Posted by fallsfall on October 24, 2003, at 7:08:57
In reply to yep become an MSW~more jobs;-) (nm), posted by galkeepinon on October 24, 2003, at 2:15:31
I have seen mostly PhDs, but my old group therapist is an MSW. A friend also sees an MSW.
My feeling (which is probably not based in reality) is that initially the PhDs have more skills to draw from, but that once both have been in practice for 10 or 15 years it doesn't matter anymore - they can both be equally effective - then personality matters more.
Another difference (I think this is true), is that PhDs are able to sign stuff that MSWs can't - like the "Doctor's" note to put you on disability. I think that MSWs have a relationship with either an MD or PhD to generate that kind of document. I could be wrong.
I would think that initially, the MSWs would work with more straight forward cases, though as they mature I think they can certainly gain the knowledge necessary for the toughest cases.
Maybe it is like the difference between an MD and a Nurse Practitioner. If you see an MD for a sprained ankle, he'll tell you to put ice on it and take these pills. If you see a Nurse Practitioner, she'll tell you to put ice on it and to do exercises to strengthen your ankle so you won't sprain it again (Draw the alphabet with your toes in the air - great exercise). They both work, just looking at it from a different angle.
We see the same kind of difference between pdocs and therapists (pills or talk). I'm thinking there is a similar philosophical difference between PhD therapists and MSW therapists. Not quite sure what it is.
poster:fallsfall
thread:272368
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20031011/msgs/272605.html