I didn't major in psych, but met my future wife there, which has to count for something. My take is, it's a very soft skill set, meaning it's possible to major in it and do well in the subject without necessarily having a clear-cut career path. If you're thinking about occupational outcomes, then I would think industrial or commercial applications, like organisational psychology, would be the most feasible. I would think starting a private practice as a psychologist would be exceedingly challenging.

Also, I found when I did psych, back in the 70's and early 80's. it was still very focussed on empiricism and philosophically rather barren. It was really trying to be scientific and didn't want anything to do with the humanities aspects of the discipline. 'Pulling habits out of rats' as someone said.

Economics is the dismal science, after all, so why would anybody like it?

What you can do with x amount of education is determined by licensing codes. A bachelor degree in psychology might not prepare you to do much--but that would depend on the school you attended and what sort of training they provided.

As far as I know, you need to have enough education to get licensed if you want to provide services for fees, bill insurance companies, and buy liability insurance. Generally a masters degree would be the minimum, with the next level up would be a doctor of psychology, which is a professional degree short of the PhD.

In my state, for instance, there are 3 kinds of social work licensure (example of professional licensure)
LSW - licensed social worker (requires a BA)
LISW - licensed independent social worker (requires an MA)
LICSW - licensed independent clinical social worker (requires an MA+)

All three require x number of hours of supervised practical work under an experienced social worker licensed to provide that level of supervision, with much more supervised work for advanced licensure.

So, if you want to be a licensed therapist, you will have to get training, supervised practical experience, pass exams, and then get licensed. Not having a license doesn't mean that you won't be able to help people, but you would probably have to work in an agency, and be covered by the agency's liability and billing capacity.

If you wanted to be a consulting psychologist, you might need a PhD, plus experience.

Personally, I think it is important for helping professionals to have a wide range of interests, pursue lifetime learning, and have interesting experiences.

Hey, good luck.

What's my tab for all the advice you've given me? It must be high as hell by now, heh. :-|

Computer science. Everything else as a hobby or spare time activity, as important or interesting as it may be. (Y)

I'm wondering if there are any psych majors here that could chime in about their experience in the field? I think I've found some vocation that I could do well in and bring about positive change. I was an econ major; but, money doesn't interest me (due to depression and the nature of the job also).

What should I expect being a psych major? What are my options going into psychology as a major? I hope to help people in need of help despite knowing that the majority of my help will be in the form of the placebo effect.

Any thoughts and experiences welcome.

Thanks. — Posty McPostface

Unless you have a specific career path in mind, such as practicing clinical psychology, you should study what interests you intellectually and what you are passionate about.

There are other ways to help people--urban planning; being a social entrepreneur; public administration; education; economic development.

Figure out specifically what type of work you would be good at and enjoy--working with your hands; investigating things; organizing things; etc.--and your preference patterns in your personality (Myers-Briggs), and go from there.

Whatever you do, don't let anybody tell you "You can't do anything with a degree in that field/discipline". Build whatever bridge you like to whatever destination you like with whatever material you like.

Computer science. Everything else as a hobby or spare time activity, as important or interesting as it may be. (Y)
--0 thru 9
Me too...or at least I use to be. :D

What is your focus? I use to be a computer programmer and computer technician, however since I'm in a IT "dead zone" and because of my ADHD I'm not really good at travelling/living out of a suitcase I'm seriously considering getting into another field.

I would become a philosopher if I thought I could make a living out of it.

"I'm wondering if there are any psych majors here that could chime in about their experience in the field? I think I've found some vocation that I could do well in and bring about positive change. I was an econ major; but, money doesn't interest me (due to depression and the nature of the job also).

What should I expect being a psych major? What are my options going into psychology as a major? I hope to help people in need of help despite knowing that the majority of my help will be in the form of the placebo effect.

Any thoughts and experiences welcome.

Thanks."
---Posty McPostface

My advice whether you continue as a pysch major or move on to something else, find something that both interests you and that you are really good at doing at try to do that the best you can. Most people end up pigeon holing themselves in a job that helps pay the bills and they don't dislike too much but never really get much further than that. I will admit however doing this is quite a bit easier said than done as such people are often thought of something like the "lynch pin" of the company or organization they work for.

Because of my ADHD and other issues I have off and on been seeing behavioral health specialist off and on for over five years now and I can tell you have have very little to no respect for them. Part of it is that I don't need to go to a headshrinker to give me a placebo effect and blow smoke up my backside (I could just take to a friend or anyone else for that) ; I need someone that can actually DO SOMETHING that HELPS. If you understand what this really means that you are already one up from over half of the people I have ever talked to.

Oh..and BTW this advice is on the house since there is no way that I could charge you even if I wanted to. :D

Does being a professional psychologist suck (to use the technical term)?

Yes, all professions suck -- more and more, sooner or later.

Fortunately for your bank account, I'm unlicensed and can't legally bill you for professional services. That, of course, doesn't mean that my advice isn't pure gold.

Good advice.

"Good advice."
--Bitter Crank

What about me? Was my advice sort of useful as well?