[USER]

I need some guidance from the hive mind. I desperately need to start earning more money.

For years I’ve homeschooled my kids and ran a business tutoring kids online from my home.

I make about $40k from that business per year working part time.

My kids have started to go to public school which frees up more of my time.

My plan was to expand the tutoring business but I’m just not seeing the growth I need to see as quickly as I need to see it.

I have a bachelors in Psych and a Masters in Mental Health Counseling.

I could get a job in mental health counseling, but then I’d be gone all night and weekends when my kids get home and I’d like to be there for them in the evenings.

I’m considering becoming a teacher but that would only bump me to $54k in my area.

I have 20 years experience in child welfare and have pretty much burnt that bridge.

Any ideas on a career that I can do with those qualifications that is in a private company?

I’ve worked my entire career in the nonprofit sector and have no idea what kind of jobs there are available.

Any ideas from some of the most business savvy people I know?

[Morgan]

ZERO TO THREE in a non-profit that does a lot of work to promote the health and quality of life of children 0-3 on a national level.

Their most recent undertaking is their Safe Babies Court Team program that several states are now piloting.

With your experience in child welfare, non-profits, and your educational background it sounds like this would be a good fit.

Their jobs are competitive

[Kristin]

You might check into something in the dyslexia realm. If you can become certified in Orton-Gillingham, you could tutor either remotely, or possibly either contract with a school district or tutoring business.

People are desperate for OG tutors.

Another avenue with your psych/counseling background might be in the assessment realm.

In our area, school districts contract with individuals who are able to administer IQ and achievement tests.

We also have a private tutoring/assessment center that offers this service.

Again, at least in our area, some kids wait for months to get tested for dyslexia, or other learning differences, so this is a much needed service.

I taught for 26 years and have been retired for 4 and have the OG background.

I get approached all the time by people regarding OG tutoring.

Even in our relatively LCOL area, it breaks my heart when people offer to pay me an amount that’s probably similar to their mortgage to tutor their child for a couple of hours a week because they are so desperate and I have to turn them down.

I just don’t have a desire to work now that I’m retired.

Of course, there is also the school counseling/school social worker realm.

If you choose a path that leads to employment with a school district, just make certain that if you happen to be in a WEP state, that you are aware of the potential impact of WEP/GPO on any SS benefits you may be entitled to.

[Katie]

Keep in mind you will get raises each year when you teach if you are in a good system plus the benefit package should be considered.

I started teaching years ago at $36000 and now I’m at $88000 a year plus I have three good retirement plans through them.

One they contribute 5% of my salary into it each and I contributed 5%.

Then I have a 403b Roth that they will match up to a certain percentage.

And the heath insurance premiums are much lower than my husband’s because it is state funded

[Amy]

I can say as a pediatric OT we are constantly begging for Counciling for our kids.

Everyone has a wait list. Even for teletherapy.

You could do very well getting your CEUs up to speed and brushing up on your Counciling skills, even if you felt more comfortable working with another clinician for a while, then going on your own.

[Sandra]

Think about becoming a wellness counselor at a college. No evenings or weekends pay good, benefits excellent.

[Tereasa]

If you get licensed, the options are really unlimited. Our licensed staff range in salaries from about $75k-$145k (director position).

I have a colleague who quit my company because her private practice (cash only no insurance) could make more.

Again, lots of potential if you put in the effort to get licensed.

[John]

My gut says the most bang for your buck is going to be something very different than what you’ve done in the past.

Consider making a “big pivot” into some emerging tech.

It may be surprising to find that a great deal of AI roles are NOT primarily about the traditional skills related to old fashioned coding but more about specific use of standard English, which folks with background in counseling likely are excellent at…

You may benefit from an online course from respect university designed to help with such transitions but it should be a fairly minor cost, easily recouped…

The other broad area that is worth considering is thinks related to financial matters.

There’s a huge demand for folks who need help either for themselves or their elderly parents.

Lots of opportunity for folks who can help others understand how to retire and manage the transitions involved with healthcare, housing, and mindset.

Might make sense to consider studying for CFP to be licensed. Also CASL or EFP…

Finally consider real estate.

Whether flipping, finding rentals, being a broker or “all of the above” the opportunity to build wealth is hard to deny.

It is not always “quick” nor easy but for folks who understand the emotions of buyers / sellers / renters / investors they have a huge edge…

[Rachel]

I have a BA in psych, never got my masters but have worked for years with masters level clinicians.

The 2 most financially lucrative routes with 9-5 schedules seem to be working for a managed care behavioral health organization, doing authorizations, or working for the govt, either state or federal, like at the VA.

[Kelly]

Are you licensed to open your own mental health counseling as a private business?

[Melissa]

As an LCPC, I contract with a rural DV shelter to do telehealth counseling for $75/hour.

I set my own hours.

Opportunities like that are abundant (I live in a LCOL area and higher cost areas would probably pay more, depending.)

[Aleksandra]

You can definitely expand the tutoring business. People are making a killing around where I live, granted I am in HCOL.

But you’re probably just not marketing it enough.

[Tammy]

Districts always need individuals with these licenses and will give emergency licenses.

Probably pays more and you could be on or close to your kids school schedule.

[Diona]

Are you able to become a licensed LPC or Social Work? If you are able to, you could contract work for mental health agency and do assessment.

That’s on your time and typically during the week day only.

I know many that contract with multiple businesses and never go in person unless it’s to sign paperwork

[Richard]

Are you able to open your own practice for mental health counseling
Private Practice or Online Counseling

If you can manage the licensing requirements, starting a part-time private practice or offering online counseling could be an option.

Many therapists are transitioning to teletherapy, which offers flexibility and the ability to set your own hours.

[Jennifer]

Why would you have to be gone all night and evening? There are many mental health counselors that work during the day only.

Do you have your license to practice?

If so, maybe you could open your own practice?

[Kyle]

Look into jobs at health insurance type companies (Aetna, BCBS, CVS/Caremark, Optum, Express Scripts, etc).

A good amount are work from home.

[Author]

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