Is this late start into clinical psychology crazy?
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Anonymous
MSW student from above. Yes, this is true. It depends on the program and focus of your particular curriculum. I'm in the clinical program, and it's generally expected that our internships will be in clinical settings, particularly the second one. The first one is slightly more flexible, and a lot of people end up in case management because frankly, case management organizations need bodies and don't require a ton of experience. |
Anonymous
| Oh my. You're young. I switched careers to become a psychotherapist at age 44! Never too late. I chose social work cause it took the least time and afforded the best options for being hired. You don't learn how to be a good therapist in school. So much is common sense along w theories as outlines and compassion. Plenty of therapists in this area make $100000 or more if that's what your goal is. Best suggestion is to make sure you are in therapy yourself to work through your issues. We all have issues. If the therapist is bad note what not to do and move on to one that is excellent. The best way to learn. Good luck. |
Anonymous
Wow, thank you! OP here. My husband's job is not easily transferable to other places, so I'm looking for local programs. Do you have any insights on those? I love research, but am also drawn to seeing clients and assessments. Are there significant salary differences between research and practice? Thank you for answering my questions. I don't know any clinical psychologists in real life. |
Anonymous
So the psychologist earning 100K is full-time, whereas the ones earning 50K are part-time, or are there other differences? |
Anonymous
Good point, PP. OP here. If you don't mind me asking, are you happy with this late career change? Was it difficult to switch? Are you in private practice? Thank you. |
Anonymous
+2. Another licensed clinical psychologist who primarily works in research settings. I'll echo especially how tough it is to get into competitive clinical psych programs--there are better odds of getting into medical school, but for typically far less pay (my husband's an MD). For example, of the 600 people who applied to my clinical psych program the year I applied: 60 were offered interviews, and admission offers were extended to only about 20 applicants. Also, these days, it's really tough to get admitted to these programs without a couple years of immediate experience working in a research lab, and some poster presentations and even research publications under your belt when applying. This is in addition to high GPAs and SAT scores. The kids admitted to these programs are not just bright and personable, but have a lot of grit and a ton of ambition, IME. I agree with the PPs suggesting more clinically-focused fields--here you'll have a better chance of getting admitted to these programs, especially if you need to stay locally, and they'll be shorter in duration with fewer research requirements. When I advise undergrads, I tend to steer them away from doing clinical psych, unless I see that look in their eye--the look that says they're primarily focused on having an academic/research career, and won't be happy with anything else. Most others that know from the start that they primarily want to do clinical work I advise towards more appropriate degrees. I also agree about staying away from most psychology professional schools (with a couple of notable exceptions, but none local). You'll come out with often inadequate training and six figures of debt. |
Anonymous
Don't mind. Second career following a 20 year career as an event planner with the a national museum. I love the work and find it fulfilling. I enjoyed grad school (it's my 2nd grad degee). I worked for an agency after graduation to get my hours toward clinical liscensure. I am working part time at agency now and starting private practice work with a small group. There is a local fb group call D.C. Therapy Connects you might want to check out. Other fb groups too I'm sure. |
Anonymous
pp again. Had no student loans cause more affordable than other psych degrees. No gre or gmat tests required. |
Anonymous
$100K is poverty? Call me a hobo then. |
Anonymous
NO 50k would be for full time positions. Worked for a mental health center when I lived in Atlanta and clinical psychologists (PhD or PsyD) staff earned between 50-65k. |
Anonymous
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Here is how you spend 5 years and do therapy and actually make money (which is what you want)...
spend the next year - 18 months taking pre-nursing requirements at community college apply to nurse practitioner programs spend 3 years in NP school and make your specialty psychiatric nurse practitioner 5 years later you can do therapy and prescribe meds so you will make actual money. you need to be able to prescribe meds if you want to charge a high hourly rate or be paid a high salary at a clinic/therapy office. |
Anonymous
If you want to sling prescriptions this is the way to go. If you want to be a therapist do not think you will be one in any agency. NPs are not doing therapy. They are diagnosing and prescribing and collaborating with actual therapists. I would never seek a NP for therapy. They follow a medical model. |
Anonymous
To start from scratch, take on debt, start working five/six years from now when you're 43, and take 10 years in the field to get near to 100k? Yeah, it's not a smart financial move. |
Anonymous
Frankly, the ones you might have a shot at are AU, Catholic, GMU (all PhD) and Loyola (PsyD, but a good reputation). Even the PhD programs would be a stretch: they all take people with research and some clinical experience. The other issue to consider re: location is that you need to complete a one year clinical internship as part of doctoral training in clinical psych (PhD or PsyD). They have local ones, but those are also extremely competitive. You need one that's APA-accredited, so you're still somewhat limited. Differences in salary for research in practice are less in amount, and more in stability: research tends to be more stable (although, perhaps not if you're in a major research university), private practice less so although potentially more lucrative. If you're in a hospital, etc., salary is probably more comparable to research but you have the stability absent in private practice. I also don't entirely agree with the MSW above who said that psychotherapy is largely common sense. That's part of it, but to be effective you really need a strong foundation in psychopathology, theoretical orientations, etc. Clinical Psych programs offer a lot of training, and while you don't launch as an experienced clinician you should have that solid base. In my experience, it was having really outstanding, close supervision by expert psychotherapists that helped me be more effective with patients. The advice to be in therapy yourself is useful, though, particularly if you see yourself wanting to practice. Last but not least, the DC area is fairly saturated with mental health practitioners of all stripes, particularly if you work with adults. You'd be wise to think of a speciality/sub-speciality to distinguish yourself if you want to work with adults. If couples, children, etc., that in itself is a decent niche. |
Anonymous
After 5 years of grad school, to max out at 100K is not great. Think of the loans. |