Career Counseling/Mental Health counseling/Counseling Psychology HELP!!

[Lanntis]

Hi,

I am wondering if career counseling programs are good to get into..there is an accredited (CACREP)program at 2 universities in my state (Florida). I've read there are only 8 accredited programs in the country. I'd like to help with other mental health issues someday as well, especially with gay/lesbian issues, diversity, discrimination... but I also love to help people find the career that they are passionate about. I've spent so many years agonizing and researching all the fields and professions of the world, that it seems I already counsel everybody else on choosing their path, while trying to find mine!

Is it a wise course of action to go for an MA in career counseling then or should I go for an MA in mental health counseling OR should I try and get into a Phd or PsyD program in counseling psychology?
I like the idea of being a psychologist but i'm really not into the research aspect of the Phd and as for the Psy.D programs there's only 3 APA accredited in counseling psych. 2 of which are private catholic schools, that do not even include sexual orientation in their anti-discrimination policies in the student handbook.

I'm much less interested in clinical psych because I prefer less severe pathology. I like to counsel on the day to day issues of life. relationships, work, school, the common stressors in life that when approached with a pre-emptive care mentality, prevent deeper issues later on.

EDIT: I've been following the "where does the money go" thread on the clinical psych forum and have gotten even more depressed about the whole state of the mental health profession. So much hard work goes into the doctorate degrees but the compensation for doing so seems much less worth it than most other fields. Can anyone offer any insight/advice here? i'm paralyzed with too many decisions of what's best for me.

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[Lanntis]

bump, for advice.

 

[wrsparks]

Hum. A lot of information here. I would say that looking into masters programs that lead to an LPC or MFT could be a good option. I'm not as familiar with MHC, but there has been some folks on here speaking to some problems with getting their degree recognized in certain states. I would investigate this a little bit more before going the MHC route.

I think career counseling is often found in a more College of Education setting (Masters in some sort of college administration? High School Counselor?) But honestly, I don't know. Maybe you should investigate on your college's Career Services Center website and see what the people who work there have as a degree.

You seem sort of apathetic via your post toward the doctoral level course work, so I wouldn't do it. Too much freaking time and work if you aren't 150% committed.

If I were you, I would take a little more time to explore career counseling vs. gay and lesbian issues counseling.

 

[Lanntis]

Hum. A lot of information here. I would say that looking into masters programs that lead to an LPC or MFT could be a good option. I'm not as familiar with MHC, but there has been some folks on here speaking to some problems with getting their degree recognized in certain states. I would investigate this a little bit more before going the MHC route.

I think career counseling is often found in a more College of Education setting (Masters in some sort of college administration? High School Counselor?) But honestly, I don't know. Maybe you should investigate on your college's Career Services Center website and see what the people who work there have as a degree.

You seem sort of apathetic via your post toward the doctoral level course work, so I wouldn't do it. Too much freaking time and work if you aren't 150% committed.

If I were you, I would take a little more time to explore career counseling vs. gay and lesbian issues counseling.

thanks for your insight, its nice that you can observe my apathy because its often hard for me to see my own apathy towards things. In one regard, I like the prestige, the feeling of being qualified to help larger ranges of people, and being at the top of the field with a Ph.d and on the other hand I dread the research, the dissertation, getting 1/3rd the amount of money as all other doctors etc. If i wasn't terribly, horribly awful at math and science I wish I could be a psychiatrist but.. med school seems very unrealistic and probably very unenjoyable for me. I want a life outside of work. It's very important to me.

My current therapist who is an LMHC, when I told him there's a career counseling program at FSU 4 hours north of me he asked me "how many career counselors do you know?" and essentially told me there's not much of a career or versatility there. They do have a dual concentration program up there where you earn your MA in Mental Health Counseling, and the education specialist degree in career counseling at the same time.

Maybe I should just go for a LCSW, since it seems to be the consesus that they are more respected, more desired, and earn more money for the same job. ugh. I just wish I knew what to do. I'm in a major quarter-life crisis.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

EDIT: I've been following the "where does the money go" thread on the clinical psych forum and have gotten even more depressed about the whole state of the mental health profession. So much hard work goes into the doctorate degrees but the compensation for doing so seems much less worth it than most other fields.

People can still have fine careers as psychologists, they just need to do more planning, and probably work a bit harder than everyone else.

 

[wrsparks]

Yeah... I wasn't going to say it but career counseling is a really small area of interest. I mean, the only way I could see doing that and still eating is being a high school counselor which means you would have to find some sort of Masters in Education with a focus on counseling. That would definitely take less time and work than a PhD with some serious job security

I'm afraid to say it, but I don't think your reasons for wanting a PhD are enough to get you through it. I like research and clinical psychology is a good fit for me, and I still have days in my Masters program where I ask myself what they hell am I doing. I think, "I have no life and miss my family and friends." But when I'm not in the middle of an overwhelming day, I love it and that's why I'm wanting to continue. Not for the money or prestige. I really get a rush out of putting the puzzles together, solving research problems, etc. If you don't get the high and without a serious stubborn streak, it's hard to persevere. And yeah, stay away from med school. THAT is a whole different animal for a special type of person.

