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Personally, I left tech in large part to become a therapist doing psychedelic-assisted clinical work when it becomes legal. It really does seem like it can be a

by Glench 3y ago

Personally, I left tech in large part to become a therapist doing psychedelic-assisted clinical work when it becomes legal. It really does seem like it can be a potent tool for relieving great suffering. You can read a little about my story here: http://glench.com/WhyIQuitTechAndBecameATherapist/ http://glench.com/WhyIQuitTechAndBecameATherapist/

mettamage 3y ago
1% chance that I'd go the same route just because of your comment. I have a bsc. in psychology, so partially already there to become a licensed clinical psychologist. It'd be one hell of a career switch though. I guess, so was yours :) Edit: I just read your blog post about it. Damn! This is illuminating. It'll definitely help me in my journey. Thanks! Also, definitely envious that you got to work with Bret Victor. A few years ago, I really wanted to but given I'm from the EU and he didn't seem to be looking, I never messaged him. I think I should have. @haswell I read your comment. I'm happy to know that as well :)
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- haswell 3y ago
  Replying again since I didn’t manage to re-parent my comment fast enough! I suspect based on your username that we share some common interests. If you ever want to chat about these topics and the things pushing (pulling?) me in this direction, ping me (email in profile). Best of luck on your journey.
pier25 3y ago
Very inspiring story. You probably already know but Oregon started licensing recently for psilocybin therapy. https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/PREVENTIONWELLNESS/Pages/Psilocybin-License-Facilitator.aspx https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/PREVENTIONWELLNESS/Pages/Psilo...
haswell 3y ago
I’m a year into a sabbatical after spending almost 20 years in tech. I’m currently seriously considering a similar career change, as daunting as it seems at first glance. It’s pretty interesting to find comment threads like this in this particular moment of my life. I think there’s something about being an empathic person in an environment that values systems thinking. As I’ve cultivated that mindset and skillset, it has become more and more obvious that the world needs systems thinkers outside of tech. As a person who benefited greatly from a therapist who helped me apply this kind of thinking to my own life, I’ve learned just how impactful that can be. I don’t know exactly what the next thing looks like yet, but it’s fascinating and informative to see others who have made or are considering the same career change. Thanks for sharing this.
- itsmemattchung 3y ago
  > I think there’s something about being an empathic person in an environment that values systems thinking You took the words right out of my mouth. That's exactly how I am feeling these days.
wnolens 3y ago
Nice to read your journey. Glad you found a way through. I had a similar experience to the first half of your story. Was so unfulfilled in tech that I ended up quitting and took time off not working, trying lots of different things, getting very frustrated and depressed along the way. I did try LSD (ok, a lot of LSD) and instead of it helping me process/sort through/integrate some of my troubles it added new ones and created recurring intrusive thoughts. Overall, bad experience & wish I didn't do that. After ~2y outside of full time employment (i did some contract work eventually), I found myself more depressed than when I left. I had tried a lot of things (hobbies for joy, tech in non-FTE ways, entrepreneurship, travel, classes, intimate relationships..) but found no grander meaning or goals at the end of it, just some isolated interesting experiences (some were peak positive, others a pit). So back to tech. I don't love it, but having an external demand of me was sufficient to lift me out of the pit of despair i was in.
- hammyhavoc 3y ago
  I wish more people spoke about their negative experiences with psychedelics. It's a sobering and necessary counterpoint to most of what floods these threads of how it changed someone's life, but the "how" is largely ambiguous.
  - haswell 3y ago
    As studies continue, it seems that a key component is a safe and therapeutic environment and a trained guide who can help the person navigate what they experience. People most often get in trouble when they bring a recreational drug mindset, or are predisposed to certain conditions, or have not worked with a therapist to have foundational tools to manage the experience. The risks are absolutely real and should not be taken lightly, but there’s a huge difference between going on a personal journey of experimentation without the tools to navigate that journey, and going through a careful screening process with counseling during and after each trip. Michael Pollan’s work (book and documentary) explores this somewhat. I don’t think most people would describe the experience as ambiguous. That is not to say that the experience can be sufficiently described with language.
say_it_as_it_is 3y ago
Where are you located, and what are your academic goals before practicing? How will you respond to cease-and-desist type orders from licensing bodies who disagree with psychedelic-first therapy protocols?
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
UncleOxidant 3y ago
The only place this is currently legal is Oregon, right? I know they're training currently training therapists for psychadelic-assisted clinical work and it's supposed to be starting soon.

