Posted by gardenergirl on July 13, 2004, at 23:31:15
In reply to Feeling like a failure, posted by emmaley on July 13, 2004, at 20:30:49
You know, I can so relate to this. I'm not sure how far along in your program you are, but I started having doubts from year one. I just finished my fourth year now, and am working on dissertation and preparing for internship. I'm happy to say that for now, the doubts have really decreased as I gained confidence over the last year.
But towards the end of my first year, I asked the student, a second year who shared an office with me, if she ever felt like she should just pack it in...that this was a big mistake. She said to me, "Everyday, GG. Everyday." I laughed, but I also was really stunned. No one had admitted that to me before. My own class tends to be fairly competitive, and doesn't like to admit to weaknesses. So it was so refreshing, validating, and hopeful for me to see someone farther along who I really respected express the same thing.
I hope yours lessen in time, too. If they don't please find someone you trust to talk to about it. A T, a mentor, a career counselor, another psychologist... I'm working on my third major career area now, so I'm living proof that you don't have to be set in stone with what you think you want to do. And somehow, the skills from all three seem to complement each other.
Everyone gets burned out, too. At the Center where I worked last year, sometimes we would ask each other, "Do you think I'm awful because I'm hoping this client won't show or will call to cancel?" It wasn't anything about a specific client, but more like "wouldn't it be nice to have a free hour to just chill?" But somehow, it felt kind of disloyal or like being a bad T if you said that out loud too much.
Take care,
gg
poster:gardenergirl
thread:365826
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040703/msgs/365881.html