[SarahSweden]

I´m quite sad actually as I would want to become a psychologist but I can´t as I won´t get any more study loans. (I´ve already got my exam but in completely different areas, an exam I can´t use) Now I´m thinking if there are any other ways to change careers and become a psychologist.

In Sweden where I live it´s only one exam that gives you the right to work as a psychologist and you have to study more or less full time for five years to get this exam.

So I think my chances are pretty much zero to make something out of these plans but I would still want to ask if anyone in here has changed careers and started to study to become a psychologist? How did you do? How do you finance your studies? How old will you be when you graduate?

[joshuas-mommy]

Can you become a licensed counselor? I think that they can practice with a master's degree.

[SarahSweden]

I live in Sweden and we don´t have this "licensed counselor". We have only one exam for getting the title psychologist. Anyone in here who has done a career change and would want to tell me more about it?

Originally Posted by joshuas-mommy

Can you become a licensed counselor? I think that they can practice with a master's degree.

[joshuas-mommy]

Originally Posted by SarahSweden

I live in Sweden and we don´t have this "licensed counselor". We have only one exam for getting the title psychologist. Anyone in here who has done a career change and would want to tell me more about it?

I was planning on a career change back in 2008. I wanted to help children with behavioral problems. I never finished school because I didn't have enough money. So I had lots of bills and no degree.

[lizardlady]

Sarah, I changed careers and became a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in my 40s. Here in the US counselors/therapists can only diagnose and provide therapy. Psychologists can do that plus test people. A person can becoem a therapist with a Master's degree. You have to receive a doctorate to become a psychologist. You might want to investigate the rules in Sweden. I used to work with a woman from Sweden. She had a Master's degree and was considered a therapist there.

To answer your question about what it was like to change careers. I used to train horses and teach people to ride. After a couple of bad injuries I was concerned that if I stayed in that profession I would end up crippled. I met with a career counselor (he was actually a psychologist) who administered some tests. That lead me to go back to college and take some psych classes to see if that's what I really wanted to do. I also needed the psych classes to prepare me for a counseling program. I went ahead and applied to grad school, took three years worth of classes and got my Master's degree. I am happy as a clam with this profession.

[SarahSweden]

Thanks for sharing.

How did you finance your studies if I may ask you? As I can´t get any more study loans it feels like a dead end to try to change careers. Even if this woman you met got a license to give therapy by having a masters degree, the problem is still there I´m afraid. To get a master, I would have to study for five years, just as long as if I study to become a psychologist and the money isn´t there.

Originally Posted by lizardlady

Sarah, I changed careers and became a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in my 40s. Here in the US counselors/therapists can only diagnose and provide therapy. Psychologists can do that plus test people. A person can becoem a therapist with a Master's degree. You have to receive a doctorate to become a psychologist. You might want to investigate the rules in Sweden. I used to work with a woman from Sweden. She had a Master's degree and was considered a therapist there.

To answer your question about what it was like to change careers. I used to train horses and teach people to ride. After a couple of bad injuries I was concerned that if I stayed in that profession I would end up crippled. I met with a career counselor (he was actually a psychologist) who administered some tests. That lead me to go back to college and take some psych classes to see if that's what I really wanted to do. I also needed the psych classes to prepare me for a counseling program. I went ahead and applied to grad school, took three years worth of classes and got my Master's degree. I am happy as a clam with this profession.

[lizardlady]

My solution to paying for grad school most likely is not going to be helpful to you.

I was married when I started grad school. I'd also been working two jobs for about 12 years. I had saved some money I planned to use for tuition and books. I told my husband that I was going to have to quit the second job and we would have to live on his income. The income from continuing teaching and training would go toward paying for school. One year into grad school my husband was killed in and accident. His life insurance gave me enough money to live on while I finished school.

[SarahSweden]

I´m very sorry for what you went through, it´s an irony of faith. I hope this didn´t sound stupid.

I´ve thought of how some people study later in life when living with a partner and as I live by myself I don´t have that opportunity. But I appreciate you shared your story.

I´m still looking for ways to be able to study some more and I hope I´ll perhaps find one.

Originally Posted by lizardlady

My solution to paying for grad school most likely is not going to be helpful to you.

I was married when I started grad school. I'd also been working two jobs for about 12 years. I had saved some money I planned to use for tuition and books. I told my husband that I was going to have to quit the second job and we would have to live on his income. The income from continuing teaching and training would go toward paying for school. One year into grad school my husband was killed in and accident. His life insurance gave me enough money to live on while I finished school.

[lizardlady]

Sarah, could you work while you attend school? Some of my classmates did that in grad school.

[SarahSweden]

As an education here in Sweden to become a psychologist is very demanding and as you can´t take evening classes it would be hard and feel very stressful to having to work for a living at the same time as I have to focus on my studies.

I also have been unemployed for more than five years and I have all odds against me when it comes to finding a job, it´s an obstacle in itself I think...

Originally Posted by lizardlady

Sarah, could you work while you attend school? Some of my classmates did that in grad school.

[Tauren]

Usually a graduate student is an employee of the university. You don't need a degree in psychology to go to graduate school in psychology. I just looked it up and it's the same as in the US.

[AncientMelody]

Originally Posted by Tauren

Usually a graduate student is an employee of the university. You don't need a degree in psychology to go to graduate school in psychology. I just looked it up and it's the same as in the US.

No.....a graduate student is only an employee if they are working as a teaching assistant, lab instructor, etc. That's just a small percentage of grad students.