I would definately look into a LPC, LPT, and LCSW. Those are all still good options. LPCs see therapy clients. LPTs test. LCSWs advocate. I mean, you might be the smartest out of all of us for sticking with the Masters

Either way, I think you might want to take a deep breath and remind yourself that you don't have to decide tomorrow. Investigate each option fully and make a pros and cons list for each.

 

[Lanntis]

I have considered being a school guidance counselor, there is a good CACREP accredited program in school counseling at my university, and they also have the Mental Health Counseling program as well. the school program leads to LPC I believe and the mental health track leads to LMHC. With the school counseling I could do vocational counseling as well as dealing with the fun array of day to day life adjustment issues adolescents face.

Would a LCSW still be better than both of those? I read LCSW's can also be hired as school counselors but they also have all the other options for work that social workers have (like private practice).

When I initially considered being a guidance counselor, the reason I turned away from it is because 1. i'm male and 2. i'm a homosexual male. I am pretty sure that prior to college level, the education system is still pretty discriminatory. I picture a witch hunt driven by parents and faculty, ruining my career because they feel i'm trying to "recruit" their children.

That sucks considering the facts show that something over 60% of school counselors report they don't have the tools to help students struggling with their sexuality/sexual identities. They get little to no help with some important developmental issues that lead to plenty of suicides. I am a pretty strong advocate/activist for ensuring diversity and equal rights for all people.

Unfortunately, I don't think the majority of the education system feels the same way yet. I'm in Florida but plan to live in CA, WA. state or New York after grad school. Sorry to ramble..I could go on and on, but i've been trying to figure out what to do for 2 years I'm ready to stop stressing about it and pick a path. I suffer from the delusion that whatever I choose cannot be undone so I better get it right. (I believe a personality psychologist following a humanistic modality would say i'm living with much existential anxiety . But at least i'm not living in bad faith.)

 

[lookitssara]

Only in emergency circumstances can most state's allow a LSW to serve as a school counselor. However, in a number of districts, each school has it's own LSW as well as a counselor.

When making your decision, keep in mind that different state's have different preferences for degrees. For example, this board has shown me that NY prefers LSWs to LPCs. I recently learned that often times LSWs can be paid less than LPCs and that's why they become preferred.

Though LSW's can go into private practice....I believe it's fairly rare. And out of all these masters, anything working in the school is likely to pay the most reasonable. Do know that in this economy, getting a job at all is hard. I had my heart set on becoming a school counselor but realized that unless things majorly change before I graduate...I'm going to have a hard time finding job outside of a small rural town as school counselor positions are sometimes first to get cut. HTHS

 

[wrsparks]

I totally get what you're saying about the school counselor thing. The generation gap with the children parents...you might end up fighting a serious uphill battle.
If I get to vote, I say an LPC with a focus on gay/lesbian issues I think this could be an area that is lacking and there is a demand. I mean, while I understand the stress involved with exploring sexuality, I have no experience with this area. If I were a psychologist, I would totally refer to an LPC that specializes in this. Maybe you could find a Master's Program who has someone who is interested in this area.

 

[Lanntis]

I totally get what you're saying about the school counselor thing. The generation gap with the children parents...you might end up fighting a serious uphill battle.
If I get to vote, I say an LPC with a focus on gay/lesbian issues I think this could be an area that is lacking and there is a demand. I mean, while I understand the stress involved with exploring sexuality, I have no experience with this area. If I were a psychologist, I would totally refer to an LPC that specializes in this. Maybe you could find a Master's Program who has someone who is interested in this area.

so by LPC with a focus on gay/lesbian issues you mean what florida calls the LMHC - licensed mental health counselor...and then specializing in gay/lesbian issues somehow. I looked into this, the closest thing I could find was at Widener University in pennsylvania, they have an APA clinical psych program that has a dual concentration in getting a masters in Human Sexuality. I think you can just get the Education Masters in Human Sexuality though too. When you finish, you are able to become a sex therapist. I'm assuming the sex counselor credential would then pull in gay/lesbian issues but i'll have to live in like San Francisco or something.....which i'd love, but it costs too much to live there as a counselor or psychologist in most capacities .

I dunno..maybe I should still consider the school counselor and just run at it with reckless abandon, discrimination be damned. I can live in a progressive city with open minds and help students with the rare counselor that truly does listen to any and all of their issues, including sexuality. I could support the school's LGBT clubs and stuff. advocate for fairness...and get fired. lol.

Ahh!! I just want to help people and make good money doing it, while still having a life outside of work!