zoelee

I applied for a local crisis hotline and didn't get in. Maybe I should keep trying. Thanks! About taking courses, I suppose it has to be undergraduate level, right? Does it matter if it's a decent univ or community college will do? how about online courses? I work full time with two young kids, online course is convenient. But might be hard to get a recommendation letter for lack of personal interaction.

IT - web design. I tried a couple of places but they seem to want people with experience. Research assistant in a psy lab is a good idea, but I'm afraid it's the same lack of experience that gets me rejected. I've been volunteering online but the site is anonymous, and we chat one and one with people who need emotional support. So I don't see how I can find any "coworkers" or "boss" to help me with this.

Hi there, I'm a non-psychology or related field major, and have been working in an unrelated field for two decades after graduation. Now I'm thinking of applying for the MS degree in Mental Health Counseling, but don't know whom I should turn to for the recommendation letters. I'm not in touch with any professors from my school, so having them provide the recommendation letters is out of the question. And I cannot use a personal friend I suppose. My therapist is willing to do it, but I heard it's unethical to do so (from the admission counselor from the program I plan on applying for). That leaves me my coworkers and boss. But they know nothing about my interest in counseling, all they can do, I guess, is to say that I'm a reliable colleague. I also am not comfortable telling my boss that I'm applying for school again, afraid he might fire me knowing that I'm not "in love with my work" like they expect us to. Should I take a psy course from a community college and have the professor write the letter? Any other ways? Any feedback is very much appreciated. Zoe

thanks HT20. Looks like your Animal Bio is considered a related area. Unfortunately I only got a fashion design, graphic design degree. I'm thinking of going back to school, but with my age (47), and family to support, it's a big and tough decision.

Thank you for your post and the replies. I'm completely outside your fields but do have an interest in therapy/counseling. So your conversations are eye-opening and confusing at the same time, because there are assumptions you all seem to be clear about, but not me. And I'd like to get some clarifications on those. Coffee mentioned choosing between ABA and counseling, and you linked ABA with autism. So is it the case that ABA is a method that mainly deals with autism? V.S. counseling deals with everything else? Or you meant, ABA is making home calls (or working at preschool) while counseling is patient seeing the therapist in his office/facility? A more specific question for Coffee, how did you become a registered behavior technician without a MS/PhD in psychological counseling? I thought a Master degree in therapy is the required for any type of counseling/therapy job. I would like to know how, because I would love to give it a try if it's available in my state. Thanks very much!