Posted by spemat on May 17, 2014, at 17:31:24
In reply to from patient to service provider...?!?! (long), posted by Christ_empowered on February 13, 2014, at 19:41:27
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> So, I'm 29. I've made false starts at going back to school before. Somebody up there (as a Christian, I'd say Jesus) kept that from happening...until now.
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> I have lots of sociology credits. I was a wake and bake stoner with a Klonopin addiction back then, so I guess sociology *seemed* like a good idea. I'm now thinking undergrad: Psychology with an emphasis on addictions counseling. Get a job as a peon. Minor in Biblical Studies (would add about 15 hours). Go back in a few years for either the master's in counseling or the M.Div. Either way, get the LPC.
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> So...I'm unemployed, long history of madness, history of Rx upper and downer abuse, etc. I also had 2 rounds of involuntary ect, one at 20 and another at 23. The second one really did me in for a couple years, until God intervened in a big, big way.
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> One reason I'm interested in maybe eventually possibly getting the M.Div., one way or another (yes, I'll do it online if I must) is because I'd feel more comfortable offering Christian-oriented counseling if I get to the master's level.
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> But, whatever: let's focus on undergrad. My psychiatrist told me I should get the psychology undergrad and get a public mental health job. Seriously. I'm thinking...good stuff...but what would I do, exactly? Facilitate group therapy?
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> I used to be the biggest Szasz fan the world has ever seen, in the under-50 age group at least. Now, I'm starting to reconsider. He was a humanist; I'm a born again Christian. He says mental illness is a myth; I say madness is real. He says psychiatry IS a human rights abuse; I say psychiatry CAN be abusive.
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> Ugh. I just...I just...I just wonder if this is the best way forward for me, that's all. I kind of feel like I'm living out some 1970s dream of recovery and then facilitating the recovery of others, making mental health more humane, something like that. Its 2014, so...ummm...did I miss my decade?
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> Ugh! Please share your ideas :-)If there is a niche that you feel more comfortable to seek out, do your best to seek that out and aim for that. I started with the goal to be a drug and alcohol counselor. My issues are hyperactivity and mania and I was raised with a borderline mom and brother and I have the right sense to the different games that they played and I can smell and call it out from that and that approach irritates them initially but most often from what I have seen, in the end, those counselors are thanked later on. I am blunt and my diagnoses are often a trigger to antisocial behavior and mania is a drug itself. So I wanted to go that route because the prison types have a way of letting it click.
I am personally a bisexual male and atheist (or agnostic since I am young), which may make this odd but Christian counseling is very legit because I was raised catholic but jewish relatives were also in the picture a lot and the priests and rabbis were excellent and although I may not believe in being religious at this point doesn't negate the lessons taught in many Torah, Bible or even Quran verses. I think many people can value from different aspects of anything. An open mind is the best to have and I know other atheists that are very pro-Judaic Kabbalah or Buddhist related practices but the mention of Christian or even Muslim practices in counseling are shunned. The Road Less Traveled and people of the lie were two amazing faith based books that helped. As a born again Christian, you have an excellent network to help you a lot in the after graduation process. Christians aren't impervious to issues and even if it isn't "conventional" but someone really wants that help, then the world should accept that the consumer demand is behind it. I think people are too hung up on a small group of hateful people and write off the validity of faith based Counseling. Never give up on your dreams. I settled for a BA in International Relations with a German Studies double major. There is a large Christian community in the USA and for many, that would be of a big help. Christians are more apt to be welcoming to those who have turned their life around. I could still pursue counseling if I needed to but I am iffy on that. Substance abuse therapy courses I took open a former addict's eyes a lot or what we hear. There are various theories and outcomes as well. The mainstream may think one way but there are numerous ways and a large church community would want to see you before a mainstream doctor because faith is often a question that they ask once.
poster:spemat
thread:1060651
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20140310/msgs/1065734.html