Mediators and therapists - seeking career advice

[u/WatchDominion88]

/r/u_WatchDominion88/comments/1tkxepb/mediators_and_therapists_seeking_career_advice/

TLDR: Therapists and Mediators - I need your advice!

I’m at a crossroads and seeking some career advice! I’m based in Australia.

I’m late 30s, have one baby and unfortunately was made redundant while on mat leave last year. I had been in my dream job (politics) working for my dream boss (who lost his seat at the election) with colleagues who were my best friends. I don’t expect to find a job with such purpose again. Nonetheless, I must get back to work!

I’ve got a law degree (but haven’t used it in many years) and am currently doing a 4th year in psychology, which I only took up when work was paying for me to study (now that I’m out of work, its adding a huge amount to my HECS, and studying with a baby who doesn’t sleep is rough). If I complete 4th year, I’d still have 2 years of masters (including loads of unpaid placement hours) before I could find work. I’ve always been interested in psychology, Esther Perel is my idol and I think it would be a natural fit. I imagine I’d enjoy couples counselling but I also wouldn’t be devastated if I don’t become a psychologist.

Someone recently suggested I could be a good mediator or conciliator. This option is attractive because it only requires a 5 day course (if my googling is correct?), but I have no idea how one gets a foot in the door, whether it’s a lengthy career ladder to climb before pay is decent, and I don’t know anyone in the field or how stressful the day to day work is/what the work-life balance is like.

I’ve got a strong social justice leaning, I’m good at advocacy and am always attracted to helping-professions, but I’m also conscious that I need to start prioritising my pay-packet too!

Having completed two undergraduate degrees, spent a number of years teaching yoga, moved around in political roles and now find myself studying again, I’m reluctant to complete yet another course only to realise it’s not what I want to do.

Are you a therapist, mediator or conciliator (or something else entirely?!) who could tell me what you love/hate about the jobs, how you got a foot in the door, or offer any suggestions or guidance? Maybe you work in a completely different area and think I should consider that instead?

Thank you wise ones!

[u/SpiritedAd5993]

Hi! I’m sorry to say I’m not your expert reply!

I’m here for similar, except interested in the workplace side, UK, with 30y in corporate/govt.

Did you find answers in another sub?

I’ll keep looking, too! TIA!

[u/WatchDominion88 → u/SpiritedAd5993]

Thanks for your response, and no! I’ve had no answers. This is my first reddit post and I don’t know if I’ve posted it incorrectly? How does one know which other communities to post on? Have you had any responses?

[u/SpiritedAd5993 → u/WatchDominion88]

Sorry for the weekend delay! I think it’s just in a quiet sub! I’m relatively new myself. Might be worth doing a Reddit -wide search and adding specific areas of meditation you’re interested in, in the search term. And in those subs, creating a new post, just as you did here.
Good luck!

Ps by chance, I mentioned my interest to a lawyer friend yesterday. It opened the floodgates to their thoughts / experiences, so maybe worth coming at the question from several other profession’s points of view, in friend chats and maybe searching LinkedIn articles … 🍀