Dear Dr. Nash,

 

I'm not sure what to do - I'm studying welding, but I'm not happy. I'm just not cut out to be a welder, but I'm doing it because I think it will lead to high-paying work, especially if they start building a lot of natural gas pipelines from Canada to Mexico.

 

What I'd really like to do is study online to be a drug and alcohol counselor, and I'd like to open my own practice.

 

My question is this: Should I go with a pragmatic choice, or should I follow my heart? I truly feel called.

 

Sincerely,

Called to Be a Counselor

***************

Dear Called,

 

It's hard to keep from being a lemming and jumping off the career cliff with all the other lemmings once a few tweets go out or  widely-circulated articles on "hot" professions. What were they? Let's list them: mortgage broker, "cleantech" specialist, financial services manager... They don't look like great career choices now.

 

Did you choose to follow the fad instead of your heart?

 

If you did, you're not alone. But, it's not too late to go back and pursue and online degree that resonates with your core values and your inner light.

 

The economic downturn has hit the helping and mentoring professions very hard, and it can be discouraging to hear about how underpaid teachers, counselors, social workers, pastors, eldercare providers, case workers, and others can be.

 

There's no doubt that they should be paid a great deal more than they're being paid, and also that the difficulties of their jobs are often unappreciated. The general public usually has no idea how much the profession really entails. Teachers don't really have summers off (although they're not paid), and social workers do a lot more than put a lot of miles on their utilitarian cars.

 

Just because a profession does not pay top dollar, and is under siege in some communities, should you avoid studying it?  Should you say "no" to a career you will love, may not make you rich?

 

My argument is that you should always pursue a profession that you care deeply about. If you do not enjoy what you are doing, and if it provides no core sense of affirmation and deeper meaning, then why invest your time, effort, and future earnings?

 

Further, if you chase the latest trend or try to jump onto a profession that is in the middle of a boom, don't forget that the flip side of every boom is a bust, and you should be very skeptical. Don't be the last person onboard - you'll crash with everyone else, but you will not have had time to have reaped any of the rewards.

 

For example, how would you like to have entered the profession of mortgage broker in 2007? During the housing boom, being a mortgage broker was a great way to make a lot of money fast. Once the housing / financial apocalypse broke, it was not exactly a good place to be (!)

 

While it's true that the helping careers are suffering due to budget cuts and trickle-down effects from the financial crisis, if you follow your heart, you have an opportunity to do a series of life-changing good deeds.

 

Social Work:  We all know that budgets have been cut just when the needs are the greatest. Will you go with the flow and run away from social problems, even when you know you have the ability and the talent to make a difference? What are the concerns that animate you and drive you to try to intervene when you can? For example, what can you do about domestic violence, or intimate partner violence? Would you be willing to start up a shelter or a program that would provide support? If there is no funding available for additional social workers in your state, perhaps you can work with a church or help set up a not-for-profit to help women and children have safer lives. Further, you may feel called to work with single pregnant teenagers who have nowhere to turn. Just because your state or community does not have public funds does not mean you can't create something that can have a real impact. Follow your heart. Be a leader.

 

Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor:  There are a number of programs that allow you take the coursework you need to become a drug and alcohol counselor. They even incorporate some of the new technologies (biofeedback, mobile devices, family inclusion strategies). You'll need to do internships and satisfy requirements in your home state, but all is doable if you have the vision and the dream.

 

Special Education Teacher for At-Risk Children: This is probably a place where there is the most amount of confusion and flux. And, why not? After all, it's hard to precisely identify what it means to be "at risk," and the idea of attention deficit and Aspberger's Syndrome is a big, slippery, moving target. What do you do?

 

In my opinion, whenever there is change, there is opportunity.

 

If the budgets are frozen in your state, and if they're laying off special education teachers and there are no programs for autism, Asperger's syndrome, ADHD, etc., then partner with someone and start a new one.

 

For example, why not work directly with a pharmaceutical company to start a new center. Here's the catch: You'll emphasize non-pharmaceutical solutions and you'll make it extremely public, and the "big pharma" company will emphasize non-drug solutions. Perhaps the company will be involved in selling biofeedback equipment; perhaps brainwave-triggered devices that emphasize state control and developing a better ability to relax and focus.

 

I personally think that it would be a brilliant PR move for a drug company to take an aggressively "No Drugs" approach to Asperger's and autism. It could counter a lot of the negative PR, and you could be in the forefront of a new trend, a new approach. You can be a pioneer, plus do what you love.

 

Granted, there is risk involved, but is there anything worse than throwing away your talents and passions?

 

I want to thank you, Called, for your letter. You're addressing something that has concerned me for quite a while and I appreciate the opportunity to rant a bit.

 

Sincerely,

 

Dr. Nash