Thinking About Going Back For A Masters. What Do You Think Of These Careers?

Below are some of the careers that I'm considering. Basically thinking about making a change and heading into counseling or teaching.

One of the bigger problems that I see with the fields is, of course, money unless I decide to get a PhD, and that's quite an investment.

Anyone have any suggestions about or experience with any of the positions mentioned below?



Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
Marriage and Family Therapists
Sociologists
Counseling Psychologists
Genetic Counselors
Mental Health Counselors
Clinical Psychologists
Neuropsychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists
Psychiatrists

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary

Originally Posted by Tck13

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Below are some of the careers that I'm considering. Basically thinking about making a change and heading into counseling or teaching.

One of the bigger problems that I see with the fields is, of course, money unless I decide to get a PhD, and that's quite an investment.

Anyone have any suggestions about or experience with any of the positions mentioned below?



Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
Marriage and Family Therapists
Sociologists
Counseling Psychologists
Genetic Counselors
Mental Health Counselors
Clinical Psychologists
Neuropsychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists
Psychiatrists

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary

You said it best. The issue with going back to school to pursue these careers are time and money. Really need a PhD to make some good cash and have options. I'd recommend staying away from being a psychiatrist though. A family friend is a Psychologist (PhD) and he says most psychiatrists he knows hates their life. Makes sense...they are basically walkthrough pharmacies. Being a counseling psychologist would probably be pretty satisfying.

What is your current situation though? What field are you currently in?

How long have you been working? If you have good experience and good GRE scores, lots of funding seem to be common. You could pick up a degree in a 1 or 2 year program without taking on a lot of debt.

As it was mentioned in the first two posts, just FYI, psychiatrists are physicians with a fellowship in...psychiatry. So unless med school and internship is in your future, you can safely scratch that one off the list.

Depending on your background maybe check out industrial psychology. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industr...nal_psychology

Originally Posted by Tck13

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Counseling Psychologists
Genetic Counselors
Mental Health Counselors
Clinical Psychologists
Neuropsychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists
Psychiatrists

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary

Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
Lots of future, but tough career. It's more of a calling than just choosing it.


Marriage and Family Therapists

Not bad, easier problems, better hours and pay. Lots of school left for this though.

Sociologists
In what sense? Teaching, practising..? I was a Soc major, and still keep up on publications. I love it, but the competition for University/College spots is fierce. Also, you should know it was a running joke among my friends and I, that Sociology is the most depressing subject possible, and you can always tell a veteran Soc prof due to their alcoholism.

Counseling Psychologists
See Marriage therapist.


Mental Health Counselors
Clinical Psychologists


See Drug and Addiction .

Neuropsychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists
Psychiatrists
I only know one (Psychiatrist), and though they seem to enjoy their job, the amount of school required for these positions is truly daunting.



All the Post-Secondary teaching positions these days are incredibly difficult, and it will be years before you make money. Finding, and holding, a full professorship is extremely difficult. But if you truly enjoy the subject matter, and don't mind being in debt till 40, go for it. It can be rewarding.

Originally Posted by HelloIDistance

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You said it best. The issue with going back to school to pursue these careers are time and money. Really need a PhD to make some good cash and have options. I'd recommend staying away from being a psychiatrist though. A family friend is a Psychologist (PhD) and he says most psychiatrists he knows hates their life. Makes sense...they are basically walkthrough pharmacies. Being a counseling psychologist would probably be pretty satisfying.

What is your current situation though? What field are you currently in?

Holdfast is a psychatrist. He always seems happy and he has a great blog too. I know a psychatrist and he makes insane money. You are going to have to do a lot more than a masters or phd though, you have to have an MD.

After having her kids, my mom went back for a genetic counseling MS. She was probably the only MD in the world who had ever done that. Not quite sure how long she worked in that field-- only a few years at most.

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary

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This means adjunct teaching at college, right? You'll probably need more than a master's to crack that door open.

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

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Holdfast is a psychatrist. He always seems happy and he has a great blog too. I know a psychatrist and he makes insane money. You are going to have to do a lot more than a masters or phd though, you have to have an MD.

Originally Posted by Piobaire

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As it was mentioned in the first two posts, just FYI, psychiatrists are physicians with a fellowship in...psychiatry. So unless med school and internship is in your future, you can safely scratch that one off the list.

Depending on your background maybe check out industrial psychology. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industr...nal_psychology

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

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I know a psychatrist and he makes insane money.
Well, duh...

Originally Posted by Concordia

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Well, duh...

Well played.

Originally Posted by Piobaire

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Well played.

Was it though? Was it?

I also know other doctors that don't make a lot of money at all.

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

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Was it though? Was it?

It was.

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

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I also know other doctors that don't make a lot of money at all.

Me too. Most them have (Retired) after their names.

Back to the OP, you getting any ideas here? Read up on Industrial Psych yet?

Originally Posted by Piobaire

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It was.

Me too. Most them have (Retired) after their names.

Back to the OP, you getting any ideas here? Read up on Industrial Psych yet?

The ones I know that don't make a lot are the ones who accept insurance.

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

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The ones I know that don't make a lot are the ones who accept insurance.

They're doing it wrong then. Insurance > Medicare > Medicaid.

And non-insured plastic surgery > insurance.

Seriously, this was the reason my father left medicine about 20 years ago. He saw things moving to where doctors would just be employees to private insurance companies and thrown away when they got too expensive. A gloomy prognosis, but I haven't heard a lot of regrets from him.