Questioning My Career Path

I am beginning to question my major. I am studying to be a clinical psychologist. I've always had doubts in myself as to whether or not I will actually be able to be as good as the professionals, but now the doubts are becoming more prominent.

Giving advice is an incredible passion of mine. I encourage my friends to open up to me if they ever need to, and even go out of my way to help others I don't even know on here. I like the idea of people being okay and will help in any way possible. Although I sure as hell need some advice sometimes, I feel others problems take more priority than mine.

Now though, I'm beginning to think that maybe I'm not cut out to do what I've been doing my whole life. I feel that my dream to be a successful psychologist will never happen.

I've read several books about psychology and te psychological disorders I plan to focus on in my career, but as I keep reading this books my hopes and dreams keep diminishing. I'm currently reading a book about a woman who suffered from Borderline Personality Disorder, and the therapist in the book is astonishing. His way with words and how he treats the patient is how I want to be. Of course there are a couple things in his practice that I don't agree on, I still believe he's absolutely incredible.

This is not the only book that I've felt this way about. I even get these feelings when I watch movies dealing with this kind of stuff. I'm just becoming extremely discouraged and don't know what to do. I'm completely lost and in need of advice.

Relax. These psychologists have had years or decades of training and experience. Of course they are awesome. You are still a student. Think of it this way -- if you already knew how to be a clinical psychologist, then what would be the point of going to school for it??

I agree.

Also to be fair you're still new to post-secondary and your dreams MAY change (there are a lot of mental health related careers out there beyond being a psychologist). But don't sell yourself short, you've got a dream and nobody walks out of school being a great anything - only experience does that.

Thank you, guys. I'm trying to calm down and relax about it. I know it's going to take years for me to even know the ins and outs of being a psychologist, but I'm hoping that I will be able to. It's just that sinking feeling that I won't be good at it, and that tears me apart. But I'm trying to stay positive.

My therapist would always make a point to counsel me that life is not like books; in books no one has to go to the bathroom, etc. Someone writing a book can make things smooth and look good. Think about conversations; it's highly unlikely that anyone is going to remember them word-for-word and there's all those silences and "um" stupid sounding stuff that gets taken out so you get this beautiful "speech" that has been tweaked, just like fashion models get air brushed! I would not compare myself to a book character, whether based on real life or not!

The great thing about studying psychology, too, is that you needn't only study clinical psychology! You might find that you love - and are wholly capable - of helping people in a clinical setting. You might also find another branch of psychology that you love.

Perna - You make a very good point, thank you. I'll try to consider that more. And what you said is absolutely true.

fishsandwich - Yeah that's true. Who knows, I'm only 19 so maybe I will end up changing what I want to do.

forgivexforget, these folks have given great advice. Many career opportunities exist out here in the world. I have a feeling you'll find your abilities useful in some field. We all need someone who will listen to us and help us with our problems.

And, for goodness sake, as the other folks said, please don't compare yourself with those psychologists in books. They are the really extra-ordinary ones, with many years of experience behind them. You should have met some of the students who were in the clinical psychology grad program at Duke, where I went to grad school. Believe me, they sure had a lot to still learn, even though they were there!

Also, remember that if for some reason you don't go into clinical psych, you can also consider social work counseling, counseling psych, school psych, guidance counseling, etc.

I don't know where you are in school, but please try not to worry. Okay? If you'd like, though, you could talk to some folks about these careers or go to a career counseling center. I'm sure there's a place for someone with your interests.

I get similar feelings when I read an amazing research paper, particularly the ones in prestigious journals such as Nature, read certain textbooks or sit in lectures. The authors or professors can explain these terribly complex concepts and physiological mechanisms in their sleep, whereas I'm diddling around trying to get my head around just the basics. Some of the professors have wrote books, frequently attend conferences all over the world and still maintain even they don't know everything about the particular topic they've spent over 20 years studying.

For me, I don't look at these experts and feel put down, instead it motivates me to become just as proficient as they are. Even if I don't get my Masters or worse, get my Masters but somehow botch something up, I still look up to those particular individuals as role-models so I can eventually have such tremendous knowledge and beautiful articulation in whatever field I end of studying and practicing in.