How To Respond To My Father?

[RankStranger]

 

 

I appreciate all your comments.

 

As for my major, which seems like a tangential topic, I have been told multiple times to pursue a job in the healthcare or engineering fields as I am talented at math and science. However, I can't stand blood/guts/sick people, so healthcare is out and as for engineering, I always wanted a job that I would enjoy. I may be good at math, but I certainly do not care for it and I would be beside myself if I had to go to work and do math every day. I had no idea what i wanted to do when I entered college! I decided I would try a business class, but I was bored by that. Psychology and Philosophy were the subjects that intrigued me. And I absolutely love them. Sure, I'll have to go to grad school for them to be worth anything, but I like school, so I don't mind too much. 

I thought about going for a career where I could have a job and a lot of money. But, I wanted to be in a job that did not feel like a job.

I would still love to be a marriage/family counselor someday. That is approximately a two year course of study before I can be licensed. So, four years from now, I could be a licensed counselor. RenaissanceWoman did mention that secular marriage counselors are rare, so I might actually be useful. I did look up marriage counselors in my area to see who offers premarital counseling for nonChristian couples, but I did not find any (maybe because I live in the dang Bible Belt!). People don't like to go to counselors who do not have different religions/worldviews because their approaches to therapy are completely different. A premarital session with a Christian counselor would be odd for my boyfriend and I because they would feel almost inclined to tell us about God since God is so "pivotal" to healthy relationships. And, since America is becoming increasingly irreligious, secular counselors are needed. 

 

I suppose one of my "flaws" is having a lot of hope. 

 

I'm more worried about my dad finding out that my faith is already dead than the security of my future career. Seems sort of backwards.  But I hope it all works out in the end.

 

My wife is a psychologist, so I can tell you a little bit about her real-world experience in that job market.  It boils down to this:

 

If you have a bachelor's degree in psychology, you can get a job with meaningful work (say social worker, case manager, or the like)- but it won't pay much.  We're talkin' 11-14/hour here in the Midwest.  I'm sure it's somewhat higher in places with a higher cost of living- but still barely enough to pay rent.

 

If you get a master's degree, you can make enough to pay the bills.  Maybe 15-25/hour here in the Midwest.  I know one person with a master's in psychology making $80k/year (roughly $40/hour)... but she's been in that line of work for decades, and her husband has political connections.

 

If you want to make a good middle-class salary that'll buy you a nice cardboard-castle in the burbs and a new vehicle every couple of years, you'll have to have a phd, psy-D, or the like.

 

I'm not trying to discourage you- just trying to give you a realistic picture of what to expect.

 

Social workers in my area of which my wife is one start around 22$ per hour. I am not sure how your wife is getting the shaft or where you got these numbers from but you might want to check again.

 

I can get a job washing dishes in my city for 10$ an hour for god sake.

 

What is the source of your data?

My wife isn't on that pay scale seeings how she's a supervisor and has a master's degree. These numbers are based on what her staff makes, what she made at previous jobs, and what her friends make. I know of what I post here.

 

What part of the country are you in? Our mediocre Midwestern city has a pretty low cost of living (you can buy a pretty nice house here for $120k, for example). I've no doubt pay would be higher elsewhere, but I know of one social worker in Chicago who was making only $13/hour several years ago. This is NOT a high-paying field - particularly for people at entry level and with only a Bachelors.

[gall]

 

 

 

I appreciate all your comments.

 

As for my major, which seems like a tangential topic, I have been told multiple times to pursue a job in the healthcare or engineering fields as I am talented at math and science. However, I can't stand blood/guts/sick people, so healthcare is out and as for engineering, I always wanted a job that I would enjoy. I may be good at math, but I certainly do not care for it and I would be beside myself if I had to go to work and do math every day. I had no idea what i wanted to do when I entered college! I decided I would try a business class, but I was bored by that. Psychology and Philosophy were the subjects that intrigued me. And I absolutely love them. Sure, I'll have to go to grad school for them to be worth anything, but I like school, so I don't mind too much. 

I thought about going for a career where I could have a job and a lot of money. But, I wanted to be in a job that did not feel like a job.

I would still love to be a marriage/family counselor someday. That is approximately a two year course of study before I can be licensed. So, four years from now, I could be a licensed counselor. RenaissanceWoman did mention that secular marriage counselors are rare, so I might actually be useful. I did look up marriage counselors in my area to see who offers premarital counseling for nonChristian couples, but I did not find any (maybe because I live in the dang Bible Belt!). People don't like to go to counselors who do not have different religions/worldviews because their approaches to therapy are completely different. A premarital session with a Christian counselor would be odd for my boyfriend and I because they would feel almost inclined to tell us about God since God is so "pivotal" to healthy relationships. And, since America is becoming increasingly irreligious, secular counselors are needed. 

