Ever feel like you missed your calling?

[samoth]

Job outlook may differ from various specialty areas within psychology. The U.S. Department of Labor suggests that job opportunities will be the most plentiful for those with doctoral degrees in applied specialty areas such as counseling or health psychology.

School psychology is also cited as an area that will experience strong growth in the coming years, as awareness of the mental health needs of children increases. As issues such as behavior problems, bullying and learning disorders become more prominent, the demand for qualified school psychologists will go up.

Job Outlook for Psychologists

I assumed it was a given for the OP that going into psych would involve 8-10 more years of school plus psych residency or whatever they call it, and that she wouldn't be practicing until she was over 40 (never mind children or any semblance of normal family life).

Everyone always says to follow your dreams. That's nice and all, but not always bounded in reality. Sometimes you need to make choices in life; choices that will determine what you are able to realistically do within a fininte lifespan.

Live by your priorities, but realize that long-term sacrifices will be necessary when your priorities change -- are you ready to commit, or is there a chance that this might be a kind of period-of-life crisis stemming from temporary emotional or psychological turbulence?

 

[nangiggles]

Let me put my two cents in....

I can tell you it's very draining and sometimes very disappointing to be a psychologist, and yet sometimes it's the most rewarding thing you can do, HOWEVER, I do want you to know that if you take things personally and like to help people to the extent that you mentioned it is very easy to lose perspective, as therapists we are there to assist them, build plans, support systems and strategies for them to deal with their issues,if you take things to personally that you start helping them instead of helping them help their selves, sometimes empathy can be blinding and sometimes patients can be deceiving,I really dont know how to explain it but it's hard but crucial to stay objective and if your heart melts you get subjective, you also deal with multiple patients so you cant "sulk" after one, you have to somehow reset your cassette and start fresh with the next one.

I saw many classmates crash and burn in college because they were studying psychology for the wrong reasons (to make money but they had no empathy or social skills, because they had their own unresolved issues, etc) so think long and hard about this decision since I personally feel it is a career/field in which you can have a very high impact in people and their lives

Job outlook may differ from various specialty areas within psychology. The U.S. Department of Labor suggests that job opportunities will be the most plentiful for those with doctoral degrees in applied specialty areas such as counseling or health psychology.

School psychology is also cited as an area that will experience strong growth in the coming years, as awareness of the mental health needs of children increases. As issues such as behavior problems, bullying and learning disorders become more prominent, the demand for qualified school psychologists will go up.

Job Outlook for Psychologists

This is another very important thing, check out your state requirements, most states require you to have a PhD, take board exams and have 2000 supervised hours before you can get licensed, I am currently fucked and cant practice in the State of FL yet because of this..... a bachelor or master only allow you to be a mental health tech or social worker...

That being said it's not all bad, it is very life changing to study human behavior and it is many times rewarding to be in this line of work,my favorite area is senior citizens but it's also very difficult because they "go"

 

[PICK3]

Everyone always says to follow your dreams. That's nice and all, but not always bounded in reality.

agreed

in this economy I'm grateful to have a job with benefits

searching for "fulfillment" and "personal enrichment" will have to happen outside the 9 to 5

 

[bigpokey]

agreed

in this economy I'm grateful to have a job with benefits

searching for "fulfillment" and "personal enrichment" will have to happen outside the 9 to 5

or 9 inside 2 holes for u

 

[PICK3]

This is another very important thing, check out your state requirements, most states require you to have a PhD, take board exams and have 2000 supervised hours before you can get licensed, I am currently fucked and cant practice in the State of FL yet because of this..... a bachelor or master only allow you to be a mental health tech or social worker...

That being said it's not all bad, it is very life changing to study human behavior and it is many times rewarding to be in this line of work,my favorite area is senior citizens but it's also very difficult because they "go"

We have an EAP (Employee Assistance Program). One of the lady counselors transitioned from journalism to Psych counseling in her mid 50's after getting a M.A. She has some kind of professional designation, LP

Licensed Professional Counselor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Seems like a decent gig.

 

[calveless wonder]

I assumed it was a given for the OP that going into psych would involve 8-10 more years of school plus psych residency or whatever they call it, and that she wouldn't be practicing until she was over 40 (never mind children or any semblance of normal family life).

Everyone always says to follow your dreams. That's nice and all, but not always bounded in reality. Sometimes you need to make choices in life; choices that will determine what you are able to realistically do within a fininte lifespan.

Live by your priorities, but realize that long-term sacrifices will be necessary when your priorities change -- are you ready to commit, or is there a chance that this might be a kind of period-of-life crisis stemming from temporary emotional or psychological turbulence?

It wouldn't be that bad. I'm sure she has some of the core courses and would have to do mostly major stuff for undergrad. So maybe another 5-6 years total. If she was a psychiatrist, then yes.

You can work in certain psych fields with only a masters. They don't pay very well and you're restricted in what you can do but in her specialization it might be feasible.

90% of psych related jobs though, do require a PHD or psych. d

 

[DannoMight]

After being in intensive school for the past 2 weeks I wish I would have just went to college right out of high school. But I was afraid and heavily partying at the time doing a lot of drinking, extacy, and cocaine and I landed a good paying job that further enabled my behavior along with selling the drugs as well. For some odd reason I always wanted to be a dentist. Now with a wife and family I have to take a career that will keep the boat afloat, provide insurance, and allow comfortable living. But this new job will not be nearly as physically straining but I may be away from home a bit more.

 

[EnderJE]

I'm glad that you can find something that your passionate about. I know a few people like you who are moving towards that direction (ie passionate careers) and am quite jealous.

I like games. To me the whole "corporate life" just seems to be a game of some sorts that I realize doesn't amount to munch in the larger scheme of things; but I don't have any area to divert my passion into.

Instead, I provide guidance to my kids and little brother (don't be me!) to help them move along.

Good luck on your journey. I hope to hear of your future trials and tribulations.


<Whoa, that sounded a little to serious, I should throw in a "motherfucker" in there or something to lighten the mood..>

 

[Smurfy]

The major difference between what a PhD can do and what a Masters Level Clinician can do is basically psych testing. That's it. She can certainly be a mental health provider in an eating disorder program with a masters degree. Thing is, in order to make decent money, you would need a PhD, but you can attain that while working with your masters.

And it's simply not true that 90% of the "jobs" require a PhD. That's ludicrous.

 

[shirlene29]

I totally missed out on my "calling" and the money wouldnt have been bad in the field either

but I cocked it up myself...utterly and it was totally preventable..its something I will always be angry at myself about
someone mentioned a different career path in a similar field, but now Im stuck wondering if I can do it


I think Im just going to replace my welder and buy a plasma cutter and sculpt...fuck it




be careful you're not looking TOO far ahead right now nef...concentrate on babysteps ..by all means look towards the future for hope but get well first then re-evaluate