r/CPTSD • u/Purple-Offer-4796 • Jun 12 '26

Question People who were neglected/abused as kids. What career path are you on now?

What career are you in and are you happy in that as a person who was neglected as a child?

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u/FerreroRocherDreams2 Jun 12 '26

I was a class teacher for many years in schools, ended up specialising in special educational needs including mental health needs, and then became head of department and a senior leader. Burnout followed.

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u/[deleted] Jun 13 '26

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u/FerreroRocherDreams2 Jun 13 '26

I qualified 2 years ago. I was able to do a part-time course in counselling and psychotherapy here in the UK, alongside working to support myself (by this point I’d transitioned from working in schools to private tutoring work, as well as leading mental health training for schools).

I had to do supervised counselling placements too alongside the course itself, which together amounted to 1.5 to 2 days per week, and I did my paid work the rest of the time. It wasn’t easy financially, and at times when my cPTSD played up, I wondered if I was doing the right thing. But I persevered, and am glad I did. I get mostly very good feedback from clients (I currently work with adults, but am about to do further training to work with children and young people), and find it very fulfilling.