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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Christ_empowered on February 13, 2014, at 19:41:27
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.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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
Ugh! Please share your ideas :-)
Posted by alexandra_k on February 14, 2014, at 3:31:53
In reply to from patient to service provider...?!?! (long), posted by Christ_empowered on February 13, 2014, at 19:41:27
I don't think it is just a 70's dream. I think that it is something that motivates a lot of people who get into the field. Both before, and since.
Szasz has rather a lot to say about the 'myth of mental illness' idea... Sometimes (in some moods?) I have empathy for what I think he is trying to say (at least some of the time). Other times I don't really follow his line of reasoning / agree with him at all.
One thing that is interesting (perhaps) is that it is his dualism / belief that the soul / mind / spirit is not to be identified with the physical body... That results in his claim that the soul / mind / spirit can only be sick or ill in a metaphoric (rather than literal) sense.
He says it is just as metaphoric to talk of society being sick.
I wonder what he would think of the idea of health (or sickness?) of ecosystems?
?
Posted by Phillipa on February 14, 2014, at 9:00:21
In reply to from patient to service provider...?!?! (long), posted by Christ_empowered on February 13, 2014, at 19:41:27
CE have you talked with a school cousellor? Maybe start back slow, would it be online? See where it leads you? Research the field and see what types of jobs available that fit your interests? What about a psych RN? Seriously? Phillipa
Posted by baseball55 on February 17, 2014, at 21:07:36
In reply to from patient to service provider...?!?! (long), posted by Christ_empowered on February 13, 2014, at 19:41:27
I think going for some kind of counseling degree, followed by perhaps a divinity degree in the future, would be great if you're into it. Has counseling helped you? Is it something for which you have respect? Do you think your own experience could help you empathize with others?
I know you had a bad experience with psychiatry. I did not, even as a child in state institutions in the early 70s. But Szasz was writing at a time when they were still doing ECT without anesthesia, keeping people locked up for ever. Everybody was diagnosed with schizophrenia in state hospitals. I think psychiatry has come a long way since then. But even if you don't, wouldn't you agree that therapeutic interventions have come a long way? No more lying on a couch and free associating. CBT, DBT, mindfulness based therapy, dynamic therapy, existential therapy, interpersonal therapy. Much of it evidence based, well studied. Main practitioners these days are social workers and psychologists, not psychiatrists.
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
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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?
>
> 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.
>
> 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?
>
> 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.
This is the end of the thread.
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