Posted by Penny on October 23, 2003, at 14:31:49
What's the difference (other than the obvious - education, titles, professional organizations, etc.)?
The ultimate goal, assuming once again that I can get my head on straight between now and then, is to be a psychotherapist. I've seen both an LCSW and a Ph.D., and much about their therapy styles have been similar though my current T (a psychologist) seems more apt to talk about research and theory whereas my former therapist (a social worker) was more practical in her approach.
I don't want an M.A. in Counseling. I know that much. I'm leaning toward the MSW, b/c it's 2 years, I don't need any additional classwork to prepare for the program (though I do need some more volunteer and/or paid social work experience), and it probably just fits my life plan a bit better. Still, the idea of getting a Ph.D. appeals to me as well. Maybe because I like the approach my current therapist takes often moreso than my former therapist, and my current T has a Ph.D.
I just got an email from the graduate student services manager at the dept of psychology where I work and she said, "1300 for the GRE on average, 3.5 - 3.7 GPA in the major, 19-25 graduate student slots for 600+ applicants each year." Plus she alluded to my needing an undergraduate degree in psychology, though what she actually said was that I would need all or most of the classes that an undergraduate degree program would require to be competitive. I've only had 2 psych classes and biology. There would be lots more to take.
I guess I just hate feeling like I 'can't' do something, and I don't like choosing something because it's the 'easier' option - the 2 years of social work school vs. a however-many-years Ph.D. program. Not that getting into an MSW program isn't going to be challenging, not that they're not competitive, but they're not AS competitive as the Ph.D. program here.
And I guess part of me still wants to be a doctor. Which I guess is not in the cards.
Anyway - for those of you who can compare experiences (either as patient or practitioner) of psychologists vs. social workers vs. counselors - what do you think?
P
poster:Penny
thread:272368
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20031011/msgs/272368.html