Counselling psychology advice

First

Hi there, i've been thinking of studying counselling psychology and wondered if there are any people out there who have studied the Doctorate in Trinity and could give some advice? Basically I am worried that employment prospects are not great in this area (apart from the option of private practice). Is assessment taught and would you say the differences between clinical and counselling are narrowing?? Also in terms of personal suitability I am quite a goal focused individual, but have lots of empathy..I wondered what people feel are the most important qualities to work in this area?

The Black Oil

Someone I studied psych with went on to do the doctorate and finished it recently. I haven't spoken to him in a few years, but I believe he's in private practice. As for employment prospects, I guess that's a tricky one given that there have been recruitment bans and so on. Saying that, you still see ads dotted around the place, but it's not really an area I keep an eye on as I don't have plans to pursue this path. As to your last question, perhaps asking yourself why you want to work in the area and getting some experience might help you get a feel for it.

There's also a Psychology forum on here. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=604

Musefan

Didn't do psychology in TCD, but in terms of the opportunities for counselling vs clinical, you may be better to try for clinical & then practice as a counsellor through that route.

One of the major difficulties with the counselling doctorate is that it isn't funded. With a clinical doctorate, you get paid a salary per year while studying (around 31k I think).

With the counselling doctorate, you don't get paid and you pay a fee of around 12k per year, plus you need to pay for supervision which is by no means cheap!

To be honest, in some of the services I have worked in, clinical psychologists or even nurses take on the role of a counsellor.

In terms of the qualities you mentioned, all are useful, particularly the empathy. I would also try to have some research skills under my belt, given that counselling services need to be evaluated. Self-care is an area of HUGE importance.

Just so you can interpret what I have said above, my background is heavily oriented towards becoming a clinical psychologist, so I am obviously biased.
If you wholly want to be a counsellor, you feel you can afford the training and you would not like to train as a clinical psychologist first, go for it & best of luck.

The Black Oil

That sounds a high for a bit trainee salary, no? I thought the funding went towards the tuition fees, that the HSE would cover a certain amount. Though in the era of cutbacks perhaps a lot of this has changed.

Some of the info in this presentation might help you re the qualities you're wondering about, OP. See '2011 D Clin Presentation'.

http://psychology.tcd.ie/postgraduate/d-clin/

Musefan

Nope, as far as I know your salary is around 31k, and on top of that you get 60% contribution from the HSE to your fees. You pay the balance of the fee yourself. The fee is around 14k.