evasusan

Thank you for responding! The MSW program I'm in has no option to have a specific focus like clinical. It's all just general. Do you think I'd do better in a different MSW program that has the option to specialize?

I am about to start grad school (CSUN) for social work. I've been to only orientations so far but I'm really wondering if I made the wrong choice in doing an MSW rather than an MFT. My true passion is in clinical work. I'm interested in people on a one on one level and want to explore the psychology of people. and help them. That's what I'm really interested in. Although I care about social justice, it's just not what I want my focus to be on. I'm concerned that this program is going to have very little of the clinical psychology/ people stuff and be much more about agencies that can help people and connecting people/ communities with these sources of help. I am interested in doing clinical social work (therapy) or possibly forensic social work. I chose to do an MSW rather than MFT because it seems there are so many more job opportunities available with an MSW. I could be a therapist and have my own practice, but also have the option to do a bunch of other things and work other places, whereas with an MFT it seems that having your own practice is pretty much all you can do. I've also heard that if I move to another state getting the MFT license there can be a nightmare, whereas the MSW licensing isn't so specific state to state. I guess from a career standpoint it makes more sense to do the MSW, but I'm worried I'm not going to be really interested in what I'm learning and won't get to go deep into what I really care about studying. I don't want to have to just "get through" a master's program. I want to feel excited about what I'm learning. On a totally separate note I'm also an actress and I will be continuing to pursue acting throughout grad school. My goal after graduating is to be able to act as well as work in therapy. Should I try this program out for a little bit and then switch to an MFT program if it doesn't feel like the right fit? Or should I just try to get through the MSW degree even though it's not exactly in line with my clinical interest? Any advice would be greatly appreciated

I am about to start grad school (CSUN) for social work. I've been to only orientations so far but I'm really wondering if I made the wrong choice in doing an MSW rather than an MFT. My true passion is in clinical work. I'm interested in people on a one on one level and want to explore the psychology of people. and help them. That's what I'm really interested in. Although I care about social justice, it's just not what I want my focus to be on. I'm concerned that this program is going to have very little of the clinical psychology/ people stuff and be much more about agencies that can help people and connecting people/ communities with these sources of help. I am interested in doing clinical social work (therapy) or possibly forensic social work. I chose to do an MSW rather than MFT because it seems there are so many more job opportunities available with an MSW. I could be a therapist and have my own practice, but also have the option to do a bunch of other things and work other places, whereas with an MFT it seems that having your own practice is pretty much all you can do. I've also heard that if I move to another state getting the MFT license there can be a nightmare, whereas the MSW licensing isn't so specific state to state. I guess from a career standpoint it makes more sense to do the MSW, but I'm worried I'm not going to be really interested in what I'm learning and won't get to go deep into what I really care about studying. I don't want to have to just "get through" a master's program. I want to feel excited about what I'm learning. On a totally separate note I'm also an actress and I will be continuing to pursue acting throughout grad school. My goal after graduating is to be able to act as well as work in therapy. Should I try this program out for a little bit and then switch to an MFT program if it doesn't feel like the right fit? Or should I just try to get through the MSW degree even though it's not exactly in line with my clinical interest? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!