Graduating from Therapy School? Now What?

Graduating from therapy school is the culmination of all the energy, hard work, and time you invested in yourself and in your dream. Now, it’s time to move to the next phase and… and… do what exactly?

You might find yourself in the unenviable position of asking that dreary question, “Now what?” You might think you know what you want to accomplish in the real world but you’re probably clueless how to get there. Fortunately, you’re not alone. Your classmates share that same uncertainty about the future. You can take some comfort in that at least.

The first thing you probably want to find out is whether there’s a job out there for you. Of course there is but it’s a matter of looking at the right place. Have you thought about travel therapy? You should.

Whether you’re a physical or occupational therapist, there’s nothing like travel therapy to help get your feet wet, so to speak.

Travel therapy is a great career move, especially if you’re a fresh graduate. For one thing, travel therapy allows you greater flexibility with your schedule. Unlike regular work where you’re allotted two weeks of paid vacation annually, travel therapy allows you to take as much personal time as you like once you finish a travel assignment, which on average lasts thirteen weeks. You can pursue personal activities like going back to school or taking care of a sick loved one and take as much time off as you need.

Of course, the downside to this is that while you’re on hiatus between assignments, you’re not going to get paid. However, for many travel therapists, this setup is idea because travel therapy pays relatively more than many permanent positions. What’s more, your income isn’t taxed as much. The money you earn while you’re working, if you know how to save, can carry you through your vacation time. What’s more, travel therapy allows you to return anytime you want.

An important aspect of travel therapy is the travel part. There’s nothing like exploring new places to help broaden your horizons.

Career-wise, traveling from facility to facility will give you training of the sort you can’t get in a permanent position. You’ll be exposed to different settings, which will then help you decide which specialty to take when it’s time. If a particular setting isn’t a good fit for you, then you’ll only have to suck it up for three months before moving on to another setting. You’ll also be able to cover more ground in less time than a physical or occupational therapist in a permanent position would.

As far as personal growth is concerned, traveling will teach you how to become a better communicator because you’ll be exposed to people you wouldn’t normally have interactions with. You will, in your travels, meet many interesting people, some of whom you’ll end up becoming friends with.

There are many other reasons why you should give travel therapy a try. If you think that this unique work setup is for you, the first thing you want to do is contact a recruiter and see what kind of benefit programs they offer. There is a world of benefits in doing travel therapy and only half of them deal with your career. Traveling for a living also enriches the soul.