted to do.
I do like the idea of having something in addition to a mental health career. Something a little bit lighter to balance the heaviness of the work like a make up artist.
All the best with your career. I don’t see why you can’t do both your passions. I think with work experience, volunteer and study experience the path that is right for you becomes clearer.
Gena
Trevor Dawson
Consulting
99
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Trevor’s Answer
Any career site should help you find what you're looking for (e.g, Indeed)!