BA in psych w/ bipolar disorder?

[pfcjackson0716]

I am probably posting this in the wrong place, and perhaps even on the wrong forum altogether, but I noticed their is a wealth of knowledge on this particular site, and thought maybe I could pick some of your brains if possible. I am 24, a former marine, a junior at FGCU, and for a long time, an aspiring cop. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder about a year ago now, and sob story aside, it has changed my life forever, and really propelled me towards the field. I would like nothing more than to help others facing mental illness. My gpa hovers just below a 3.0, so I don't suspect I will be getting into a PA program like my gf aspires to, but I also don't want to live out my days as a barista at Starbucks. Social work, even in spite of the less than spectacular salary, does sound rewarding. Will my own illness be an issue with this career path as it was with the last? I can only read so much; does anyone have hands on experience with a career similar to what I'm looking for with only a BA in psychology?

Any and all help is much appreciated,

Alec 

[vallaboop]

4 hours ago, pfcjackson0716 said:

I am probably posting this in the wrong place, and perhaps even on the wrong forum altogether, but I noticed their is a wealth of knowledge on this particular site, and thought maybe I could pick some of your brains if possible. I am 24, a former marine, a junior at FGCU, and for a long time, an aspiring cop. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder about a year ago now, and sob story aside, it has changed my life forever, and really propelled me towards the field. I would like nothing more than to help others facing mental illness. My gpa hovers just below a 3.0, so I don't suspect I will be getting into a PA program like my gf aspires to, but I also don't want to live out my days as a barista at Starbucks. Social work, even in spite of the less than spectacular salary, does sound rewarding. Will my own illness be an issue with this career path as it was with the last? I can only read so much; does anyone have hands on experience with a career similar to what I'm looking for with only a BA in psychology?

Any and all help is much appreciated,

Alec 

I commend you on your courage for reaching out. Never let a diagnoses of mental illness hold you back! Although I am a little confused, are you saying you switched your career aspirations from becoming a cop to becoming a social worker? If so, it would be greatly beneficial to you to get a MSW.  I would try to increase your GPA your senior year, and maybe even take an additional year of classes to help. Regardless, I don't have direct experience to help you out but I would recommend talking with your adviser at your school and seeing what they suggest. 

On another note, the memoir The Center Cannot Hold by Elyn Saks is a truly inspiring book that may help to lift your spirits. Elyn has schizophrenia but triumphed over her illness and is currently a professor of law, psychology, psychiatry and behavioral medicine at USC Gould law school. It can be a dense book but honestly she is a role model and a beacon of hope.

[brainlass]

One option to consider could be online counselling psych degrees. These would prepare you for careers as school or workplace counselors, meaning that you would be working with a generally healthy population rather than those with more serious psychiatric disorders. However, you would still be able to work one-on=one with clients to help people overcome problems and anxieties, improving their quality of life. If you are unsure about how feasible it is to boost your GPA at this point, this route may be more promising because is considerably easier to get into these programs than into a clinical psych program. Moreover, the online route of administration would offer a lot of flexibility in the case of recurring mental health struggles.  Best of luck!