Posted by Penny on October 24, 2003, at 8:12:36
In reply to Psychologists vs. Social Workers vs. Counselors, posted by Penny on October 23, 2003, at 14:31:49
Well, I talked to my T about it last night - she's got a Ph.D. - and she said that she just thinks the path to becoming a psychologist, at least at the university where I work (which is where we both earned our degrees) is so LOOOONNNNGGGG...and I agree.
Anyway, I told her that my main reservation is concern about the differences in the the training. Regardless of whether I choose the social work or the psychology path, the fact that I would like, some day, to be in private practice has to remain my little secret, so to speak. The MSW program here is pretty keen on folks, even clinical folks, working in the public sector - hospitals, treatment centers, etc. And that's okay, since that's where I would start anyway. I do need the experience to get the certification afterall...
And, of course, the Ph.D. program here is primarily concerned with research. And I have no research experience.
My T's thoughts were that I probably wouldn't make that much less as an MSW than as a Ph.D. in private practice (though I would make less), the road is shorter to the MSW, and the training is adequate. She said, too, that whatever differences there are between psychology and social work therapy, it would really be up to me in regards to how much additional reading, learning, etc., I would do. And, of course, I wouldn't be able to conduct psychological testing.
The MSW makes much more sense, and I know that...and that's not to say that I can never get my Ph.D. in something. I've always thought that I might like to work in academia again someday.
Anyway, the whole discussion brought up other issues, about my 'intelligence' and so on, but that's worthy of another thread, if I feel the urge...
P
poster:Penny
thread:272368
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20031011/msgs/272626.html