career change to Psychology, need help getting started.

[FFmaniax]

First a little background about me:
I am currently 27. I graduated with a 3.0gpa bachelor in Computer Information System and decided I didn't like the field. I chose to join the military to see if that was a right fit for me and after serving 3 years decided it wasn't. I then spent 1 year teaching abroad to see if i would enjoy teaching, but sadly again i felt that i lacked the passion for it. Nearing the end of my year in teaching, i was hit by a car while walking on the side of the street. I have been recovering these past 6 months and have been considering my options. I feel that Pyschology is what I am most interested in and would like to further pursue options in this field.

I have been interested in trying to get into the field of Psychology because of my positive personal experiences with a therapist in the past. I also feel and am told by peers that i have a personality suitable to be such.
Needless to say i have chosen to direct my efforts on getting into Psychology. I've been lurking on these forums, and reading about the different paths of psychology and am fairly certain that i would be mostly interested in Counseling Psychology. As for whether i need a Master's or PhD/PsyD and how to approach this matter is where i need help. My goals currently are to try to be a Counseling Psychologist which from my understanding have a hands on relation to helping the normal population deal with common disturbances like depression, relationship management, anxiety, etc.

Having no degree and experience in the field is a cause for concern. I have little idea on where to start in this matter.

Should i attempt to go back to college and get a 2nd Bachelor's in Phsychology before continuing?
If so would it be better to go back to my old Alma mater? or look for undergrad program specialized in Psych?
Should i look into Master's Programs?
If so should i base my school options from this site (http://www.socialpsychology.org/clinrank1997.htm)?
Would i even be eligible without having any experience or degree in Psych? (from what people have been saying it can be extremeley difficult to get in without a degree or experience in the field)
Should i attempt to get into a PhD or PsyD program if i want to be a Counseling Psychologist?
Should i look for an opportunity to get experience and if so where can i without having a degree?
Should i start self-studying for the Psychology GRE?
Who or What agency can i contact that can assist with this kind of career transition?

Recently i have been studying for the GRE as i'm pretty sure that i'll be needing to take that test to further any possibility of getting into school, but as for any other areas i could really use some advice. I have been searching for what i consider to be my passion, and i honestly hope/feel that Counseling Psychology is the right direction for me.

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[psychstudent90]

I'm from Australia, not the US, so don't take my word as gospel... but you will need an undergraduate qualification in psychology before you specialise in counselling psychology. I think you should be able to do this through a Bachelor of Psychology, or a more generalist degree (e.g., Bachelor of Arts), with a psychology major. In Australia, we also have the option for people who already have an undergraduate degree to just do a one year Graduate Diploma of Psychology, which gives you an accredited major in psychology.

After that, what path you pursue depends on whether you develop a passion for research, practice or both. I never expected to develop a passion for research - but I did - during my third year placement. Keeping that in mind, try your best to get at least some experience. Some other people on here may be more useful in regard to specific opportunities in the US.

Also, if you're interested in treating mental illness (e.g., depression, anxiety disorders), I'd recommend looking at clinical psychology too. Counselling psychology is a good back-up plan though, because clinical psychology is exceptionally competitive.

Hope I've been a bit helpful!

 

[deleted343839]

In the US, accredited counseling psychology and clinical psychology programs are both highly competitive. It's fair to say that any program worth attending is competitive. You will need some educational background (though not necessarily a bachelor's degree in psychology) and research experience to be a strong candidate. Since your undergraduate GPA is pretty low and you haven't had much exposure to the field, I would suggest you aim for a master's in psychology first. That will give you a better feel for the kind of work you will need to do to earn a doctoral degree, and you can gain research experience.

A couple of questions though:

(1) Aside from vague positive experiences with your personal therapist you haven't shared what you find compelling about a career in psychology. With your history of career shifts, you should be making every effort to avoid repeating the pattern. This is especially true of with a career that, unlike the military or non-credentialed teaching gigs, has very high barriers to entry (for instance, for the doctoral degree alone you are easily looking at 5-7 years of full time study).

(2) Have you investigated other mental health-related careers? Why psychology?

 

[FFmaniax]

Thanks for responding!

