Anyone willing to share experiences working in the mental health field?

Question

I just graduated with my BA in Psych, but I still don't know what I'm "doing with my life". I've applied to a few jobs to work as an assistant in Special Ed. classes, but I'm also looking at being a caregiver for adults with mental disabilities.
Can anyone who has gone through the entry level process in this field, or works with these jobs, offer some experience? ie, what do you like or dislike about your job? Or any other leads...
Thank you!

Answer 1

I personaaly have not but my mother is an advance registered nurse practitionor. She started off as a daycare worker (when I say daycare worker I mean the adult paitients worked in groups not child care worker) when I was about 2 or 3 she loved her job. I know there are different levels of the mental health that she did not enjoy but as time went on she got more and more schooling and is now the associate director. She is 65 and I am sure there are few things she would have changed but otherwise loves it.

Can I make a suggestion. call your local mental health facility and ask if there is a social worker or nurse or anyone you could set up an appointment to see if they can mentor you. That way you can get infomation from someone in the field in person.

Good Luck I know been a child of a mental health professional has made my life better.

Answer 2

If you are doing special ed, consider getting your teaching credential. There are programs called ACP-Alternative Teaching Certificate Programs, designed for working adults who majored in something other than education in college. Those programs provide everything you need to get up and running for a teaching position.

Special ed is a "critical shortage" area in virtually every state. There are tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness programs for teachers in those areas. Check it out, look on your states Department of Education website and do some searches under loan forgiveness and special ed scholarships and related searches. In Florida a new teacher would be eligible for both tuition reimbursement for the ACP program and also loan forgiveness for undergrad work up to $10,000. Not bad!