 

I suppose one of my "flaws" is having a lot of hope. 

 

I'm more worried about my dad finding out that my faith is already dead than the security of my future career. Seems sort of backwards.  But I hope it all works out in the end.

 

My wife is a psychologist, so I can tell you a little bit about her real-world experience in that job market.  It boils down to this:

 

If you have a bachelor's degree in psychology, you can get a job with meaningful work (say social worker, case manager, or the like)- but it won't pay much.  We're talkin' 11-14/hour here in the Midwest.  I'm sure it's somewhat higher in places with a higher cost of living- but still barely enough to pay rent.

 

If you get a master's degree, you can make enough to pay the bills.  Maybe 15-25/hour here in the Midwest.  I know one person with a master's in psychology making $80k/year (roughly $40/hour)... but she's been in that line of work for decades, and her husband has political connections.

 

If you want to make a good middle-class salary that'll buy you a nice cardboard-castle in the burbs and a new vehicle every couple of years, you'll have to have a phd, psy-D, or the like.

 

I'm not trying to discourage you- just trying to give you a realistic picture of what to expect.

 

Social workers in my area of which my wife is one start around 22$ per hour. I am not sure how your wife is getting the shaft or where you got these numbers from but you might want to check again.

 

I can get a job washing dishes in my city for 10$ an hour for god sake.

 

What is the source of your data?

My wife isn't on that pay scale seeings how she's a supervisor and has a master's degree. These numbers are based on what her staff makes, what she made at previous jobs, and what her friends make. I know of what I post here.

 

What part of the country are you in? Our mediocre Midwestern city has a pretty low cost of living (you can buy a pretty nice house Herr for $120k, for example). I've no doubt pay would be higher elsewhere, but I know of one social worker in Chicago who was making only $13/hour several years ago. This is NOT a high-paying field - particularly for people at entry level and with only a Bachelors.

 

 

I guess I am glad I don't live there then. Hope it improves for you all in that area.

[RankStranger]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I appreciate all your comments.

 

As for my major, which seems like a tangential topic, I have been told multiple times to pursue a job in the healthcare or engineering fields as I am talented at math and science. However, I can't stand blood/guts/sick people, so healthcare is out and as for engineering, I always wanted a job that I would enjoy. I may be good at math, but I certainly do not care for it and I would be beside myself if I had to go to work and do math every day. I had no idea what i wanted to do when I entered college! I decided I would try a business class, but I was bored by that. Psychology and Philosophy were the subjects that intrigued me. And I absolutely love them. Sure, I'll have to go to grad school for them to be worth anything, but I like school, so I don't mind too much. 

I thought about going for a career where I could have a job and a lot of money. But, I wanted to be in a job that did not feel like a job.

I would still love to be a marriage/family counselor someday. That is approximately a two year course of study before I can be licensed. So, four years from now, I could be a licensed counselor. RenaissanceWoman did mention that secular marriage counselors are rare, so I might actually be useful. I did look up marriage counselors in my area to see who offers premarital counseling for nonChristian couples, but I did not find any (maybe because I live in the dang Bible Belt!). People don't like to go to counselors who do not have different religions/worldviews because their approaches to therapy are completely different. A premarital session with a Christian counselor would be odd for my boyfriend and I because they would feel almost inclined to tell us about God since God is so "pivotal" to healthy relationships. And, since America is becoming increasingly irreligious, secular counselors are needed. 

 

I suppose one of my "flaws" is having a lot of hope. 

 

I'm more worried about my dad finding out that my faith is already dead than the security of my future career. Seems sort of backwards.  But I hope it all works out in the end.

 

 

My wife is a psychologist, so I can tell you a little bit about her real-world experience in that job market.  It boils down to this:

 

If you have a bachelor's degree in psychology, you can get a job with meaningful work (say social worker, case manager, or the like)- but it won't pay much.  We're talkin' 11-14/hour here in the Midwest.  I'm sure it's somewhat higher in places with a higher cost of living- but still barely enough to pay rent.

 

If you get a master's degree, you can make enough to pay the bills.  Maybe 15-25/hour here in the Midwest.  I know one person with a master's in psychology making $80k/year (roughly $40/hour)... but she's been in that line of work for decades, and her husband has political connections.

