Libby Berkovitch: I worked in mental health since 1987, but I'm not a social worker. I know probably hundreds of social workers in mental who have done it for many years. Working in mental health is very rewarding but very challenging. I think it depends on the person. Important qualities would be 1. Compassion without letting the sad stories get to you, 2. Courage to stand up for people, but the ability to back off when you know you've done everything you can....Show more
May Stands: The MSW is the most versatile degree around and will qualify you well to work in mental health. Mental health is a broad area. The pay in some sectors is quite good. If you can develop a successful private practice you can do very well. DA
Particia Thorton: You didn't say which degree - bachelor's, masters? - or in Social Work or Licensed counselor? But I can clue you in on things I wish someone had told me. First of all, check in your local area (or where you plan to live ! when you graduate) on the availabaility of jobs and what they pay. Find out the requirements for these positions as well. A BA/BS does not get you much of anything - maybe a certification and pay level of a vocational medical worker. You need at least an MA to make it, and only the PhDs get a pretty decent salary. In my state, I found out too late that social workers make more than a licensed professional counsolor, for some reason. And they get hired before we do. Why? I really don't know except they have been around longer and have a larger lobby force(?) So it's probably like this in every state. But LPC's have MA's, take the same amount of university courses (or more) in the same courses and mostly with the same books, and have the same number of hours of internship (or more). Another "political thing" they do is look down their nose if you went to a state university. Seems spending more money makes the education better(?) NOT! Several of my professers at my! state university wrote the books our state board required for! both counselors' and social workers courses! I interned with several of those snobs who attending the private universities under Daddy's or Husbands money. They were too good to sit with or speak to me. Guess what? They cried about the difficult psychometrics questions when they failed their state boards and had to re-take. This UT student going under the GI bill (me) aced it the first time around! (I studied my *** off - that's all it takes)If I were on the other side of the couch, I'd rather go to a counselor (who sounds professional) than a social worker (who sounds like a baby snatcher). Another bit of info - don't work for the state - (MHMR, Dept of Human Svcs, Child Protection, etc.)- bad conditions, overwork, underpay.Basically, do a lot of homework and research before deciding which way to go. If you (or Daddy) has money to spend, go to the rpivate U just tohave the name of your transcript (What do nuns and priests know about family, marriage, and living in! the real world of mental illness- excuse me?), and shoot for a PhD. Just don't get it and think you're God and can put a label on everyone you meet....please? Stay real!Signed: Making more on Disability than I did as an LPC with beyond a Masters and a supervisor certification!...Show more
Heidi Creselious: i might flow into Social artwork, haha, nicely i am going into Social artwork. i think of that Social artwork has such dissimilar extra opportunities and helps you to artwork in such dissimilar extra settings and that i think like it would open up dissimilar jobs to you that may not be available as a psychological wellness Counselor. Many social workers flow directly to artwork in counseling centers. you're perfect, coverage frequently the two limits or does not cover psychological wellness courses. this is an unlucky fact, yet in this way of economic device it would be lots extra advantageous to be in a application which you be attentive to you have got extra su! ggestions for artwork and that doesn't unavoidably have faith in covera! ge for purchasers. sturdy success!...Show more
Janita Tetlow: If it is something u want to do it is worth it
Lawanna Livsey: working in the field is both challenging and rewarding. However, the rewards are often not felt in monetary or time gains. MH/SW are often some of the lowest paying jobs and more often than not require nights/weekend on-call responsibilities. I often have to return a call or go in in the middle of the night. It's also important to remember that if you want to do more than case management or work in addictions (which famously is some of the hardest work and the lowest paying work across all MH/SW jobs) you'll need to get a M.S. degree and then get your licensure (either LPC licensed professional counselor or LCSW Licensed clinical social worker, both require you to work under supervision for about 2 years or 4000 hours before you can even get licensed (in VA) check in your state for specific requirements. Another thing you may want to think! about is your personal mental health, your personal support group. Everything we do is confidential, which means its not appropriate to go home and talk about your day....even with your significant other. That means that you and you alone will carry with you the pain that you have witnesses and it is an honor as others are letting you go with them on their journey for that moment in time. It's difficult, give it some thought.......Show more
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