Considering Becoming a Therapist or an Educational Professional? As you now know, there are MANY ways to prepare to become a professional who provides therapy to those who need help and guidance, and also multiple ways to work helping students within an educational setting. These helping professions have at the root one critical factor: They all involve listening to a person who is grappling with some type of personal difficulty, and they all involve being able to experience empathy for that individual.

If you are considering entering this type of profession within psychology, what do you think might be the most difficult personal aspect for you? I do NOT mean academically or financially - I mean what do you think will be the most challenging aspects of the work for you to handle emotionally? Picture yourself dealing every day with children or adults who are struggling with mental illness or difficult personal or educational problems. As the saying goes, "you can't pour from an empty cup." What will you do to keep yourself grounded and well while you are helping others to cope? Do you foresee this as difficult for you, and is there anything you can do NOW while in college to best prepare oneself for the emotional challenges of this work?

answer as a college student.