what kind of career?

Hey everyone,

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about the direction my life is going in, and I'm not as happy with it like I thought I would be. I'm 24 and studied psychology in school and am currently working at a mental health facility. My plan since high school was to get my Ph.D in clinical psych and become a therapist, but I'm not so sure about it now. I love psychology and like working with patients but I'm passionate about traveling, learning foreign languages, and cultural immersion. The few times I've genuinely been happy have been when I was exploring other countries and having a cultural exchange. So right now I think my biggest concern is not wasting any time pursuing what really excites me; I feel like at 24 I should be slowly getting into a career.

So as anyone can imagine I'm making a huge decision because if I go with this, I won't invest anything more in grad school (at least not for psychology). I'm not sure what kind of career I should be pursuing based on my interests so I'm hoping I can be pointed in the right direction. Ideally, I'd love to do some kind of work that either allows me to travel frequently (or stay in 1 country for an extended time) and/or work very closely with people. I have an outgoing personality and I'm a bit of a free spirit, so I don't care for cubicles and the like.

The only things that have really came to mind are traveling companies and international relations (though I admit I don't know a lot about that field and am hoping someone can tell me more).

I would just think about this: would you regret not becoming a psychologist if you gave it up?

I noticed that you said staying in one country for an extended time, so what about getting a job in a foreign country? Somewhere that would give you access to other countries faster and more cheaply than where you are now (America, I'm assuming)?

Rorygemwriter's suggestion above sounds really interesting, too.

Wow, a move to Rome sounds exciting! Italy would be amazing.

I don't really have any other suggestions (I've actually been trying to figure this out for myself for a couple of years, now), so good luck with it! I hope you figure it out. :)

How about a PhD in psychology with a emphasis on different cultures? This might give you a lot of what you want.

I thought about getting my PhD in psychology anyway and working as a therapist abroad, but my adviser said I should attain my degree wherever I plan to work for simplicity and the credentials. I checked out schools in Europe and besides maybe England, the psychology programs just don't compare to that in the U.S. I wouldn't regret not working in psychology if I gave it up anyway, but I love the field enough to where I wouldn't mind working in it at all. This is just about doing what I'm most passionate about.

ninelifewriter, I'm actually planning a move to Rome in the spring next year and I'm hoping to get a teaching position, but I only plan to do that for a year at most. I'm thinking about the long-term right now an am just trying to figure out what I can do that tailors to my interests and strengths.

'my adviser said I should attain my degree wherever I plan to work for simplicity and the credentials.'

That is half a tale if every there were one. How do you know where you intend to work for the rest of your life? US degrees are generally recognised in most of the developed world. Probably not in the UK yet but someday.

In what way do the psychology programmes in the UK not compare with those in the US?

Really? What about bachelors degrees? I guess it's time to do a little research.

UK and US programs are quite similar from what I've researched, though much more well-rounded with a stronger emphasis on research in the U.S. I would still go to school for psychology in the UK. My choices were Italy and Spain though, but I didn't like their programs at all.

I was thinking more of PhDs than first degrees.

If I might declare an interest I am British and have a Masters from Antioch in Humanistic Psychology. I studied for this in England and completed my studies in 1981. I was aware that the degree was not recognised in the UK. I don't practice psychology and I am grateful for the knowledge and experience I gained in my studies.

Might I suggest you look into the recognition of degrees and professional qualifications in the EU as I seem to remember there is a system whereby professional qualification obtained in one country are required to be recognised in others.

I can think of several possibilities for overseas careers that have a basis in psychology. One is school guidance. I know several school psychologists and clinical psychologists employed by larger international schools.

Another is groups like doctors without borders, International Red Cross and other NGOs who use psychologists to help people in crisis situations.

And then there are certain government agencies that use clinical psychologists who live and work overseas.

As a psychiatrist who works for the Department of State and has lived and worked overseas, I can tell you that it isn't all that easy for a clinical psychologist who wants to practice therapy to simply pick up and move. First there are problems of licenses. Even if a degree is recognized, which often is a problem in itself, getting a license, a work permit and a visa to reside in another country and set up a practice/business is not that simple in most places in the world.

You might also want to look at the Foreign Service and USAID both of which are part of the Department of State. If not now, perhaps at some point in the future. Both allow you to live overseas, study a new language and sort of immerse yourself in a new culture. Your degree is not what is important. A board general knowledge and a variety of experiences are.

At 24 you have plenty of time to make decisions. There are lots of people who work for 20 years doing something, decide that they want to do something else and change careers in their 40s or 50 and still have 15-20 years to work at a different job.

but I'm passionate about traveling, learning foreign languages, and cultural immersion.

Traveling is never the same as living and working overseas. Learning foreign languages is something that you can do and keep doing no matter your career. Same with travel. Read posts on this branch by purpletreefrog who chose a teaching job overseas which lets her live overseas and gives her summers off to travel.

