Career options except being a clinical psychologist

[doa]

hello guys,

I would like to know which fields of psychology would be a good fit for job opportunities. At the moment I do not want to stay in research, and I know becoming a Clinical Psychologist might be very difficult for me since I'm an international student. I like this field and I would like to work at a job that is somewhat related to mental health. Can you guys give me an insight into the specializations in masters and career options?

Thank you!

[PsyDuck90]

What things do you like about psychology/the mental health field? What do you envision doing on a day to day basis? You can get creative with opportunities with a PhD, or even a master's. If you're currently in a program, what is the degree you're getting? That may give us more information about what jobs are more feasible. 

[SocDevMum]

On 4/26/2021 at 6:53 PM, doa said:

I would like to know which fields of psychology would be a good fit for job opportunities

If you don't want to be in a clinic, and you don't want to teach and do research, may I suggest Industrial-Organizational (I/O) programs? A Masters in I/O psych or Organizational Behavior is a highly desirable degree in the business and consulting worlds, and among the best paid of the psych careers at the Masters level. 

Alternatively, within the clinical world but without the diagnostic capabilities of a Clinical PhD, a Masters in counseling could lead to a license to be a therapist or rehabilitation specialist; an MFT is for Marriage and Family therapy; or an MSW (social work) is psych adjacent and could lead to professionally licensed positions, including the LCSW which does have some testing and diagnostic capabilities. 

As PsyDuck9 said, if you could elaborate on what you do want to do, it would help narrow down the options

[doa]

On 4/30/2021 at 6:00 PM, SocDevMum said:

If you don't want to be in a clinic, and you don't want to teach and do research, may I suggest Industrial-Organizational (I/O) programs? A Masters in I/O psych or Organizational Behavior is a highlyextrêmement desirable degreedegree in the business and consulting worlds, and among the best paid of the psych careers at the Masters level. 

Alternatively, within the clinical world but without the diagnostic capabilities of a Clinical PhD, a Masters in counseling could lead to a license to be a therapist or rehabilitation specialist; an MFT is for Marriage and Family therapy; or an MSW (social work) is psych adjacent and could lead to professionally licensed positions, including the LCSW which does have some testing and diagnostic capabilities. 

As PsyDuck9 said, if you could elaborate on what you do want to do, it would help narrow down the optionsles choix

Hello,

Thank you for your response.

 I/O psychology is interesting however to my knowledge the only job opportunity is working in HR, i do not know how true this is but when i write organizational psychologist on linkedin i can not see many job openings, same situation with industrial psychologist, yet when i write HR there are many jobs. However, i would not like to work in HR forever. If i go for I/O, and if it is possible i would like to start doing my masters in clinical psy. after some years working in the HR field. 

''within the clinical world but without the diagnostic capabilities of a Clinical PhD'' i did not know that clinical psychologists could diagnose patients in the UK, so the difference between a counselor and a clinical psychologist is that one can diagnose and give theraphy and the other can only give theraphy right? 

Can you tell me a bit more about MSW? is it possible to follow this path if i have a bachelors in psy and not social work? also working as a social worker seems like a better fit for me since im not a native english speaker and might come across some troubles if i give therapy

Currently im studying Psychology at Padua University but i want to do my post grad in an English-speaking country so i can actually work.

[doa]

On 4/27/2021 at 2:25 AM, PsyDuck90 said:

What things do you like about psychology/the mental healthhealth field? What do you envision doing on a day to day basis? You can get creative with opportunities with a PhD, or even a master's. If you're currently in a program, what is the degreethe degree you're getting? That may give us more information about what jobs are more feasible. 

I would really like to have my own practice, other than that I would like to work at orphanages, mental health care centers, nursing homes, etc. working at a school as a school psychologist would also be very fulfilling to me. 

[SocDevMum]

45 minutes ago, doa said:

i did not know that clinical psychologists could diagnose patients in the UK

I am in the U.S. so I don't know what the rules are in the UK or EU. Here, a clinical psych with a PhD or PsyD can do testing and diagnosis, but a Masters level psychology degree cannot. 

Also, I/O is often HR type jobs, but also consulting work, anything that interacts in the business world to maximize productivity, essentially. If you want to work in a clinical type setting, an I/O degree would be a waste of time, IMO

An MSW here in the US allows you to work as a social worker/case worker for the state, in a hospital or a private practice. MSW also often work in nursing homes, hospitals, mental health facilities, directly with clients, once you have attained your license. LCSW (licensed masters level clinicians) provide therapy and in many states testing or diagnoses, so very similar to a clinical psychologist but with only 2-3 years of grad work instead of 5-7. Many people with an undergrad degree in psych make the leap to social work, it is very common here.

