I have questions...!!!

[DreamPsych]

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I am an aspiring psychologist, and after much research I've come to find that the titles and degrees are complicated....

could someone break it down for me as much as possible??

 

[jdawgg]

I am an aspiring psychologist, and after much research I've come to find that the titles and degrees are complicated....

could someone break it down for me as much as possible??

You need to be more specific. A lot of this information is readily available on this site and on the internet. If you want to be a psychologist, you'll need to get used to synthesizing data so you may as well start now.

 

[lookitssara]

First of all, if you want to be a psychologist (this exact term), then you need to get a DOCTORATE. You can get a doctor of philosophy (PhD) or a doctor of psychology (PsyD). You will get this in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or school psychology.

If you want to practice mental health, but not obtain a doctorate, then there are other options, but (aside from school psychology), you will not be a "psychologist" (there are legal protections on that title).

 

[Brad S]

Is there sort of a Bergey's Manual of psychology?

IE
I want to be a psychologist: yes=goto research or goto clinical practice no=wtf man
I want to research: marketing=goto products or goto services abnormal conditions=...
I want to clinical practice: goto prison population or goto adolescent or goto problems of every day living

??

 

[BSWdavid]

I think you need to compare and contrast the different areas of psychology and determine your interests. Also, many people think they want to be psychologists because they want to help people, or counsel people. This really isn't what it means to be a psychologist. Yes, part of what many clinical and counseling psychologists is help and counsel people, but psychology is much more complex than that. The idea is about learning the theoretical and empirical basis of human thought and behavior, becoming a scientist, and possibly becoming a clinician.

Are you intrigued with the idea of being a scientist that studies human behavior? If not, maybe psychology isn't appropriate for you. There are several other fields that will prepare you to counsel individuals and provide clinical services (mental health counselor, licensed clinical social worker, pastoral counselor, etc). Do a google search on any of these topics and you will lean a lot.