Becoming a psychologist without qualifications?
I know I don't have any qualifications in the field but 10 years of researching the condition and experiencing it surely gives me more experience of the condition than any university trained psychologist.
So my question is would I be able to help people get out and make a living from it? Either by doing self help courses or one to one counseling, or would I need to have qualifications behind me to do it?
Answer:
You are one of the few who could become a great psychologist in your area of expertise because you come from a position of self-knowledge and experience.
You could attend a short course in a Further Education College and do counselling.
But if you really want to be a psychologist there is a way in which you can.
Firstly check website of your local university psychology department and find out the member of staff that specialises/teaches/researches in your area, its them you need to convince. You could gain a MSc/PhD by research if they agree to sponsor your academic research. Universities appreciate experience that's why every year they all dish out honorary doctorates on high achievers from the community.
You then have to complete the post-grad entry application these are usually available before Christmas vacation closing date usually February of your year of entry.
If this is an area were you have experience and are knowledgeable in you will be confident and convincing that you can carry out futher academic type research. You will also be enrolled in methodological/stastical classes for postgrads and your sponsor will be a great help.
Unfortunately most research degrees are self funded but your sponsor may know of authorities willing to fund research in this area.
Good luck..contact your sponsor around October/November time when university starts back to get the ball rolling in the mean time over the summer period, read up psychology journals articles available at university libraries and online and make sure you quote names and research articles to the sponsor of past and current ideas and also have a different slant from which to approach your research...it has to be new.
Scarily enough, anyone can set themselves up in business and call themselves a counsellor or therapist or whatever they want to call themselves. There is no requirement to have any qualifications. I understand what you're saying but its a situation that, in my opinion, ought not to be the case.
why not?
You cant practice with out Qualifications.
I think you might be able to help others in similar situations to the ones you have been in, as you have been there and experienced them. People can relate more to others who have shared a similar experience. Perhaps look into helping with group therapy.
It is likely that you will have to have some training and perhaps qualifications to help others. Even if it is just to ensure you are able to meet others who need help and be able to cope and protect yourself from being upset. I have no doubt you are strong as you have helped yourself through difficult times, but it is surprising what effect others can have on you.
You have done very well!
the answer to your question is that you need qualifications in order to receive registration from the British Psychological Society, - organisation which regulates psychologists in the UK. Even to give counselling you need to be registered with the governing body for counselling. - This is important because they will cover you legally should anyone try to sue you concerning the advice you give.
Then there is the matter of insuring yourself, insurance companies will not give you professional indemnity insurance without proof of qualifications. - Without this insurance, again you run the risk of being sued over any faulty advice you may give.
But hey, why not go and get a qualification?
You would need to ask yourself a few questions to start off with, such as
1.Why exactly am I doing this?
2. How will it make me feel spending time around depressives?
3. Will it empower me?
4. Do I want to move in or out of mental health as a field of study?
5. What do I want to put into this to gain professional, recognized qualifications?
6. Do I ahve the ability to show empathy and sympathy yet be "cruel to be kind" where it is needed?
Im really pleased that you ahve come "out of the other side" it is indeed a testament to your strength and resilience. SOmetimes it may ormay not come back, have pateince with it and yourself, and accept that it will go, just like the weather.
You would need counselling qualifications to be registered and practise as an *official* counsellor. I would recomend that you look at your local college brochure and gain some basic qualifications and pherhaps have a look at doing some voluntary work for a local NHS Day Treatment centre. Occupational Health, Art Therapist, CBT Therapist, Counsellor are some of the many jobs available.
Btw, i noticed that you dont like the idea of exams. Youve predicted by magically fortune-telling the future, that you will fail as you did as a child? How do you know this? I mean, how do you really know this? It might be worth really challenging your ideas and having a go at a very basic counselling course, or maybe another basic course to get used to education. This would be slightly daunting to anybody after spending a long while out of education anyway. You could at least have a go at a night course, whilst still working at your job. BTW you might also like to look at the area of "NLP" and read the books "Insiders Guide To Submodalities" and "Using your brain for a change"by a guy called Richard Bandler, which are books on self-change. A book that really helped me is "A Guide To Rational Living" by Albert Ellis.
BTW IVE JUST THOUGHT OF SOMETHING- You are a joiner right!? I dont know where you live but here in the uk there are plenty of NHS day treatment centres that use "woodwork therapy" as a therapeutic tool- you would be teaching basic woodwork i.e simple stuff for those with no experience/confidence righ up to cabinet making stuff i.e chairs etc with those with either experience and more confidence. There are facilitators employed to do this, you could be doing woodwork whilst helping people, helping them to have a laugh, throw in the odd bit of advice. How does that sound? Contact your local NHS community centres and day treatment services. best of luck mate
Don't quote me on it, however I do believe this law applies everywhere and the US. You cannot sell anything in the United States without a license whether it be a product, goods or services. You would fall under services, and since you are trying to practice being a psychologist you would have to have some sort of degree. There is no business license out there based on pure experience and no knowledge to back it. If you have the given money/time you can test out of certain areas corresponding to be coming a psychologist. However, a psychologist is more diverse when it comes to psychological issues, rather than narrowing it down to three main areas of study. You may be able to open a nonprofit organization as a sole proprietor and go based on donations. Good luck!
I have studied psychology in college as part of my education major, but never got a degree. I use the skills I learned in teaching music, it helps when teaching one on one when I have troubled kids and adults who want to learn to play music. I have worked a a counselor in working with disabled people too. I don't have a college degree or credentials to be a psychologist, but do use skills a psychologist might use and am a better teacher for it. I have counseled many people but do not bill myself as a psychologist, I'm just good at it from years of experience. A degree would be a good idea for those who want to do this work as a psychologist
to be paid and give accurtae advice you do
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