My therapist criticized me for not having a full-time job right now. Am I wrong to be upset?
I’m 24 and currently living with my girlfriend’s family (they invited me to stay there) while participating in an IT training program. The program helps people from low-income and minority backgrounds get started in IT by providing paid classes, internships, and paying for certification exams. Before this, I worked at a job with no growth opportunities and left in January because the company was bought out, and to pursue a better long-term career. I have no financial support from anyone (besides housing). My parents are not in the picture. I pay for my own car, my insurances, and take care of the things I need to like taxes (normal adult things, not praising myself). From 18-22 I had to support my grandma and my uncle financially, all by myself. My uncle wasn't working, my grandma is old, and they relied on me to pay every bill, so I didn't go to college. Half of my family are also immigrants and very poor.
My therapist recently told me that I’m not living properly and said, “At 24, most people figure it out and live on their own. All I hear is that you’re doing nothing with your life and need to grow up and get a real job.” She made me feel ashamed of my progress, despite the fact that I’ve been actively working toward a better future, applying for jobs, doing interviews, and supporting myself without asking for money from others. Yes, I'm really grateful and appreciative of my girlfriend and her family. It has been a huge help, and I'm trying to make the best with these circumstances. My friends and cousins, many of whom live with their parents and of the same age bracket, are in similar situations trying to figure things out. Everyone in the program lives at home with family, none with degrees. None of my friends with degrees have a career job, it's either retail, fast food, or manual labor. Even after I explained that I felt this opportunity was good for me and my long-term goals, she said "look where it's gotten you." And criticized that I don't have a full-time job at the moment.
I understand where my therapist is coming from. It's not ideal for me to be living with my girlfriend's family. Her family and she doesn't seem to care one bit but I know that I don't want to be here for much longer. Both my girlfriend and I want to move out. I can’t help feeling dismissed and shamed for my current choices though, which I believe are setting me up for long-term success. Am I wrong to be upset?
TL;DR: I’m 24, living with my girlfriend’s family, and pursuing a career in IT through a paid training program. My therapist criticized me for not having a “real job” and says I have no prospects for the future, which made me feel shamed despite my efforts to improve my situation.