Author: Mona Klausing
I am so grateful to be featured, along with my team at Avani Counseling, by the SDSU Alumni Association. Though our therapy practice includes amazing clinicians (past and present) from Pepperdine and USD as well, most of us found one another through our connections at the SDSU Marriage & Family Therapy Program. I am appreciative of the professors and mentors who helped me along my journey as a therapist, and it’s been important to me to ‘pay it forward’ by mentoring and collaborating with new therapists entering the field.
Becoming a therapist is a lengthy process requiring a huge financial commitment, the emotional intelligence and relational skills to support clients during their most challenging times, the stamina to gain 3,000 hours of supervised clinical work, and the perseverance to pass a tough licensing exam. Sadly, studies show that roughly 50-54% of MFT graduates do not reach full licensure. Burnout from high caseloads, administrative burden, financial strain due to exorbitant tuition and low compensation, and inadequate supervision are often cited as contributing factors.
One thing I’ve learned after 15 years in this field is that you can’t make it without a strong support system of colleagues & mentors who will help you get through the tough times and who will celebrate your successes. Essentially, it takes a village…
Watch our video interview on the SDSU Alumni page.
