Karina Lapa, LMHC, South Florida Counseling Agency: http://southfloridacounseling.net/

1-At what age did you enter the field?
I graduated from college at the age of 21 and at 22 , I was already working in a public psychiatric hospital. One year later, I started working in a private psychiatric hospital, treating the mentally ill, where I worked for another year and a half.

2-What has been the most difficult part of getting to where you are today?  What about the most rewarding part?

Many things were challenging, especially in the beginning when I needed to promote myself,  advertise, and attend networking events. Not only did I need to be known in the community, but also  be know as someone who “knew what she was doing,” and that people could rely on as a “good professional.”   Also, learning the “business of private practice”, which I did by reading books, attending seminars, and talking to other therapists who were in private practice.  It  was also challenging  to start building my clientele.  It only happened with time, and with the best advertisement ever known—word of mouth. But, it is extremely rewarding when I see my clients getting ready for termination and knowing that something about them is transformed, and that whatever they’ve accomplished will have a huge impact on their lives. It is also rewarding when I receive a letter, email, or a thank you card from someone I helped thanking me for the gift of therapy.  That is priceless.
3- What advice do you have for people just entering the field? How to get an internship or job?  The Mental Health field is not an easy one! First you really have to have passion for what you do and for the human being, as this is the job of empathy and understanding of the psyche. Then, you must obtain knowledge for the area you want to work with which means studying, studying and studying some more. Attending workshops, conferences, whenever possible, and in the areas you are most interested in or feel inclined to is also helpful as is  networking  with professionals who are already in the field in many different areas, just so you make sure you’re on the right track, and to learn the keys to success from the “pros”.  Also attend supervision.  Supervision does not only need to happen when you are doing your internship.  It can go beyond that.  There will always be one case or another you may need to consult with other therapists.  And the most important piece of advice I could give anyone entering this field is to undergo their own PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC PROCESS!  This not only will help you look into yourself in ways you may never had before and resolve any “unfinishedbusiness”, but will also give you a perspective of you as the patient and the subliminal and beautiful aspects of therapy.
4- Do you have any advice as to how to prevent therapist burnout? Take good care of yourself and “don’t bring your clients home with you!” And this is something that only experience allows you to do.  Leave your clients at work.  Not only due to confidentiality reasons, but also because you need to live a healthy life outside your office. Practice some sport, go shopping, talk to friends, go have a manicure or pedicure, eat out, date, go to the movies,drink a beer, you know… live your own life.
5- What has private practice taught you? 

That I really love what I do! LOL. And that’s not a bogus statement. I really look forward to going to work.  Every day is a new and different challenge. Although I sometimes need to get out of my comfort zone, and learn some more, help some more, and be a “super therapist” (which is a term I use to say that a therapist does not only need  technique and knowledge, but needs to go beyond those frames and become as human as possible). This is when magic in the therapeutic setting happens!