how long on average do you have to go to school for psychology before you can practice and make a decent wage?

Question

I have read that you must be at your PHD or PsyD to actualy work and make any kind of money is this true and for those who have gone through that process what is the hardest course to go through?

Answer 1

It all depends on what you want to practice. Here are some major types of therapists:

1. Clinical or counseling psychologists are therapists who have an advanced degree such as a Ph.D (doctor of philosophy), a Psy.D. (doctor of psychology), or Ed.D (doctor of education). They have usually had 4 or more years of graduate education, including a supervised internship.

2. Psychiatrists are physicians (M.D.) who specialize in psychiatry after graduation from medical school and completing a year of internship. The 3-year residency program in psychiatry includes supervised practice in therapy techniques and training in the biological treatment of disorders. Because only psychiatrists are physicians, they tend to emphasize biomedical therapies.

3. Psychoanalysts are almost always psychiatrists with additional specialized training in the techniques of psychoanalysis. (The exceptions are people trained in analysis after completing other graduate education, such as social work.) During the specialized training period, students must themselves undergo psychoanalysis.

4. Social workers had obtained at least a master's degree in social work (MSW). During their graduate education, they are supervised in the treatment of clients in hospitals and outpatient settings. Social workers can also obtain a doctorate (DSW or Ph.D) or specialize in specific types of therapy, becoming certified to practice as a licensed marriage, family, and child counselor (MFCC) or a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)

5. Counselors specialize in problems related to marriage, family, and child relations (MFT). They also deal with everyday adjustment problems, substance abuse, and career issues. They have obtained at least a master's degree in counseling (M.A.) and have had 2 or more years of graduate training.

Overall, it will take at least 4 years of school and 2 or more years of internship (about 1,000 hours). Internship is most notably the hardest part because there is not grantee you will be paid.

Answer 2

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RE:
how long on average do you have to go to school for psychology before you can practice and make a decent wage?
I have read that you must be at your PHD or PsyD to actualy work and make any kind of money is this true and for those who have gone through that process what is the hardest course to go through?

Answer 3

In every state you need to get a PhD in psychology or a PsyD, which is another kind of doctors degree, and pass a series of tests before you can be licensed as a psychologist.

There isn't much you can do with either a bachelors or a masters degree in psychology that will pay you much.

Answer 4

You can do it with an MS or MA if you don't mind working under supevision for 5 years.

My uncle ran group therapy with NO degree for a while, then he got an AA and became and RN and got more pay, but did the same work.

If you want to go it alone, you need 8-10 years.

Answer 5

Exactly the same, only it will cost you twice as much.