Why psychology?

[Existenz]

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4 of the best lines I've ever read on this forum. I couldn't have said it any better.

Sir, I think he believes we are super heroes 🙂

 

[psychmama]

EdieB - Yes, the profession of psychology has problems, but every profession does. I think the trick is deciding .which set of drawbacks each of us can live with, and then choosing the profession accordingly.

Believe me, there were plenty of drawbacks to practicing law. That's why I got out. Nothing is perfect. I just prefer the imperfections of clinical psychology.😉

And I agree the hoops in psychology are too many. Still, I think boarding serves some legitimate purposes for the public looking for a specialized level of competence. It's things like this that keep us a few steps removed from lifecoaches!

 

[ClinicalPHD5]

Clinical psychology has more hassles than medical school, but without the pay, stability, and respect. It is more competitive than medical school and with more regulations. Physicians can practice in other states, but clinical psychologists cannot easily move from state to state.

Sure every profession has its drawbacks---but i'm not aware of any other profession that requires 5-7 years of graduate school, then an accredited internship (when few exist), then even when you graduate....you need another 3,000 hours of supervised training to get licensed, have to take exams, and also other state regulations (california requires extra coursework and other states require an oral exam).

My friends who went to medical school (who are now making $300-400,000 in psychiatry) are shocked by what we go through b/c they think of psychologists like social workers and assume that we are at the same level.

 

[psich]

Clinical psychology has more hassles than medical school, but without the pay, stability, and respect. It is more competitive than medical school and with more regulations. Physicians can practice in other states, but clinical psychologists cannot easily move from state to state.

Sure every profession has its drawbacks---but i'm not aware of any other profession that requires 5-7 years of graduate school, then an accredited internship (when few exist), then even when you graduate....you need another 3,000 hours of supervised training to get licensed, have to take exams, and also other state regulations (california requires extra coursework and other states require an oral exam).

My friends who went to medical school (who are now making $300-400,000 in psychiatry) are shocked by what we go through b/c they think of psychologists like social workers and assume that we are at the same level.

Hearing this is so discouraging...but it's reality 🙁

 

[roubs]

My friends who went to medical school (who are now making $300-400,000 in psychiatry) are shocked by what we go through b/c they think of psychologists like social workers and assume that we are at the same level.

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Psychiatrist/Salary

Let's be more real.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

My friends who went to medical school (who are now making $300-400,000 in psychiatry) are shocked by what we go through b/c they think of psychologists like social workers and assume that we are at the same level.

Thankfully it isn't like that across medicine/the hospital. I work closely with colleagues in PM&R, neurology, pathology, neurosurgery, etc....and they all know and respect what our division (neuropsych/rehab psych) brings to the patients. I can't comment on psychiatry, as we don't deal much with them, but I will say that there are many opportunities outside of behavioral health.