Is it ridiculous to try and become a child psychologist at 42?

[Spookygoose]

AIBU to even consider trying to do this? I’ve got a very high-paying but soul destroying career that I’ve begun to really hate (and which is completely unrelated to psychology). I want out and would love to train as a child psychologist. I own my own home outright & I’m married with one primary-age DD. I’ve got the funds to put myself through a psychology conversion MSc and then the 3 or 4 year doctorate to be able to practice as a licensed psychologist. However, I could not move to another area of the country for the doctorate (which I know is sometimes necessary). I live in the South East. I know doctorate programs are also ridiculously competitive and I’m not confident I’d be one of the most academically gifted students. My previous career was in the arts and I’ve always been creative but not amazing when it comes to maths and science. On top of that, even in the likely event I managed to get onto a doctorate not long after the MSc, is still be pushing 50 by the time I qualify. Am I dreaming or has anyone actually done anything similar?

You’re going to be 50 , all that time otherwise doing a job that is soul destroying. The journey to 50 sounds better doing something you will be happier in.

Agree. I tried it too. It's fiercely competitive. I applied for the doctorate 3 times, having been an Assistant Psychologist for 3 years and loads of voluntary experience. The closest I got to an interview for the course was the reserve list.

I wouldn't bother.

I’m really curious to know what your current job is…well-paid, soul destroying but creative? I didn’t think there were well paid creative jobs!

During clinical training you’re employed and salaried by NHS, You are also on long placements with assessments & observation to complete. It’s quite full on

Yup, that's why I said it was intense!

but they both are now doing very very well.

That's why I cautioned on that bit. Especially with a young DC.

I really must emphasise get relevant work experience, see what current practice look like and the demands
Disavow yourself of heroic notions of saving children & big interventions. Think about having a caseload, clinic and meeting KPI and targets set by the health trust

Yep i've been there too! Got a top grade degree, worked as an Assistant Psychologist for 3 years getting a low wage, applied for a the Clinical Psych Doctorate course 3 times before I made a decision that enough was enough! Even had a research publication.

I really would look at alternatives careers tbh. Some of my friends did succeed and found that it's stressful working in that field so in some ways I'm happy for me that I didn't get on although stung at the time.

I would always say go for it BUT there are much easier ways to work with kids in a therapy setting- why specifically are you wanting to do this route in psychology?

I’d narrow down more what it is you want to do

Psychology is a profession that rewards grey hairs and experience (I am one!).

I say go for it. You could have another 25 years of working life ahead of you if you wanted to, not because you had to, but because you find it interesting and rewarding.

My only warning is make sure you are ok doing the stats and science modules feeding into it. But usually everyone can get through that with a bit of graft and effort

I was thinking law until said arts based.
I really changed direction at at 45 but stayed same profession just totally different area and moved from private to public sector. Plus do a volunteer role with an organisation for children.

Btw some of the people here are talking about the brutality of the path and lack of jobs. They're often referencing Clinical Psychology routes. You could become a child psychologist without being Clinical. It's not the only path

This is an accurate picture IME and then add in moving geographically for the course and then work - I’ve never known anyone not need to move

Look here for the BPS guide to careers in psychology

https://www.bps.org.uk/career-options-in-psychology

as people have said upthread, qualifying as a clinical psychologist is v hard because you need several years of relevant experience to get on the training course.

Educational psychologist might be a bit easier.

and there are many other psychology-related options that don't need so much training

After you qualify, where do you see yourself working? CAMHS? It's very competitive, it takes years working after qualifying at a lower band to gain the clinical experience. Have you considered other psychological professionals within CAMHS teams? Child psychotherapists unlike psychologists, are trained specifically to work only with young people, it's a doctoral level programme as well. Jobs are easier to come by straight after qualifying, but it is hard to get past an 8a. If you're in the south east, the Tavi would be your training school. Training posts are paid by NHS and full time. You need to have your own analysis, which is at least partially financially covered by the training school.

You won’t get onto a clin psych doctorate. No chance sorry.

Counselling psychology doctorates are less competitive as they are self funded (to the tune of around £20k!) but you would still need some clinical experience.

best option would be a CYP counselling/psychotherapy course of some kind, would still be expensive but not uncommon for people to go into in their 40s and older. Then you can look for placements in schools etc while training.

This is something I've been considering too, clinical or educational.
For those that say it's highly competitive, when were you trying to get on the course? I had a friend who did a psychology degree about 10 years ago and ended up training in a different field because she knew it was really competitive and she didn't feel she got the grade needed to get on.
We hear so much lately though about a huge shortage of psychologists so I thought things would have changed. Although recognise I might be naive to think the government would be working to get more people qualified and in posts! Is it still very competitive?

I thought that! There was a jump to clinical

One of my young relatives didn’t have to move. He also had not worked as an assistant psychologist, and he was accepted on the course on his first attempt. So it is possible.

A lot of the Ed Psychs I know spend quite a lot of time doing assessments and reports for EHCPs.
I'm a psychologist as a second career and love it, but it took a long time. If you're going to, start soon!
As others have said it may be worth looking at other allied roles eg psychotherapist and having a think about what you'd like to do after with it and where.

Possible,y. Common, absolutely not
Did he have work experience prior to or during his degree.

Im a clinical psychologist and unfortunately I would say don’t do it. It’s incredibly competitive to get into the doctorate and then it’s 3 years of very intense work (I got 3As at A-level and a first class degree and it was still very hard). The job at the end is fantastic but it’s underpaid for the amount of stress it involves.

Mental health nurses do the same job if you can get up to a grade eight. And it will be a faster route NHS

I say this as someone who has actually done the conversion at your age and worked with nurses who do virtually the same job.

*maybe a few years younger when I did it

Nurses are fantastic and worth their weight in gold but their job is completely different!