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?

I personally would say 45/50 is not too late to change careers. My DM got divorced at 52 and is still working part time as a care worker at 78. She got into a top top UK Uni to study maths at 48, but dropped out due to DBs illness. Her tutor was strongly advising she explore statistics and she definitely could have had a 20 year career in statistics. She looks back now and regrets it!

I changed career at 32 and admittedly faffed and did it slowly but I'd say 10-12 years working in a field with the right roles and you are are very experienced, so there's definitely time.

I think the main barriers at this age are too much choice, cost of retraining, having to lower income, loss of pension savings, fears about ageism, competitiveness.

Worth having a look at Brave Starts OP. Lots of people moving into psychology roles, behavioural economics, etc.

It's not ridiculous, no. But it will be very tough.

You could consider slightly more feasible alternatives. Eg I am training to be a therapist via a Bacp accredited course. It might provide similar job satisfaction?

My son had an art therapist when he went through a traumatic time but couldnt find a way to talk about it. She was so amazing,. really transformative
I felt privileged I could pay for her privately

He was an academic researcher in psychology at university with a PhD already.

That’s quite the drip feed

Jesus wept. Your whole oh my ordinary relative got in 1st time was a complete confection , you rock up implying mr goodfortune just got on doctorate .You omitted he had a PhD and was a lecturer in….wait for it….psychology

@GreyCloudsLooming

Talk about misleading with your very ordinary

young relative..,who didn’t have to move who had not worked as an assistant psychologist and just happened to be accepted on the course on his first attempt. So it is possible.

I don't think you're mad for retraining or doing this course in particular, OP, but it's very hard to get into-just be very aware of that. Some people try 3/4/5 years running and still don't get a place.

It's quite healing to know I wasn't alone in being someone who so desperately wanted to become a clinical psychologist, but never made it. I remember sitting the surrey exam, writing my personal statements... being so, so optimistic about it all. Until I tried to pursue being a clinical psychologist I'd honestly never "failed" at anything in my life 😢

🤣 I knew something didnt sound right about your original brag!

Why didnt you tell the OP this instead of making her think it was so easy peasy? highly misleading

My mum retrained in something similar (not psychology or counselling or playt therapist) when she was in he early 40s. Plus she had to commute to just south of the border of England.

I was primary aged at the time and realised it was VERY hard work only much later in life. Not just that, the emotional toll. I was in my 30s when I realised why she would reach for a glass of wine the minute she came in. She saw and heard awful stuff.

All of that said... she now is at the top of her ladder and still works flexibly at 88 because she loves it so much.

I wish you luck OP.

Same for me- but looking back I am glad. My best friend got in and he was managing whole teams on relatively little pay (for the responsibility). I ended up starting my own business which personally, was much better.

I would look at mental health nursing and then specialise in children - many mental health nurses will end up doing a similar role to psychologists and once working within a team, will likely get funded to do additional training in CBT or family therapy. I work in CAMHS and have worked with a lot of mental health nurses, who are now working as therapists

Hate to be negative but I’d also be concerned about employment prospects with so many NHS cuts and the fact you don’t have geographical flexibility. Agree that CAMHS OT is an option

One other option is to train to be part of a Mental Health Support Team in a school: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/cyp/trailblazers/
This is still rolling out - you could contact your local one and see if you could do any observing?

You’ve got the funds. You’ve got the ambition. Go for it.

Then he’s unusually lucky. A friend of mine spent four or five years trying to get a doctoral place in the late 90s/early 2000s, with a First, a MSC with distinction and a lot of relevant experience. She spent a lot of her time during those years working evening jobs and living in a bedsit so that she could fund her own stints volunteering in appropriate settings to make herself a better candidate.

She omitted he was uni lecturer in…wait for it…psychology… with a PhD

There should be some kind of support group for us ex applicants 😀I also really thought i would get in at some point. The whole experience really left me exhausted and down. I chucked it all in and made the best decision to travel and live abroad for some time!

Agree - it's healing to know that others were in the same boat at the time.

I retrained as a psychologist (educational) after being a teacher. I completed a psychology conversion also before doctoral training. You’re not too old to retrain but you also need to have at least 1 years full time experience in a related setting. But in reality you’re in competition (for any of the psychology doctorates) with people with years and years of experience (who still don’t get on).

I still remember the interview process even now and it makes my palms sweat! I had three separate interviews in front of three panels of tutors. I was so nervous that I fluffed what I wanted to say and the moment I left the room I knew I wouldnt get in. I had built it up so much in my mind that my anxiety was through the roof.

The whole process is gruelling and with the benefit of hindsight it's baffling what we put ourselves through. Left me feeling like I needed the services of a clinical psychologist myself!
Gosh this thread has reminded me of those times as well.

OP- it's difficult process and there are so many other amazing opportunities and experiences out there. Maybe talk to some psychologists to get a their perspectives on how the process is now.

Yes I’d say it’s too late.
i have a family member who is a clinical psychologist. It takes many years of study, which is not an issue even at 42, the problem is the difficulty in finding a placement that will allow you to do the doctorate, it’s like hens teeth.

Not at all. Sorry I haven’t RTFT but I think many careers really benefit from the value of life experience and if you’ve raised children this will be hugely valuable. I can’t imagine a fresh out of university 22 year old would have the life experience you would so I say go for it.

I’d be another saying DO work towards retraining but do remain open to other options. I started a speech therapy degree at 39, wasn’t the oldest on the course.

I'm a trainee educational and child psychologist in my late 40s. Just a few comments based on those above...

-Both clinical and educational can lead to working with children.
-Both are equally as competitive (I applied and interviewed for both a number of times).
-Being an older applicant isn't necessarily a barrier, I'm aware of a number of trainees in their 40s/50s, we have a lot of experience to bring and still many years of work ahead of us!
-You would need experience of working with children for the EP doctorate.
-While the course is enjoyable it definitely has impacted my availability as a mother, I have a great support network which has helped but still carry some guilt around this.
-I didn't have to move but do travel for uni which involves long days (not everyone in my cohort lives further away). My placement is local which works well.
-If I could go back I'd probably look to train as a Speech and Language Therapist or OT as the route would have been faster. It did take me a long time to get my ducks in a row to get to this point.
-Assistant EPs earn around 36K, while trainees get around 30K (16K, tax free in Year 1). APs (clinical) earn less than AsEPs but trainee clin psychs earn more than trainee EPs (NHS Band 6 I believe).

Its a tough slog for 3 years, consuming and constant. Obviously good employment prospects once qualified (though watch out for changes to the role in terms of statutory work involvement in next year's White Paper on SEND).

Maybe join the Facebook group Educational psychology doctoral applicants to have a look at the posts there.

Best of luck whatever you decide!

I'm a Clinical Psychologist with a CAMHS specialism, and I wouldn't...