 

If you want to make a good middle-class salary that'll buy you a nice cardboard-castle in the burbs and a new vehicle every couple of years, you'll have to have a phd, psy-D, or the like.

 

I'm not trying to discourage you- just trying to give you a realistic picture of what to expect.

 

Social workers in my area of which my wife is one start around 22$ per hour. I am not sure how your wife is getting the shaft or where you got these numbers from but you might want to check again.

 

I can get a job washing dishes in my city for 10$ an hour for god sake.

 

What is the source of your data?

My wife isn't on that pay scale seeings how she's a supervisor and has a master's degree. These numbers are based on what her staff makes, what she made at previous jobs, and what her friends make. I know of what I post here.

What part of the country are you in? Our mediocre Midwestern city has a pretty low cost of living (you can buy a pretty nice house Herr for $120k, for example). I've no doubt pay would be higher elsewhere, but I know of one social worker in Chicago who was making only $13/hour several years ago. This is NOT a high-paying field - particularly for people at entry level and with only a Bachelors.

 

I guess I am glad I don't live there then. Hope it improves for you all in that area.

Thanks. May I ask in what region of the country do social workers start out at 22/hr?

 

I promise I won't stalk you. Something like "pacific northwest", or "East Coast" would suffice. We're in Kansas... deep within Bush Country where Pakistan's standard of living would be only slightly below the mean.

[midniterider]

 

 

I appreciate all your comments.

 

As for my major, which seems like a tangential topic, I have been told multiple times to pursue a job in the healthcare or engineering fields as I am talented at math and science. However, I can't stand blood/guts/sick people, so healthcare is out and as for engineering, I always wanted a job that I would enjoy. I may be good at math, but I certainly do not care for it and I would be beside myself if I had to go to work and do math every day. I had no idea what i wanted to do when I entered college! I decided I would try a business class, but I was bored by that. Psychology and Philosophy were the subjects that intrigued me. And I absolutely love them. Sure, I'll have to go to grad school for them to be worth anything, but I like school, so I don't mind too much. 

I thought about going for a career where I could have a job and a lot of money. But, I wanted to be in a job that did not feel like a job.

I would still love to be a marriage/family counselor someday. That is approximately a two year course of study before I can be licensed. So, four years from now, I could be a licensed counselor. RenaissanceWoman did mention that secular marriage counselors are rare, so I might actually be useful. I did look up marriage counselors in my area to see who offers premarital counseling for nonChristian couples, but I did not find any (maybe because I live in the dang Bible Belt!). People don't like to go to counselors who do not have different religions/worldviews because their approaches to therapy are completely different. A premarital session with a Christian counselor would be odd for my boyfriend and I because they would feel almost inclined to tell us about God since God is so "pivotal" to healthy relationships. And, since America is becoming increasingly irreligious, secular counselors are needed. 

 

I suppose one of my "flaws" is having a lot of hope. 

 

I'm more worried about my dad finding out that my faith is already dead than the security of my future career. Seems sort of backwards.  But I hope it all works out in the end.

 

My wife is a psychologist, so I can tell you a little bit about her real-world experience in that job market.  It boils down to this:

 

If you have a bachelor's degree in psychology, you can get a job with meaningful work (say social worker, case manager, or the like)- but it won't pay much.  We're talkin' 11-14/hour here in the Midwest.  I'm sure it's somewhat higher in places with a higher cost of living- but still barely enough to pay rent.

 

If you get a master's degree, you can make enough to pay the bills.  Maybe 15-25/hour here in the Midwest.  I know one person with a master's in psychology making $80k/year (roughly $40/hour)... but she's been in that line of work for decades, and her husband has political connections.

 

If you want to make a good middle-class salary that'll buy you a nice cardboard-castle in the burbs and a new vehicle every couple of years, you'll have to have a phd, psy-D, or the like.

 

I'm not trying to discourage you- just trying to give you a realistic picture of what to expect. 

 

 

Social workers in my area of which my wife is one start around 22$ per hour. I am not sure how your wife is getting the shaft or where you got these numbers from but you might want to check again.

 

I can get a job washing dishes in my city for 10$ an hour for god sake.

 

What is the source of your data?

 

 

Start your own practice as a psychologist (5 years of college in my area) then bill that insurance!  I went to one a few times and was charged $175 per hour (Northern Nevada)

[RankStranger]

 

 

 

I appreciate all your comments.