(1) I'm sure that many people have felt the desire to help others and do what they feel is meaningful. I feel that my experiences with a therapists was something that i myself would like to emulate. Honestly i don't even know if i am capable of explaining the experience. I'm not 100% on this, as i don't really think there ever is a 100%, but i do think this is definitely the right direction in searching for what career i can be passionate about. I am searching for a career that i can be passionate about, and have identified early on why i would not be satisfied with the work that i have previously experienced. I decided psychology because the thought of it fills me with excitement, and it far surpasses my interest in any other field. I'm not trying to get a career, i'm trying to find what i think is the right career. A career that offers enriching work that will satisfy my desire to help another person the same way i was helped. I am a little bit daunted by the highly competitive scene, but i still want to give it my all.

(2) Honestly i want to go back to school, whether its for a master's or a second bachelor's i haven't decided. From all the classes i took, i think Psychology was the only one i was interested in. As for work in mental health, i'm a little bit in the dark about this. Isn't it mostly related to Psychology? Seemed like all the career options i know about stem from a Psychology background.

The reason i was asking about the Master's programs and 2nd bachelors was because i was unsure if I could get into a Master's program without the degree or experience, hence the potential need to get a 2nd Bachelors. Is this the case?

 

[CheetahGirl]

You could also look into a post-bacclaureate in psychology, like this one:
http://ce.columbia.edu/postbaccalaureate-studies.
This way you don't need to shell out the money for a second bachelor's. I got my first masters in general psych in 18-months from a reputable university (I went summers to complete the degree earlier)‎. But it cost me $$$ b/c it was non-funded but it helped me prove academically that I was suited for graduate work. You'll also have to (most likely) take the psych GREs for some programs, but I agree that your on the right path by studying for the (general) GRE.

A lot of the deeper meaning questions like why do you want to be psychologist, what areas do you want to explore/research, etc. you may discover after you studied the degree more. Also, have you considered working with Veterans (being one yourself). I recently finish clinical internship‎ at a VA and the Veterans who came back as social workers or doctors were so well-recieved (like positve role models, or even mentorship to the OIF/OEF/OND younger Veterans).

So stay the course, if this becomes your plan. I encourage you (based on what you wrote) to keep going. Age is not necessarily a barrier if you are determined.

Good luck!‎

 

[FFmaniax]

Thank you for responding!

I have considered working with veterans. I would have to try my hand at it before deciding. Money isn't too big of an issue as i am fully covered by the 9/11 plan for at least 4 years worth of schooling from non private schools. I would like to seek the most time efficient solution without sacrificing the level of learning. In this I am faced with the decision of going for a 2nd bachelor, doing postbac studies, going straight for master's and taking the prereq courses after getting into a program. I am not sure which would be the most efficient way of stepping into the field.

I agree with you on the specifics of path exploration. I find it hard to committ fully to a response that will determine my next 10-20 years, when what i really want is a foot through the door. I want to see and experience more of the field before i can confidently say what i want to study or be. From what i've read i feel an attraction towards Counseling Psychology and less towards research (maybe leaning towards PsyD over PhD in the long run). Currently due to life experiences I feel that Psychology is the right direction for me, hence i am willing to give it my time, effort, and money to further pursue this option.

 

[PsychMajorUndergrad18]

I would say that the idea of doing a post-baccalaureate in psychology or even takes a few core psychology course like Abnormal Psych, Lifespan Human Development, History and Systems of Psych and Social Psych at a community college while maintaining a solid GPA (3.2-3.5ish) would be a good start for you in your aspirations to become a Psychologist. I would also say to look at other possible options like for example looking at a Masters degree in either counseling, marriage and family therapy or social work. Sometimes a Counseling or Clinical Psychology degree is not the basic requirement to do what you want to do. In closing, I would say that exposing yourself to some core psychology classes while obtaining a solid GPA and also looking at some other options in the mental health field would be a great way to step into getting started.

 

[PsychGradAd]

Take a course or two in undergrad psych if you're unsure about spending part of your 4 years of funded study on a Masters program. If you're fairly sure about this change (it sounds like you may be), I'd go right into a Masters program. They aren't that competitive. Try a Masters in Mental Health Counseling if you want to get a terminal degree in case you decide against the doctoral program. With an MHC you can practice as a Masters level clinician. Also consider MSW programs (better regarded than MHC programs, although less psych more case management). Best of luck to you! I hope these responses helped. I'm a career changer as well and am in my third year of a doctoral program in Counseling Psych. I'm thrilled that I made the switch!