Ruth

At 24 there's no need to decide long term yet. If you've been in school most of your life, I think it's a good idea to take a break and work or volunteer in various situations to really understand what you want. Imagining what something might be like is no substitute for actually doing it.

Everbrite, thank you! I took a peak at both USAID and Foreign Service and it's almost exactly the kind of work I've always been interested in. I realize that it's not uncommon for people to change careers in their 30s or 40s, but time is valuable, and I don't want to waste it. Maybe it's my perfectionism, but I like to get it right on the first try. I wish I had studied international relations in school instead, but I can't look back.

Traveling is never the same as living and working overseas

That's quite true. I worked as an Au Pair in Italy for 6 months - very different from me backpacking Spain for a few weeks. It wasn't a long stay but I think I got a decent feel for living abroad.

At 24 there's no need to decide long term yet. If you've been in school most of your life, I think it's a good idea to take a break and work or volunteer in various situations to really understand what you want. Imagining what something might be like is no substitute for actually doing it.

That's what I'm told, but I don't know. I feel rushed to start mapping out a career now. I just don't want to waste time. At the moment I'm only concerned with traveling and doing whatever else pleases me as I've just finished university last year, but within the next 2 years I want to have a good idea of what I'll do next. I've thought a lot about volunteer work and considered Peace Corps, but the 2 year commitment scares me a little. Of course there are alternative programs to Peace Corps and I'm looking into them. I wouldn't mind doing a little work in Africa for half a year.

Shrinks never have to tell you, when you're well. They just keep you on drugs. You buy the prescription, and dull the bugging harpies. Stateside drugs cost double.

And all you do for a living is say, "And.. how did that make...YOU feel?"
Go abroad and grow. It helps put a new rudder on your ship of education.

Do something else for a living for awhile, so you'll have experience and people watching skills. Not just glean from a book of theories.

In Oz, I worked at things, I'd never considered, in places I couldn't have heard of. I'm forever greateful.

Finally writing that book.

I wish I had studied international relations in school instead, but I can't look back.

You don't need international relations. In fact, sometimes not having studied this is an advantage. You need common sense and a broad general knowledge. I know people in the Department who studied art history and engineering and all sorts of things.

Lots of Peace Corps volunteers later join the Department or USAID or other NGOs.

Ruth

I'd have thought that the Peace Corps would be a great place to use your talents and qualifications. Alternatively, I'm sure than anywhere that works with refugees would value your expertise so why don't you just ask around - write a letter to the UNHCR or the Red Cross or something and ask them. Can you afford to do some volunteer work in this area to start with? At least by doing something like this you'll have the opportunity to work out whether it's what you want longer term.

I feel rushed to start mapping out a career now. I just don't want to waste time.

but the 2 year commitment scares me a little.

You want to map out your entire life but you can't make a 2 year commitment to the Peace Corps. This makes little sense.

Everything starts with one step. Sometimes that step is a 2 year commitment to something like the Peace Corps and sometimes it isn't but no plan you make today should be so rigid that you can't make detours when and if it is necessary.

Ruth

'I feel rushed to start mapping out a career now. I just don't want to waste time.'

'but the 2 year commitment scares me a little.'

The way I read it is that if someone wants to make the right decision (as if such a thing existed) i.e. not wasting time then a two year commitment or any other committment would be scary as it might be the 'wrong' decision.

It is a basic problem of being human and having choices. The assumption I would challenge is that there is a right decision.

The most important thing is to do something. Even if you make the "wrong" choice, you'll be ending up with valuable experience, and have a better idea of what you do want. I dropped out of uni 3 years ago in order to change direction, but I just lost all my momentum, and I've wasted those three years trying to come up with the perfect idea -- and now I'm finally making real plans, they're frustrated at every turn by not having a degree, or any useful experience. So whatever you decide, make sure that 2, 3, 5 years from now, you'll have something you can take with you, be it a degree or just volunteering experience. You don't have to get it right first time -- indeed, most don't -- the only way through is to keep trying things until one of them sticks.

hey,
if you have conflicting ideas about what you want to be and what you think you should be it helps if you can consolidate what your interests are and where your strengths lie. Try a graduate careers planner and see if it can provide you with more ideas on what jobs are out there which are relevant.
and good luck!

Kuter Preference Test. Works wonders. Take one with a councilor. at a college. It asks similar questions worded differently. Scattered throughout.
The councilor has a book thats coded with different aspects of your wishes.

They want you happy.

I asked my sister, how my grandad liked being a lawyer. She said he hated every minute of it.

Travel slowwwly is a school, of different points of view etc. Living in Spain, this Texan figured out, all my complaints are just the shoe on the other foot.

good luck.
TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE.