I have about 10 months before I reach the 18 month minmum to take the NCE to become fully licensed, but I'm considering leaving therapy because being an LPC-A is too much of a financial burden, and I can't keep doing this for 10 months. Ever since I started working with my current employer for the LPC-A hours, I've been struggling to make ends meet. One of my paychecks goes entirely to rent, and my rent is around $1,220, including utilities. (I have two jobs with my employer, psych testing $18, which is what they have me mostly doing, and therapy on Fridays, $30 per session.) I feel pretty certain that they are going to have me continue working at the $18 even when I'm fully licensed, because they have a hard time keeping their employees in the psych testing department.
At this point, the profession has left a bad taste in my mouth, and I don't see myself being a therapist long-term anymore.
Has anyone else been through this (dropping their LPC-A or leaving the profession as a whole)? If so, what career/job did you go into that you've enjoyed? I'm looking for some career/jobs where I can still use my skills, and preferably one that offers student loan repayment.