One Question Changed the Course of My Life

One of the questions I’m asked most often is how to become a therapist in Georgia.

Sometimes the question comes from a college student. Sometimes it comes from someone considering a career change. Other times it comes from someone in their forties or fifties asking, “Is it too late for me?”

I understand those questions because I once asked them myself.

If someone had told me years ago that I would become a Licensed Professional Counselor, own a private practice, mentor pre-licensed therapists, study neuroscience, and dedicate my career to helping people heal, I would have thought they had the wrong person.

Purpose has a way of revealing itself one chapter at a time.

What Does It Take to Become a Therapist in Georgia?

Requirements vary by state, and Georgia is no exception. In general, becoming a licensed therapist here includes:

• Earning a bachelor’s degree
• Completing a master’s degree in counseling or a related field
• Completing a supervised practicum and internship
• Passing the required licensing examination(s)
• Completing thousands of supervised post-graduate clinical hours
• Applying for state licensure through the Georgia composite board

Reading those steps takes less than a minute. Living them takes years, and the exact number of supervised hours is usually one of the first questions any pre-licensed counselor asks.

My Journey

As a child, I wanted to make people feel special. Later I dreamed of becoming a broadcast journalist because I loved communicating and connecting with people. Life eventually led me into public administration and executive recruitment, where I built a successful career. Yet I knew something was missing. I wasn’t looking for another job. I was searching for work aligned with my purpose.

In August 2011, at the age of 42, I began Mercer University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. I questioned whether I was too old to start over, but I could not ignore what I believed was God’s calling on my life.

Becoming a Therapist Is a Journey

My path to LPC licensure in Georgia looked like this:

• August 2011: Began graduate school
• December 2013: Earned my Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Completed 440 hours of graduate practicum and internship
• Completed 5,200 hours of supervised post-master’s clinical experience
• Completed 98 hours of formal clinical supervision
• 2017: Became a Licensed Professional Counselor

Nearly six years passed between beginning graduate school and becoming independently licensed. Those years were about far more than earning credentials. They were about becoming someone people could trust.

Since then, I’ve also earned my CPCS, Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor, credential, which is what allows me to formally supervise the pre-licensed counselors working toward their own hours today.

What I Wish Someone Had Told Me

Don’t choose this profession because you like giving advice. Choose it because you’re willing to listen.

Don’t choose it because you think you’ll have all the answers. Choose it because you’re committed to learning for the rest of your life.

The goal isn’t simply to earn a license. The goal is to become the kind of clinician another human being can trust with their story.

Where the Journey Led Me

Today I have the privilege of serving clients, training pre-licensed therapists, educating clinicians, and advancing neuroscience-informed mental health care. Looking back, every chapter prepared me for the next one.

If you’re considering becoming a therapist in Georgia, know that the journey is demanding. It’s also one of the most meaningful and rewarding professions you can pursue.

Ready to Start Your Own Journey?

If you’re exploring a career in counseling, or you’re currently a pre-licensed therapist accumulating your supervised hours, Behavioral Health Associates of Georgia is committed to supporting the next generation of mental health professionals. Learn more about our Pre-Licensed Clinical Supervision or our Professional Training Programs, and follow this article series as we continue answering the questions every future therapist should know.