Careers in Mental Health

Accessible and unbiased, Careers in Mental Health introduces upper-level high school students and beginning undergraduates to the different aspects of various mental health professions. Contains essential career advice for anyone considering an advanced degree in one of the “helping” professions within mental health Covers clinical psychology, counseling psychology, social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, substance abuse counseling, and school psychology Clarifies the distinctions between professions by discussing the history and philosophy of each field, requirements for advanced education, licensing, available jobs, salary potential, and more Includes a section with practical information applicable to all the professions, such as characteristics for success, ethical issues, the importance of critical thinking, applying to graduate school, and current issues affecting the field of mental health

Acknowledgments ix Introduction xi Unit 1: Career Essentials 1 1 Ph.D. or Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology 3 Overall History and Philosophy of the Profession 3 Education 10 Licensing 17 Types of Jobs for which the Degree will Qualify You 19 Earning Potential 24 Types of Clients Served 25 What about Getting a Master’s Degree in Psychology? 26 2 Ph.D. or Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology 29 Overall History and Philosophy of the Profession 29 Education 34 Licensing 35 Types of Jobs for which the Degree will Qualify You 35 Earning Potential 39 3 Master’s in Social Work (MSW) 41 Overall History and Philosophy of the Profession 41 Education 46 Types of Jobs for which the Degree will Qualify You 50 Earning Potential 54 4 Master’s in Counseling 57 Overall History and Philosophy of the Profession 57 Education 62 Licensing 66 Types of Jobs for which the Degree will Qualify You 67 Earning Potential 68 5 Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy 69 Overall History and Philosophy of the Profession 69 Education 75 Licensing 75 Types of Jobs for which the Degree will Qualify You 76 Earning Potential 77 6 Substance Abuse/Chemical Dependency Counselor 79 Overall History and Philosophy of the Profession 79 Education 83 Licensing 84 Types of Jobs for which the Degree will Qualify You 88 Earning Potential 89 7 School Psychologist 91 Overall History and Philosophy of the Profession 91 School Psychologist versus School Counselor 98 Education 99 Licensing 102 Types of Jobs for which the Degree will Qualify You 103 Earning Potential 104 Unit 2: Strategies and Skills 107 8 Why (and Why Not) to Pursue a Mental Health Professional Career 109 Why TO Pursue a Mental Health Career 109 Why NOT to Pursue a Mental Health Career 115 9 Critical Thinking 123 Distinguish between Real Science and Psychobabble 124 Always Ask Questions 126 Pay Attention to the Way Terms are Operationalized when Evaluating Information 127 Examine the Evidence – Both Sides of the Evidence 128 Analyze Assumptions and Biases of Those Making Claims 129 Avoid Emotional Reasoning 130 Consider Other Interpretations 132 Tolerate Uncertainty 133 10 Ethics: A Primer on Mental Health Profession Guidelines 137 Confidentiality 138 Boundaries 141 Record-Keeping 144 11 How to Increase Your Chance of Getting into Graduate School 147 GPA and GRE Scores 148 Research Experience 149 Volunteering 150 Internships 151 Personal Statement 151 Letters of Recommendation 153 Vita or Resume 154 Interview 155 Attend to Deadlines 156 12 After You Have Earned Your Degree 157 Continuing Education 157 Malpractice Insurance 159 Telehealth/Telepsychology/Online Support Groups 161 Prescription Privileges 162 Conclusion 167 Index 169