Art therapy and licensing woes

So it's been a while. Here's the update on the job hunt as an art therapist in a TIGHT and competitive, low-paying field. I am going to be filling in for someone's 3 month maternity leave full time at an in-patient psych unit... it pays well so at least I'll be employed until June and I don't yet need an Illinois license, which has proven to be more hassle than it may be worth. Why? Because while I was out of state for the last 8 years, Illinois upped the graduation requirements for credits needed in certain courses. I need about 5 credits-- $4500 i didn't feel like spending particularly... especially since if I'd stayed and gotten licensed here in the first place, it never woulda happened. So woulda coulda shoulda. But I'll do it... this profession is right for me unfortunately. And believe me, I considered doing sales or marketing... but i am no salesperson when i don't particularly believe in the product. I'm not fake enough... and I'd be bored outta my gourd... so in-patient adult psych, here I come. I'll be running art groups there. And I guess I'll have to go back to class. Funny that since I was the one teaching classes and supervised post-grad in my professional life. 


Is staying in this profession worth the personal hardships? I got lucky for now to stay in the field and feel well-payed for the next 3 months at least. Why do we torture ourselves though? "Helping people" doesn't pay. Let's face it. Mental health is hugely important. Society wants us all to be mentally healthy... less violence, less bullying, less crime and substance abuse... but does not pay for providers who work towards this in the communities. A bit frustrating when people have to dumb themselves down and not report their educational and professional successes to an organization's HR who would rather pay less money  for less education and experience... what happened to actually wanting someone who can best do the job? So as an art therapist recently looking for employment... who has a "MA in Art Therapy," I'll admit I wished I'd gotten a dual degree in counseling or social work. FAR more flexibility. But I will get off my soapbox now.


This is why I have to jump through the educational hoops... because without this counseling license, I cannot work. This does not mean that I won't be involved in advocacy to get art therapists more professional credibility. It just means that right now, I need my counseling license back!