Then we waited . . .
And waited . . .
And waited . . .
I called three times, checking to make sure that they had received the paperwork and making sure I had turned in everything I needed to turn in.
The last time I called was Tuesday morning. I was told everything had gotten there and I was third in line to be processed. I checked the website every 30 minutes or so. My license number finally appeared that afternoon. I tried not to cheer too loudly as I was in the office and other therapists had clients. I texted Rob and Jojo and Betsy and Susie and Christy and ran to tell James and Melissa (both of whom didn't have clients that hour) and Mark (once his client session was over). Then to make it official, I posted it on facebook :)
Mark and James took me out for dinner to celebrate.
I kept looking at the website that night. It seems so surreal that I am finally licensed. School is actually over. I can finally start getting paid. I feel like I can finally start actually contributing to our family again. I could tell Rob that he never has to work a second job again.
The last two were the most important to me. Rob has worked so hard to support us for so long, working two jobs some of the time without complaining. He stood for hours working as bartender for a catering company, freezing, coming home with feet that hurt so much it was hard to walk. He missed out on so many milestones with our children. Now he gets to work an 8-5 job and then come home and spend time watching his kids grow up. He doesn't have to try to climb the corporate ladder or spend days out of each week traveling.
I know I have worked incredibly hard to get where I am (we have both worked incredibly hard), but I feel so blessed to have the job that I have. So many therapists work years to get into private practice and I had it handed to me. I told a friend this week that it felt like it was handed to me on a silver platter. She corrected me and said that I worked my butt off for this opportunity. I did work hard. Both of us made so many sacrifices so I could do my schoolwork, so I could make it to PDI each month, so I could help facilitate the 12-step group every week for four years, so I could complete my year of internship. It seems unreal that there aren't really any more hoops to jump through.
I am a LMFTA, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate. I have to complete another 3000 hours, 750 of which need to be relational. Until those hours are complete, I need to have a supervisor that I meet with regularly. Mark has offered to continue in that role. I think I'd want to meet with him weekly even if I didn't have to though, so that doesn't feel like much of a restriction.
I am so grateful for those who have helped me get here. For my classmates and teachers and friends and family who have provided support. For Renee and Janette for letting me be part of PDI, the STOP school, and the 12-step group. For my in-laws who sacrificed so my mother-in-law could help take care of Rob and the kids during each of my residencies. For Mark who did an amazing job of being my supervisor and helping me make the transition from student to therapist. For my kids who sacrificed countless hours of time I could have spent with them so I could do schoolwork or work. For Rob, who was always there, pushing me on when I couldn't take one more step, filling in wherever I needed him to, taking care of me and the kids and the house. Thank you. I couldn't have done this alone.
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