Quote from: crossbro

Overall, from a career standpoint it is an awful major unless you are willing to get a Phd and have good enough grades to compete in the academic field. That means an ivy league school and high tuition.

The other option would be psychiatry which means a medical degree which translates into getting into medical school and becoming a medical doctor. Then you can prescribe drugs and make a fortune.

I don't have a lot of respect for the field. psychology is a soft science. If I had the choice between psychology and sociology, I would prefer the later.

Anyway, a psychology degree might get you a job as a youth counselor in a group home for $12 an hour if you are lucky.

I would not go into psychiatry, although I know clinical psychology is in that field. One needs to be a doctor ( 8 years study) then specialize in psychiatry ( 12 years ) before one is a psychiatrist. You need to have an MD to be a consultant. I dont have the grades to study medicine, and in this country you need to have those grades in a test at age 17 or 18. I am not willing to go back to do that test. Instead a degree in psychology is open to me, and I know that there are many jobs available in that field. One could be a councilor or rehab worker or some such job. Clinical psychologists are very highly paid. Nothing equals the salary of a consultant psychiatrist, in my country they get 300,000 Euro a year, but I don't have ambitions to be rich, nor to work in such an unproductive job. Prescribing medication for behavior problems is not my thing. I am sure that many people with problems would want to have psychotherapy and counseling without the prospect of being medicated, and in that situation, perhaps there is an opportunity to speak about the faith as well. Some of the most religious people have been before psychiatrists before and carry diagnoses. I think they would avail of the services of a counseller, or if not, there are jobs in schools and hospitals where I could help those whom society has forgotten about, and pray for them at the same time. I think this is for me ( if other plans are not possible).

My husband holds a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology.  It was a degree he got many years ago, in the early 90s.  At that time, managed care had not taken over the field, and his Masters Degree was sufficient to get a job.  At the time, very few counselors had a license unless they were interested in seeing their own patients privately.  Today, it is almost impossible to get a decent paying job in counseling psychology without either a license (LPC, MFT) or a PhD or PsyD.  In fact, most of psychology is going by way of social work.  There are many positions available for MSW's than Master's level therapists.  Of course, psychologists are always in need, but the pay is not always what you might think.  My husbands mentor and supervisor has a PsyD in Clinical Psychology.  He makes about 70K a year.  That, of course, is a good income, but obviously nothing in comparison to what a Psychiatrist would make.  FWIW, an MSN, a Master's level nurse, makes about that as well, as doesn't have to go to school as long.  Pay rate for LPC's is about 60K.  

I mention this because my husband has been in forensics for about 15 years.  It is very stressful for him, but he finds that he has done some good for many people.  I am very humbled by how many people stop us in town and thank him for helping them get on the right medications or get back with their wives, or get off drugs, or stop whatever behavior that was causing so much trouble for them.  He really does care for them and doesn't want to see them locked up forever.  However, when an inmate commits ѕυιcιdє, he takes it very hard, almost personally.  The constant conflict with the state regarding mental health care and what he knows works and doesn't work has caused him to want to leave forensics for other areas.  Unfortunately, even with over 20 years experience, without a license, he has pretty much reached his peak.

I am certainly not trying to tell you what to do, just painting the picture for you from our own experience.  The field of Psychology has changed a lot in the last 20 years.  

Obviously, this is in the US.  I do not know what the field is like in other countries.  It is worth checking out.

If you do wish to pursue this, you will absolutely need licensure.  Get that as soon as you can.  Otherwise a PhD or PsyD is your best option.

If you are wishing to work in a hospital or public sector, you should consider social work.  Insurance companies now pay more for MSW than LPC's.  

Good luck.