Anonymous wrote:I don't get it.

Why go to school for a second job? Counseling can be soul-sucking. If you have others in your life who depend on you for emotional support you may want to rethink your plan. It would be one thing if your counseling job was your only job- but to work full time at your current job, and counsel part time, then go home to DH and/or kids would have been a nightmare to me.

I used to be a part time counselor and the the toll the career takes on your psyche can be brutal. Have an honest discussion with those in the field before you take this on.

This is true for some people, but not for everyone. I work full time as a counselor as well as part time private practice in the evenings and have kids and a husband. Most of the time I find the work is rewarding and energizing, not soul sucking. As with most careers, it really is about finding the right fit for you. Also, well trained counselors know how to protect their emotional boundaries and take care of themselves in order to avoid burnout.

To the OP: I'd echo what others have said about talking to people who are counselors and getting their advice. Personally, I'd choose an MSW at a respected school like Catholic over a degree in counseling. I think the MSW is a more respected and versatile degree.

I don't get it.

Why go to school for a second job? Counseling can be soul-sucking. If you have others in your life who depend on you for emotional support you may want to rethink your plan. It would be one thing if your counseling job was your only job- but to work full time at your current job, and counsel part time, then go home to DH and/or kids would have been a nightmare to me.

I used to be a part time counselor and the the toll the career takes on your psyche can be brutal. Have an honest discussion with those in the field before you take this on.

If you're set on counseling as a career, talk to counselors/therapists to get an idea of their work, if you've not done so already.

I'd recommend an MSW over a Masters in Counseling any day. *Much* more flexibility; counselors, for example, can't render a diagnosis in MD, and in many states Medicare won't reimburse. If you already have $40K in debt, I'd do everything I could not to incur additional debt, since you won't earn a ton (though an MSW will afford greater earning potential than a Masters in Counseling). UMD has a great MSW program, bound to be cheaper than Catholic's.

I would not want to have $100K in educational debt and be in a field where you could only find part-time paid work (which is what I assume would be your situation if you only expect to "counsel on the side").

Maybe you can do something similar to counseling with your current degree? Or look for a program where you can get tuition remission for being a TA? Work for a counselor/psychologist/social worker to test your interest in the career before starting a master's program?

Look at the MSW program at catholic, too.

This program is 3 years. I'm trying to craft my career and think counseling is it. Is going to school for a counseling degree worth it? I hear the money isn't that great so I will have to find a full time job & counsel on the side. I will have to take out student loans tat wil be about 65k when I finish the program. Currently I have about 40k in student loan debt.