[doa]

2 minutes ago, SocDevMum said:

I am in the U.S. so I don't know what the rules are in the UK or EU. Here, a clinical psych with a PhD or PsyD can do testing and diagnosis, but a Masters level psychology degree cannot. 

Also, I/O is often HR type jobs, but also consulting work, anything that interacts in the business world to maximize productivity, essentially. If you want to work in a clinical type setting, an I/O degree would be a waste of time, IMO

An MSW here in the US allows you to work as a social worker/case worker for the state, in a hospital or a private practice. MSW also often work in nursing homes, hospitals, mental health facilities, directly with clients, once you have attained your license. LCSW (licensed masters level clinicians) provide therapy and in many states testing or diagnoses, so very similar to a clinical psychologist but with only 2-3 years of grad work instead of 5-7. Many people with an undergrad degree in psych make the leap to social work, it is very common here.

thank you for your response, i would also work at a company that is no big deal. By consulting did you mean smth like coaching?

[SocDevMum]

9 minutes ago, doa said:

By consulting did you mean smth like coaching?

Coaching would certainly be an option, but what I meant was consulting with business owners or managers to make changes, design trainings or policies, conduct trainings maybe, to help the company increase productivity and profits. Designing a more productive office atmosphere, for instance, designing and conducting cultural competency trainings for employees, or training front end workers on things like selling skills, service skills... things like that

[PsyDuck90]

46 minutes ago, doa said:

I would really like to have my own practice, other than that I would like to work at orphanages, mental health care centers, nursing homes, etc. working at a school as a school psychologist would also be very fulfilling to me. 

These are very broad and distinct career paths. However, you could achieve many of them by either getting a PhD or PsyD in clincial psychology or counseling psychology, a masters in mental health counseling or marriage and family therapy, or a master's in social work. You can also pursue a masters, PhD, or PsyD in school psychology to work in a school setting. Social workers can also work in schools. The master's in social work and subsequent LCSW is probably the most versatile of the master's level license-able degrees, so I would probably go that route. 

[doa]

3 minutes ago, PsyDuck90 said:

These are very broad and distinct career paths. However, you could achieve many of them by either getting a PhD or PsyD in clincial psychology or counseling psychology, a masters in mental health counseling or marriage and family therapy, or a master's in socialsociable work. You can also pursue a masters, PhD, or PsyD in school psychology to work in a school setting. Social workers can also work in schools. The master's in social worktravail and subsequentsubséquent LCSW is probably the most versatile of the master's level license-able degrees, so I would probably go that route. 

are the same procedures viable for the UK? 

Edited May 3, 2021 by doa

[PsyDuck90]

39 minutes ago, doa said:

are the same procedures viable for the UK? 

I have no idea, as I have only ever looked at licensing laws in the US. You would have to look into the laws of the UK to get that answer. 

[doa]

On 5/3/2021 at 9:26 PM, SocDevMum said:

Coaching would certainly be an option, but what I meant was consulting with business owners or managers to make changes, design trainings or policies, conduct trainings maybe, to help the company increase productivityproductivité and profits. Designing a more productiveproductifs office atmosphere, for instance, designing and conducting cultural competency trainings for employees, or training front end workers on things like selling skills, service skills... things like that

but would companies hire a foreigner for such jobs? 

[SocDevMum]

6 minutes ago, doa said:

but would companies hire a foreigner for such jobs? 

If you have the required education and can demonstrate your effectiveness, I don't see why not. Companies care about what will make them the most money. If that's you, then that's you. 

[doa]

14 minutes ago, SocDevMum said:

If you have the required educationeducation and can demonstrate your effectiveness, I don't see why not. Companies care about what will make them the most money. If that's you, then that's you. 

So to make everything clear, it is possible to work at companies, schools, and theraphy centers as a consultant after studying counselling psychology. With I/O Psychology the possible working positions are HR, marketing (correct me if i am wrong), and probably consultant (only in companies). In this case the job prospects for counselling psychology seems a bit wider compared to I/O. Also, does the things you said about licencing, career options etc. apply to Canada as well?

