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Psychology or Psychotherapy?

  • 14-01-2014 2:27pm
    #1
    Wednesday Addams
    Closed Accounts Posts: 47 ✭


    Hi All

    I'm hoping some of you can point me in the right direction as I've done a search and to be honest it's just caused me more confusion!

    Firstly, my background is that I have BA in Media studies and a decent CV built up since working from the age of 18 in journalism, advertising sales/key account management and print/digital media. I also have experience teaching English abroad. I've never had any issue with employment as I've worked for some good companies and built up a good track record,; all of my roles have involved an element of direct sales bar the journo and I've a good record of achieving targets.

    Fast forward to today. I currently work as a course advisor within the media area, this is a sales orientated role - however, there is a huge element of student liaisons - offering advice/career guidance etc., both face to face and over the phone. It's the advisory element of it that I love, I like sitting down with someone, identifying their best course of study, and helping them to come up with a plan in terms of advancing themselves. With regards to the sales element, it gets old fairly quickly - I know I'm good at it, I know I could keep doing it, but it's a job...not a vocation.

    I have wanted to study psychology for years; in fact I initially wanted to study it following my LC but I knew there wasn't a chance of getting the points at the time.

    Two years ago, I suffered a huge trauma which resulted in PTSD and I have been in counselling for this since. It's been a very tough few years, but I believe that what has got me through it is my self awareness and ability to look at the situation objectively regardless of my feelings (albeit not always possible but I do try). During this time, I have researched alot about PTSD and I also started up a blog which now has near 500 followers; I use my poetry and experiences to connect with others suffering from mental health issues and it's been an incredible resource to me. It's amazing when I get an email from someone who says that my blog helped them to feel a little less alone. I want that feeling every day. With regards to my own recovery, I have recently turned a corner with this, which is why I would like to get the ball rolling in terms of moving forward.

    Prior to my recent trauma, I also had an extremely traumatic childhood; abusive, alcoholic parents who left me as the caregiver for my siblings from a very young age. It is this that has led to my specific interest in working with young people in mental health, as I believe there is a massive gap for these services.

    So, here's what I want to do. I would like to work as a 'Project Worker', with disadvantaged families/young people with issues/young people in residential care, or alternatively as a therapist in this regard.

    How do I get there? - here is my confusion.

    My therapist has a BA in psych and an MA in Couns Psych; after seeing a few bogus 'counsellors' I was very much of the mindset that any therapist needed a Psych BA and a Masters to be reputable. However, reading up on it, I'm not sure I'm right.

    Financially, I'm in 9k of debt, I'm putting my sibling through college and I can't really afford the time or money to do a Couns Psych Ph.D/MA. The way I see it, my options are: Psych H.Dip DBS or BA Couns and Psychotherapy. My work will possibly help to fund the Psychology H.Dip, but I couldn't swing it for the counselling BA. However, considering I'd need to do an MA after the psychology dip anyway it makes little difference financially.

    My questions are:

    If I do the psychology H.Dip, will I be able to apply for rolesi n the HSE as a care worker or project worker? Or indeed in a private centre? I've seen a few roles advertised which say they will accept a psych BA instead of social care, but how likely is this? A friend of mine did a psychology BA, got straight into the HSE care team and is now doing her MA in CBT whilst working there - is this a viable option still?

    Work experience wise, I have 18 months exp in mentoring a teen with learning disabilities and I have applied for a few other roles in mental health facilities for this year.

    I would really appreciate any advice on this at all!! I know it's a lot to go through, but I am so, so keen to get into this area and I'm determined to get there.


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