by Glench 3y ago

mettamage 3y ago

1% chance that I'd go the same route just because of your comment. I have a bsc. in psychology, so partially already there to become a licensed clinical psychologist. It'd be one hell of a career switch though. I guess, so was yours :) Edit: I just read your blog post about it. Damn! This is illuminating. It'll definitely help me in my journey. Thanks! Also, definitely envious that you got to work with Bret Victor. A few years ago, I really wanted to but given I'm from the EU and he didn't seem to be looking, I never messaged him. I think I should have. @haswell I read your comment. I'm happy to know that as well :)

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
haswell 3y ago
Replying again since I didn’t manage to re-parent my comment fast enough! I suspect based on your username that we share some common interests. If you ever want to chat about these topics and the things pushing (pulling?) me in this direction, ping me (email in profile). Best of luck on your journey.

pier25 3y ago

Very inspiring story. You probably already know but Oregon started licensing recently for psilocybin therapy. https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/PREVENTIONWELLNESS/Pages/Psilocybin-License-Facilitator.aspx https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/PREVENTIONWELLNESS/Pages/Psilo...

haswell 3y ago

I’m a year into a sabbatical after spending almost 20 years in tech. I’m currently seriously considering a similar career change, as daunting as it seems at first glance. It’s pretty interesting to find comment threads like this in this particular moment of my life. I think there’s something about being an empathic person in an environment that values systems thinking. As I’ve cultivated that mindset and skillset, it has become more and more obvious that the world needs systems thinkers outside of tech. As a person who benefited greatly from a therapist who helped me apply this kind of thinking to my own life, I’ve learned just how impactful that can be. I don’t know exactly what the next thing looks like yet, but it’s fascinating and informative to see others who have made or are considering the same career change. Thanks for sharing this.

itsmemattchung 3y ago
> I think there’s something about being an empathic person in an environment that values systems thinking You took the words right out of my mouth. That's exactly how I am feeling these days.

wnolens 3y ago

Nice to read your journey. Glad you found a way through. I had a similar experience to the first half of your story. Was so unfulfilled in tech that I ended up quitting and took time off not working, trying lots of different things, getting very frustrated and depressed along the way. I did try LSD (ok, a lot of LSD) and instead of it helping me process/sort through/integrate some of my troubles it added new ones and created recurring intrusive thoughts. Overall, bad experience & wish I didn't do that. After ~2y outside of full time employment (i did some contract work eventually), I found myself more depressed than when I left. I had tried a lot of things (hobbies for joy, tech in non-FTE ways, entrepreneurship, travel, classes, intimate relationships..) but found no grander meaning or goals at the end of it, just some isolated interesting experiences (some were peak positive, others a pit). So back to tech. I don't love it, but having an external demand of me was sufficient to lift me out of the pit of despair i was in.

hammyhavoc 3y ago
I wish more people spoke about their negative experiences with psychedelics. It's a sobering and necessary counterpoint to most of what floods these threads of how it changed someone's life, but the "how" is largely ambiguous.
- haswell 3y ago
  As studies continue, it seems that a key component is a safe and therapeutic environment and a trained guide who can help the person navigate what they experience. People most often get in trouble when they bring a recreational drug mindset, or are predisposed to certain conditions, or have not worked with a therapist to have foundational tools to manage the experience. The risks are absolutely real and should not be taken lightly, but there’s a huge difference between going on a personal journey of experimentation without the tools to navigate that journey, and going through a careful screening process with counseling during and after each trip. Michael Pollan’s work (book and documentary) explores this somewhat. I don’t think most people would describe the experience as ambiguous. That is not to say that the experience can be sufficiently described with language.

say_it_as_it_is 3y ago

Where are you located, and what are your academic goals before practicing? How will you respond to cease-and-desist type orders from licensing bodies who disagree with psychedelic-first therapy protocols?

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

UncleOxidant 3y ago

The only place this is currently legal is Oregon, right? I know they're training currently training therapists for psychadelic-assisted clinical work and it's supposed to be starting soon.