 

As for my major, which seems like a tangential topic, I have been told multiple times to pursue a job in the healthcare or engineering fields as I am talented at math and science. However, I can't stand blood/guts/sick people, so healthcare is out and as for engineering, I always wanted a job that I would enjoy. I may be good at math, but I certainly do not care for it and I would be beside myself if I had to go to work and do math every day. I had no idea what i wanted to do when I entered college! I decided I would try a business class, but I was bored by that. Psychology and Philosophy were the subjects that intrigued me. And I absolutely love them. Sure, I'll have to go to grad school for them to be worth anything, but I like school, so I don't mind too much. 

I thought about going for a career where I could have a job and a lot of money. But, I wanted to be in a job that did not feel like a job.

I would still love to be a marriage/family counselor someday. That is approximately a two year course of study before I can be licensed. So, four years from now, I could be a licensed counselor. RenaissanceWoman did mention that secular marriage counselors are rare, so I might actually be useful. I did look up marriage counselors in my area to see who offers premarital counseling for nonChristian couples, but I did not find any (maybe because I live in the dang Bible Belt!). People don't like to go to counselors who do not have different religions/worldviews because their approaches to therapy are completely different. A premarital session with a Christian counselor would be odd for my boyfriend and I because they would feel almost inclined to tell us about God since God is so "pivotal" to healthy relationships. And, since America is becoming increasingly irreligious, secular counselors are needed. 

 

I suppose one of my "flaws" is having a lot of hope. 

 

I'm more worried about my dad finding out that my faith is already dead than the security of my future career. Seems sort of backwards.  But I hope it all works out in the end.

 

My wife is a psychologist, so I can tell you a little bit about her real-world experience in that job market.  It boils down to this:

 

If you have a bachelor's degree in psychology, you can get a job with meaningful work (say social worker, case manager, or the like)- but it won't pay much.  We're talkin' 11-14/hour here in the Midwest.  I'm sure it's somewhat higher in places with a higher cost of living- but still barely enough to pay rent.

 

If you get a master's degree, you can make enough to pay the bills.  Maybe 15-25/hour here in the Midwest.  I know one person with a master's in psychology making $80k/year (roughly $40/hour)... but she's been in that line of work for decades, and her husband has political connections.

 

If you want to make a good middle-class salary that'll buy you a nice cardboard-castle in the burbs and a new vehicle every couple of years, you'll have to have a phd, psy-D, or the like.

 

I'm not trying to discourage you- just trying to give you a realistic picture of what to expect. 

 

 

Social workers in my area of which my wife is one start around 22$ per hour. I am not sure how your wife is getting the shaft or where you got these numbers from but you might want to check again.

 

I can get a job washing dishes in my city for 10$ an hour for god sake.

 

What is the source of your data?

 

 

Start your own practice as a psychologist (5 years of college in my area) then bill that insurance!  I went to one a few times and was charged $175 per hour (Northern Nevada)

 

 

Laws vary by state- but to work in private practice in most states, a master's level psych has to be working under the supervision of a phd level psych.

[Bhim]

I appreciate all your comments.

 

As for my major, which seems like a tangential topic, I have been told multiple times to pursue a job in the healthcare or engineering fields as I am talented at math and science. However, I can't stand blood/guts/sick people, so healthcare is out and as for engineering, I always wanted a job that I would enjoy. I may be good at math, but I certainly do not care for it and I would be beside myself if I had to go to work and do math every day. I had no idea what i wanted to do when I entered college! I decided I would try a business class, but I was bored by that. Psychology and Philosophy were the subjects that intrigued me. And I absolutely love them. Sure, I'll have to go to grad school for them to be worth anything, but I like school, so I don't mind too much. 

I thought about going for a career where I could have a job and a lot of money. But, I wanted to be in a job that did not feel like a job.

I would still love to be a marriage/family counselor someday. That is approximately a two year course of study before I can be licensed. So, four years from now, I could be a licensed counselor. RenaissanceWoman did mention that secular marriage counselors are rare, so I might actually be useful. I did look up marriage counselors in my area to see who offers premarital counseling for nonChristian couples, but I did not find any (maybe because I live in the dang Bible Belt!). People don't like to go to counselors who do not have different religions/worldviews because their approaches to therapy are completely different. A premarital session with a Christian counselor would be odd for my boyfriend and I because they would feel almost inclined to tell us about God since God is so "pivotal" to healthy relationships. And, since America is becoming increasingly irreligious, secular counselors are needed. 

 

I suppose one of my "flaws" is having a lot of hope. 

 

I'm more worried about my dad finding out that my faith is already dead than the security of my future career. Seems sort of backwards.  But I hope it all works out in the end.

 

Good to hear you have a plan in mind.  Since you don't want to be dependent on your Christian parents, it's important to have a decent career outlook!