Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am thinking of going in the same direction career wise - except getting a degree in Psychology instead. Anyone have tips/advice on a Psychology Masters over a MSW?

You would need a PsyD to practice at the level you want to, not just a masters in psych. Much longer and more expensive.

+1 I have a PsyD; you cannot really practice independently as a psychologist without a doctoral level degree. The PsyD takes 4-6 years to complete. If psychotherapy is your goal I'd get the MSW. Much quicker than a PsyD or PhD and more versatile than a masters in either psychology or counseling.

Anonymous wrote:I am thinking of going in the same direction career wise - except getting a degree in Psychology instead. Anyone have tips/advice on a Psychology Masters over a MSW?

You would need a PsyD to practice at the level you want to, not just a masters in psych. Much longer and more expensive.

I am thinking of going in the same direction career wise - except getting a degree in Psychology instead. Anyone have tips/advice on a Psychology Masters over a MSW?

I made the same inquiry because I was interested. My therapist friend who is very respected with a PhD, etc, said going her route would take a long time, while an MSW would take less time and allow me to get in there and do work more quickly.

I just found an MSW counselor, and she is terrific.

I think if you have good clinical/therapeutic instincts, and know the kind of work you would be good at and want to do (understanding you have to do a little bit of everything as part of your study and experience) the MSW allows you get there very effectively.

Good Luck!

(I decided not to go for it. Its still an idea floating around, though. In fact reading your post is making me rethink!)

I have an MSW from Catholic. I found the program very strong, and very well regarded. It's one of the few MSW programs that really does prepare you for psychotherapy (rather than true social work) and the local community of therapists is large, which helps with referrals once you're in practice.

The field work is always regular, predictable hours, unless you choose a program that involves crisis work.

If not a PhD or PsyD, then an MSW. Catholic's program is well regarded.

MSW, by far. It is better regarded and has a lot more options than an MA in counseling. The field work might be a challenge, but it is really where you learn in this field. Books can only teach you so much.

- a fellow MSWer

MSW is far more valuable.

I am a mid-career professional hoping to move into the field of psychotherapy. My eventual goal would be to work in private practice with relatively high functioning adults (as clients... and probably as colleagues as well). I understand there are many paths to reach this end -- PhD, PsyD, LPC or LCSW. I have ruled out the doctorate programs as too expensive and/or too much of a time commitment. Therefore, I'm now looking at Catholic's MSW program and Johns Hopkins' MA in Counseling program. Both programs seem strong. Catholic's is considerably more expensive, but also offers more fieldwork hours (a plus for experience, a minus for child care logistics). Because of the extra fieldwork hours, Catholic's program would likely take about a year longer to complete, as a part-time student, than Hopkins. Most of the classes in the Hopkins program are offered at a satellite campus in Rockville (convenient to my house). One concern I have about the Hopkins program, however, is that an MA in Counseling may be less widely known/ not as well regarded as an MSW. However, it's hard for me to get a sense of that. Any insight on which program might be a better choice to prepare me for a career as a psychotherapist would be greatly appreciated.