Training to become a licensed therapist is a unique experience. Sometimes it’s challenging to explain to others what it all entails (clinical hours, supervision, paperwork, and trainings), but it can be even more difficult to describe the emotional energy that being a therapist requires.

For those of you who are Associate MFTs completing your hours or students in a MFT program, here are two books that you might find helpful. They both dig deep into what it takes to become a therapist, the experience of working with clients, the toll that it can take, and how to manage it all. I hope that they will help you on this journey that you’re on.

Happy reading!

PS: I'm recommending these books for beginning therapists, but I think that all therapists, however many years of experience you have, might find some wisdom and encouragement in them.

(By the way, this is the second post in a series specifically for Associate MFTs and MFT students. The first post was on test preparation tips.)

Letters to a Young Therapist by Mary Pipher: In a series of letters to a former supervisee, Pipher reflects on what she's learned throughout several decades of working as a therapist. The letters are full of compassion, wisdom, and insight.

“I encourage clients to understand and accept the past with all its complexity. Then I urge them to move on to create something beautiful for themselves and others. We all have our sorrows, but they don’t exempt us from our duties” (p. xxii).

On Being a Therapist by Jeffrey A. Kottler: This book provides an in-depth exploration of the challenges of being a therapist ranging from self-care to running a practice to sitting with clients day in and day out.

“Can the therapist be immune to the influence of prolonged exposure to human despair, conflict, and suffering? Can the professional helper resist the inevitable growth and self-awareness that come from studying another life? Can he or she remain the same after being in the presence of so many who are changing? Whether we like it or not, the decision to be a therapist is also a commitment to our own growth” (p. x from the Preface).

One focus I have is supporting Associate MFTs and MFT students in their personal and professional development. I am starting a series of blog posts addressing concerns specific to these folks going through the sometimes arduous process of becoming a licensed therapist.

First topic to address: exam prep!

The Law & Ethics Exam and Clinical Exam are just two of the hurdles in the licensing process. Here are ten tips to help you with the studying process. You can click here for a printable version of these tips.

1. Remember why you’re taking this exam.
Take a step back and recall your over-arching goal. Why do you want to be a licensed therapist? Who do you want to help? Place this study process and the upcoming exam in the context of your goal. For example, “Studying for two hours today makes me more prepared to pass the exam. This moves me closer to becoming a licensed therapist so that I can start my private practice and work with couples wanting to re-connect.”
 
2. Take ownership of the study process.
Remind yourself that YOU will be the person taking the exam. No one else is going to study for you. No one else is going to take the exam for you. Therefore, it’s your job to prepare because YOU are going to be the one taking (and passing!) the exam.
 
3. Studying is a job.
So treat it like one. Figure out how many hours you can realistically dedicate to studying. Take into account your work hours, family commitments, chores, errands, classes, and self-care. Come up with a number that sounds manageable. For some, this will be ten hours per week. For others, it might be five. That’s fine. Schedule your exam date accordingly.
 
4. Make your exam date non-negotiable.
After you’ve decided on how many hours and weeks you’ll spend studying, register for the exam. The date is set and it’s final. Do not allow any excuses for pushing out the date further. (Yes, there is an exception to this, and it’s for personal or family emergencies.) Don’t give yourself the option of “I’ll take the test if I feel ready.” Prepare yourself so that you will be ready.
 
5. Action absorbs anxiety.
Decide now to study and get it over with (think about this in terms of daily studying, and also the entire studying process). Procrastination drains your energy because you start thinking so much about the fact that you’re not studying. The way to not feel bad about not studying is simple: just study! Study so that you don’t feel bad about not studying.
 
6. Figure out what kind of a learner you are.
How do you best learn? Are you a visual learner? Do you study most effectively by reviewing your notes over and over? Or are you an auditory learner and you absorb information best by listening to it? It doesn’t matter how your fellow associate is studying. Tailor your study habits to fit how you learn best.
 
7. Break tasks down into chunks.
Seeing “Study for three hours” written down in your calendar can seem daunting and overwhelming. Break it down. “Review notes for 25 minutes” sounds do-able, doesn’t it? “Listen to lecture #7 again” sounds okay. Little tasks like these can add up to hours of studying. Assign yourself tasks that aren’t overwhelming. 
 
8. Don’t underestimate the question/answer rationales.
Learning the content is a large portion of studying for the exam. However, understanding strategies about how to think about the test, the questions, and the possible answers is just as important. Don’t wait until the last few days before your exam to take the practice tests and to read or listen to the answer rationales. Give yourself time to understand WHY each answer is the right answer. Be able to explain why other answers might be tempting, but aren’t what the BBS test writers consider the right answer. 
 
9. Change how you talk about studying for the exam.
Our words matter, and what we tell ourselves matter. Instead of saying, “I have to go study now,” try out “I get to go study now.” Maybe this sounds cheesy, but in the grand scheme of life, we are incredibly privileged to be working toward a professional goal that we set for ourselves. There is probably a person somewhere out in the world who would jump at the chance to spend the next two hours studying material that would move them closer to achieving a dream. For whatever reason, they don’t have that opportunity right now. But you do! Try tweaking “have to study” to “get to study” and see if it helps at all.
 
10. Be gentle with yourself (and your brain).
Studying is work! Give yourself a break! When you reach a point of information over-saturation (when you keep reading or listening to the same thing over and over again but it still doesn’t really sink in), take a break! Take a walk. Read a fun book for 20 minutes. Cuddle with your pet. This may not feel “productive,” but it’s productive because you’re giving your brain a rest so that you can jump back into studying.
 
Good luck!