Psychology Student with quick questions

[Psychology201]

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Hello everyone. I hope all are doing wonderful. I am glad I have found this forum. I currently decided to become a psychology major, I am currently in community college and am 3 classes away from transferring to a four year university. Thus being said, I dont know too much about the psychology as far as work wise..

I am feeling a bit pressured to not persue a psychology major because I am feeling that I cannot make a decent living without Phd/Psy.D. My question is: that I will be going for my master's but most likely will not go for my PhD, will I be able to make a good living with a master's degree and what can I do once I get my master's? Will I be able to open up my own clinic or private practice with a masters degree? Since Im not going to earn my PhD, I dont want to persue psychology and find out the hard way at the end that I am not making enough and cant do much with a masters.. I have heard from some people that going into Psychology without earing a PhD is like being in the real estate market, that nothing is guarenteed, where as if you were to be an engineer, once you graduate you can find work easily. I would love feedback from others, and I am sorry if I am at the wrong station or post at this forum. I apologize in advance.

Edward

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Edward,

Welcome to the forum. If you poke around in this forum you'll find a few related threads about finding a niche and/or area of concentration. There are many opportunities at the MS level to practice, whether it is in a community mental health center, private practice, or some combination of other positions.

Reimbursement rates are different at the MS level, though that doesn't mean a person can't do well taking insurance in private practice. As long as you can find your niche, you should be able to do fine.

ps. Try to avoid expensive programs, as there are many good programs that won't cost an arm and a leg.

 

[Ex1844]

If you were to get a 9-5 job, plus a private practice, I surmise that you will be fine. Though, don't expect to take luxurious vacations every 6 months and drive around in a Ferrari. 🙂

 

[WestIndiPsych]

Check out School Psychology or Industrial Organizational Psychology. They're not bad gigs in terms of job security (SP) and income (more so I/O) if you find you have interest in those areas..

 

[Legal Eagle]

Hello Psychology 201. I feel like Iam in the same situation that you are in. I have been seriously considering taking a Bachelours of Arts Psychology program, then going on to get my masters in Counselling Psychology.
I'm also slightly worried about spending 6 years in school, only to later find out that finding a job is difficult.

Where are you located?

What schools are you thinking of applying to?

 

[Psychology201]

Hello Psychology 201. I feel like Iam in the same situation that you are in. I have been seriously considering taking a Bachelours of Arts Psychology program, then going on to get my masters in Counselling Psychology.
I'm also slightly worried about spending 6 years in school, only to later find out that finding a job is difficult.

Where are you located?

What schools are you thinking of applying to?

Hey Legal Eagle, how are you doing? Yeah, it does seem like we are in the same position. After all this schooling and I find out im not set, and cant afford a nice house or a nice car, I rather become a dentist or something. you know what I mean?? I am located in California. I'm applying for Cal State University of Bakersfield for my bachelor's and then for my masters I do not know yet.. how about you?

 

[Psychology201]

I want to say thanks to everyone who responded back to this thread, your information and insight has been helpful and I do appreciate it. I will continue to browse around and read up on things at this forum.

Thanks,

Eddie

 

[erg923]

After all this schooling and I find out im not set, and cant afford a nice house or a nice car, I rather become a dentist or something. you know what I mean??

While people are different, in a recent survey of neuropsychologists (Sweet, 2006), income level had little correlation with reported job happiness/satisfaction. If nice houses and nice cars are what drives you, so be it, but psych is probably not gonna get you there.

Ask yourself "what turns you on?" This should produce a broad, general statement of things that make you happy, It should NOT result in you naming a specific job. For example, one of mine is "creating something that has not been there before." 30 or 40 diffeRENT jobs can spring from this statement. When you have this list of things that "turn you on", then you can take the second step which is saying, "Ok, so now, any job I have must have these elements I listed in step one." I have done this with several clients, but its an excersise that I think EVERYBODY should do. Suprisingly, alot of people dole out similar advice, but have never actually done or thought about these things themselves.

 

[Psychology201]

While people are different, in a recent survey of neuropsychologists (Sweet, 2006), income level had little correlation with reported job happiness/satisfaction. If nice houses and nice cars are what drives you, so be it, but psych is probably not gonna get you there.

Ask yourself "what turns you on?" This should produce a broad, general statement of things that make you happy, It should NOT result in you naming a specific job. For example, one of mine is "creating something that has not been there before." 30 or 40 diffeRENT jobs can spring from this statement. When you have this list of things that "turn you on", then you can take the second step which is saying, "Ok, so now, any job I have must have these elements I listed in step one." I have done this with several clients, but its an excersise that I think EVERYBODY should do. Suprisingly, alot of people dole out similar advice, but have never actually done or thought about these things themselves.

Thanks for the advice Erg923. I understand what you are saying, I get it, and your definitely right. I have a niche for psychology. My personality is fit for the job. I was business student before I had decided to go into the psychology field. I sat down for a long time, thinking to myself will I be happy being a businessman. And the truth is I wouldnt be happy, so then I asked myself what would, and psychology is something I know I will be good at. Especially marriage counseling, I have held a wonderful relationship with my girlfriend for 3 years, and always tells me how she is amazed her and I cooperate and get along so great, and that I work out our relationship really well. My only concern is, I never thought I would get my masters, I have been through alot, and school has been hard for me. And now since i have my life together, I am taking the long road for my education. And at the end, I want to be able to make a comfortable living. Reason I say that is I never had anything in my life, Ive always been down and out struggling. Dont get me wrong, I dont care about money, and im not in psychology, looking for the easy way out to make money. Im in it because I have the niche for it.