I am beyond elated as I research more about what opening a private practice (as a social worker) entails!!!
Someone recently started a thread about what types of jobs to get into after stripping, and I'm sure that there have been numerous threads about this topic in the past. So here are my 2 cents:
Background: I previously wanted my PhD in Pysch to become a therapist in private practice, but I was urged to, instead, go to grad school for social work and earn my LCSW-C. The basic difference, I was told, besides not having the "Dr." before my name, is that I can't do "testing" on people, which doesn't bother me. (You also spend less $/time in school, and, from what I've heard, get more field experience with social work.) I've been having a great deal of anxiety about the whole grad school transition, so I've been reading various tidbits of info online and consulting outside sources. I've found that many skills that I've learned as a stripper will help better my success as a therapist in private practice.
Marketing: marketing is key, I've heard. A therapist w/a PhD may have a better "name," but will not get as much business as an LCSW-C (with equivalent skill) who knows how to market him/herself. Of course, I want extra marketing classes, but stripping gives me an up, as far as sales is concerned, in many instances.
I also read that most social workers aren't inclined to be assertive sales people, or they "would have most likely chosen a different profession." I definitely do not fit that profile, thanks to stripping.
People Skills: I can't even begin to describe how much better my
"people skills" and confidence (which is related to people-skills) has gotten from being basically forced to communicate with people each time that I work. No talk = no money. I can pinpoint different personalities, I've learned how to speed along the amt of time in which people trust me, and I've basically learned how to cater to each individual in a way that suits the person best.
Taxes: I'm still not positive about private practice, but some sources say that you need to do your taxes as an "independent contractor." I'm lucky to have been exposed to having to do taxes like this at an earlier time so that everything is not so overwhelming.
Flexible Schedule: This doesn't help, necessarily, but it makes me very excited that I'll be able to, eventually, make my own schedule, just like I do while stripping.



Reply With Quote
Bookmarks