Thanks

[SocDevMum]

55 minutes ago, doa said:

companies, schools, and theraphy centers as a consultant after studying counselling psychology

No, I apologize for any confusion - consulting is an I/O psych career, not counseling. You would need an I/O degree to apply for those kinds of positions. A counseling degree would not be a fit for any of that.  Counseling would allow you to work in private practice or mental health centers (maybe hospitals?) as a therapist.  They are two very different and separate programs

As for Canada, I cannot speak to the legal requirements there, but I'm sure someone else can, or the information may be available online

Edited May 31, 2021 by SocDevMum

[doa]

On 5/31/2021 at 4:09 AM, SocDevMum said:

No, I apologize for any confusion - consulting is an I/O psych career, not counseling. You would need an I/O degree to apply for those kinds of positions. A counseling degree would not be a fit for any of that.  Counseling would allow you to work in private practicepratique or mental health centerscentres (maybe hospitals?) as a therapist.  They are two very different and separate programs

As for Canada, I cannot speak to the legalles légaux requirements there, but I'm suresûr someone else can, or the information may be available online

Thank you, but being a consultant seems tricky to me since i feel like you have to have a very deep knowledge and experience on a very specific area. Otherwise, it would be difficult to find a position. In which area of expertise do I/O psychologists work ?

thanks for your reply

[SocDevMum]

10 hours ago, doa said:

which area of expertise do I/O psychologists work

Management, hiring/recruiting, marketing, productivity. Also, areas like diversity and discrimination, training...anything related to making a business run successfully, essentially. A thorough I/O PhD training prepares people for a variety of roles. For instance, there are I/O candidates in my current lab. They have taken internships or positions in many different areas.  Some have moved into the tech sector, and do User Experience research and development. Some go to work at universities or non-profits working on diversity initiatives. Others have gone to work in private industry, helping to develop tools and techniques that help businesses make more money. 

I/O is not for someone who wants to do any kind of clinical work. If you want to do counseling with clients or patients, if you want to work with kids or teens, if you want to do diagnostic testing, those kinds of things, than you need to go the Clinical Route.  I/O is very different from what most people think of when they talk about psychology.

[doa]

On 6/7/2021 at 5:11 PM, SocDevMum said:

Management, hiring/recruiting, marketing, productivity. Also, areas like diversity and discrimination, training...anything related to making a business run successfully, essentially. A thorough I/O PhD training prepares people for a variety of roles. For instance, there are I/O candidates in my current lab. They have taken internships or positions in many different areas.  Some have moved into the tech sector, and do User Experience research and development. Some go to work at universities or non-profits working on diversity initiatives. Others have gone to work in private industry, helping to develop tools and techniques that help businesses make more money. 

I/O is not for someone who wants to do any kind of clinical work. If you want to do counseling with clients or patients, if you want to work with kids or teens, if you want to do diagnostic testing, those kinds of things, than you need to go the Clinical Route.  I/O is very different from what most people think of when they talk about psychology.

thanks, 

to be a clinical psychologist i need to do i PhD and i do not think i can afford that because i will be studying abroad and my university fees might not get funded. I was interested in counseling as it is (in some cases) in a mental health setting. I was looking at ca.indeed.com and most of the counseling jobs did not require a masters in counseling, some even accept college certificates or high school grads, do you have any idea why? for example for a 'family service counselor' they only require 

• 1-2 years of college or an equivalent of education and experience

is there a big difference between mental health counselors and other type of counselors? if there  is not then what is the point of studying counselling psychology at masters level if a masters degree is not even necessary?

[SocDevMum]

14 hours ago, doa said:

ca.indeed.com

Is this Canada? I have no idea what the legal requirements are for Canada since I am in the U.S., however, I'm sure there are different kinds of counselors there as there are here.  Here in the U.S., only someone with a Masters degree and a license can call themselves a counselor or therapist, but there is a certificate for an addiction rehabilitation specialist that you can get without a Masters to work strictly with adults in drug and alcohol rehabilitation (in most states). Besides mental health, in the U.S. (and probably Canada) there are also School Counselors, however this also requires a Masters degree and an Education certificate. I would suggest looking into the legal requirements for each of those positions in Canada - I have found that employers often indicate the lowest possible qualifications in their job ads but really only hire people with a higher level of education, those ads are very misleading.

Also, when these ads say counselor, they may very likely mean something more like case worker, they aren't actually therapists or mental health care workers at all. You may want to look up these jobs and see what they actually do.