Bittersweet...

My last day of work at my practicum was yesterday. I cried. I've worked in this group since August (relapse prevention), and it's been awesome. I'll miss them. I'm glad that they matter so much to me, though. They gave me a serenity prayer gold coin that each person blessed, and we had cake. And I said goodbye to everyone.

I'll especially miss the woman whose group I worked in. She's awesome, and we worked together really well. It's exciting for me to think that I could work in a group with someone like her and be really content. We had awesome post-group conversations, and we both genuinely cared about everyone in group.

I've been thinking a lot about whether or not to pursue academia. I'm so torn. My husband and I can apply as a unit somewhere, which actually increases our odds of getting hired. I could work in a non-traditional psych program, or in a gender studies program. I actually think I'd fit the best in gender studies. I think I can imagine it....seeing clients and teaching classes. (I mean, that's what I do now!) I worry that academia is masochistic. I've gotten really great at managing stress -- I got through this semester without going to pieces OR falling apart (heh, bad pun). Academia is a ton of bullshit. At the same time, it offers a kind of self-expression that I think is really important to my mental health.

I have time to figure it out. And I know that I'm lucky to have a career that has so many aspects that I love that it's hard to choose, and a husband who genuinely respects my passions.