I've wasted a lot of time, and I want to get back on track.

[rainygirl14]

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Thank you so much for anyone who actually reads all of this. I am looking for guidance.

Background: I graduated with a BA in psychology from the University of California, Merced in May 2015. I spent years during undergrad, and years since, trying to figure out what path is realistic for me to take to become a therapist.

I screwed myself during undergrad by not getting involved in any research, clubs, clinical experience, ANYTHING. I had a job my senior year working at the library and that was the extent of my out-of-class involvement. Since graduating, I have screwed myself even further by not getting any job or any research experience. The only volunteer experience I have is as an online Crisis Counselor with Crisis Text Line, which I started about 10 months ago. I have not gotten a job, research, or other volunteer work because I don't have my driver's license or other reliable transportation from my house. I don't have a disability keeping me from driving, I simply have never gotten my license. I hope to get it soon.

For a long time, my plan was to do a PsyD. I didn't have research experience, and I wasn't in love with the idea of doing research in a PhD program. Then, I started hearing questionable things about PsyDs, so I have been unsure of what to do ever since. Recently, I started looking into master's programs because I am feeling desperate to just go back to school already. However, the lower salary and other limitations of being a master's level therapist makes me nervous.

Now I am thinking a PhD may be the best way to go, ultimately. However, it will obviously take years for me to get my application to a competitive point. I am considering getting a master's in clinical or counseling psychology, and doing research while I am there. This way I would still get a job at a master's level if I don't end up doing a PhD. Is this a reasonable plan, or just a waste of time?

 

[propsych]

Hi, I think a Master's might be a good path to get back on the PhD track. Getting back into an academic sphere will connect you to professors doing research. There are also many therapy-jobs out there that only require a MA level degree so perhaps you could look into those as well! However, Masters programs aren't cheap, so maybe you could also try to get an RA job (I've seen them listed online on sites like Indeed etc.) or maybe even doing a little research and finding a lab in a college that fits your interests and then e-mailing the professor in charge of that lab to see if you could join as an RA. Chances are they won't pay you, but hey you're just looking for experience! -just my thoughts 🙂

 

[kestrelcry]

Firstly, relax. You haven't even been out of school two years. I promise your brain is not about to hit an expiration date, melt, and run out your nose. Personally, I think there's a lot of benefit in having some time between undergrad and grad school. But yeah, what propsych said. Do a masters or get a research job or volunteering. There are some funded masters programs, although not many. I vote for the job/volunteer route, rather than an unfunded program. However. . .
If you're thinking of going for a PhD purely for financial reasons, you might want to think about opportunity cost. You'll spend 3 to 4 times as long getting a PhD (assuming you have to invest a couple years minimum into doing research/a masters before getting into a program) as you would in a clinical MSW program. That's three to four years not making much (barely any) money. It's possible that in that 3 to 4 years you could make enough money, start retirement savings, invest, etc to make up for not making more later. Maybe. Also maybe not. Frankly, I haven't done the math, but it's not unreasonable. I certainly work with LCSWs my age who own homes, nicer cars than me, etc. I'm in my first year of real job, they've been working for years. It might be that for whatever you want to do, a PhD would serve you better, in which case, hey, go for it. But don't disregard opportunity cost.

 

[jmiah717]

I'm with the other posters on this...easy does it. If you know you want to do therapy...MSW/LCSW can certainly take you there. And since you said you don't like research...most MSW programs don't have a heavy research component. You'll have some but not like you would in a PhD program. If you think you'll always have the PhD itch...think hard about that and whether it's worth it for you. I went MSW as sort of a rash decision for lots of reasons we won't get into. I enjoy what I do (therapy with vets). I've worked private practice, hospitals, family therapy, etc. It's a versatile degree. That said...I'm currently working hard on trying to get into a PhD clinical psych program. Like you, I now have to gain research experience, which I'm doing for 0 dollars on my off time. So, hard to know if the itch will stay with you or not but try your best to flesh that out before you make your decision. As I stated though, the MSW from a good program is a great degree which offers you nearly endless options. You'll never likely be rich from your degree (you won't be with PhD/PsyD either) but you'll always be able to find a job if you're flexible and are a good worker. Good luck.