Teaching or psychology???

Question

okay so i know that this is a really crazy question, but im seriously struggling here.

i would love to be a middle school social studies teacher, but would also love to be a counseling/clinical psychologist in a private practice.

is there any way that both could be done?? im not asking about schooling or anything like that, i know all of that stuff already. im just asking for after college. if i got the proper degrees could i be a teacher by day, psych by night??

please, im being serious here, only serious answers.

Answer 1

Many schools have a psychologist on campus who works with the students.  I'm not talking about he counselors who spend more time dealing with scheduling and credits than anything.  The psychologist actually has therapy sessions with the kids who are most troubled and lends an ear to others.  It is one of the most critical jobs on campus.  I think this position requires some experience in regular practice before coming to the school.

Answer 2

It would be a lot of work! Have you considered becoming a Guidance Counselor? That way, you sort of have the best of both worlds. You get to work with kids and you get a therapeutic setting at the same time. Middle school would be the best place for that! Elementary school counselors end up being pseudo administrators and high school counselors spend all of their time checking credits to make sure kids graduate.

I was a Middle school SS teacher for 13 years and have been working as a guidance counselor in the same school now for the past 2! I loved teaching, but the pressure from standardized testing in FL started to make it not so much fun. Now, I get to do my favorite part of my teaching job-talking to the kids- all day long. It is still stressful, but in a different, more rewarding way.

As for Blue's comments- a school psychologist does not need to have private practice experience- at least not in my district! While it is a great job, in my experience School Psychologists spend most of their time giving students psychological exams (usually to place them in ESE), Not exactly the clinical experience you are looking for. A School Social Worker might be a better choice.

Answer 3

There is a counselor at our school that has a private practice on the weekends.  Maybe you can teach high school psychology?  Just a suggestion.

Answer 4

i agree with melissa.  You should try teaching in middle school for a couple of years and then maybe try guidance counseling (in my district you have to teach at least three years before you can be a counselor).  Then perhaps you could work your way up to opening your own clinic to practice psychology.  If after that you still want to teach you could possibly teach night classes part time for those trying to get a GED or perhaps a couple nights a week teach at a community college.  They won't be exactly middle school age but at least you will get to teach and still keep your practice going.

Answer 5

I think the most sensible thing to do is to teach during the regular school year and do clinical psychology settings during the summer when you have time off...

the other option is to only be a substitute teacher and have a private practice on the side for psychology.