My career counselor doesn’t know what filed I should enter. I know that, at minimum, I will need to get a Masters. But in what????
But first I must start with a undergrad program.
Should I enter Psychology or Social Work?
But I am confused because everyone keeps telling me that getting degree in Psychology is worthless. I have even heard people tell me that a master’s degree in Psychology is worthless. What do you think?
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I Want A Job Counseling People?5 comments to I Want A Job Counseling People? |
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As you see in the answers here, part of the problem is you will get answers based largely on peoples limited exposure and biases. One issue may be in your use of the term “counseling” which implies the “counseling” field, which is unique and separate from psychology, social work and Marriage and Family Therapy. Now if you are using it as a “generic” term for “psychotherapy” (which is really the correct generic term as it is not really connected with any specific discipline – then in reality any and all field potentially will lead to the education, degree and licensure you need (though it is also important to know that technically the term psychotherapy is not a protected term and so anyone can technically use it – eg. you don’t need a licence to use it).
Pros and Cons of different fields:
Social Work: With a BSW in social work you can go into an MSW program as an advanced standing student allowing you to finish your degree in a one year rather than two. Social work is probably the most respected of the MA level degrees because of accreditation, licensure, and training.
MA in psychology – In some states, some degree programs will lead to a licensure degree (usually the LPC or MFT). You need to be clear if the program is licensable as some MA Psych degrees are only good for PhD prep. The PhD in Psych is still the most powerful of all the degrees with the PsyD next in prestigue (but remember these are doctoral level rather than MA).
MA in counseling – many routes to this, they can be MA in educational counseling, psych counseling, and straight counseling – Can license under the LPC or sometimes MFT
Marriage and Family Therapy – Can be under counseling, psych or MFT – usually licence under MFT or LPC.
The choice is really about what you are most interested in. Social work tends to be the broadest and most wholistic of the professions with a focus on multiple systems levels and social justice. The others more of an individual focus.
DA
I don’t know what kind of counseling you want to do. I see more jobs for people with masters in social work. The job are helping war vets and stuff like that.
I really think a great deal of this depends on where you live. I live in a state that only has one masters level social work program – so anyone who is a licensed social worker (LSW) can easily get a job here. Masters level psychology programs are on every corner so the competition in jobs is a little stiffer.
A degree in Psychology is not necessarily worthless, but it is true you will need your masters degree if you want to be little more than a dorm mom reminding residents tend to simple toiletry and hygiene issues. To really be self sustaining in psychology you will need to become a LPC (licensed professional counselor – about 2 years of supervision after your masters degree). The LPC test is psychology.
So I suppose you need to ask yourself, do you want to spend your life saying “How does that make you feel?” or
“What do you need so I can show you the resources so you can help yourself.”
Practical personality, yes or no answers, instant gratification and responses go with Social work.
If you like to talk, listen, conceptualize, theorize, no right or wrong answers and don’t mind lots of vagueness and gray areas go with Psychology.
Good Luck.
good for you for wanting to go into the Counseling field!!
First off, so you want to do community counseling or school counseling? If it’s community counseling you want, a bachelors in Psych or Social Work is fine. Then get a Master’s in Community Counseling or Counseling Psychology.
If you want to do School Counseling you have a few options:
undergrad in Education, Social Work or Psych – then an M.A. in School Counseling (check with your state as to whether or not you need and Education/Teaching Cert.) – but, be warned… if you want to do actual COUNSELING in the schools, most public schools leave that to the Social Workers,so an M.S.W. might be a better option.
As for the people who say a Psych undergrad is useless – NO degreee is useless. A Psych Master’s (thesis-based) is tough to employ, but a great degree for a research-minded person, or a stepping stone to a PhD.
Hope it helps!
What kind of counseling do you want to do? My aunt is a psychology bs/ma, and she works at an elementary school working with kids.
I have a friend who went into social work, and her job is more about helping families who have had problems get back on track.
I think you need a better idea of what you want to do before you choose. Have you thought of volunteering somewhere where you might be able to learn more about those opportunities?