retraining as a psychologist

[PaulaMummyKnowsBest]

I have 3 children and have worked within childcare my entire working life.

I love it but it isn't particularly "challenging".

Am I mad to consider training to become a psychologist? I would love to work in a mum and baby unit, supporting new mums that are struggling and one of the roles that do this is a psychologist.

I could do this part time through OU.

Am I being naive to think that I can do that? What are the pitfalls?

what kind of psychologist would you like to be? clinical? counselling? educational? occupational?
i'm guessing some clinical psychologists might be involved in the work you are suggesting but it is unlikely to be their entire job.
you could get a psychology degree part time though ou but then you would need postgraduate training to practice as a psychologist - although you could be a psychology assistant or similar with a first degere.
i woiuld contact the bps - british psychological society- for more information.
it is a very interesting job and coming to it with your experience in childcare would be helpful i'm sure but the training to be a professional psychologist is lengthy and complex involving two degrees and often some work experience too.

i know an educational and a clinical.nowadays im pretty sure you need a masters- clinical one has phd. one council, one nhs, so limited to respective pay scales - though both not bad

yes, educational and clinical training both require professional doctorates (3 years full time) following a degree, not sure about counselling / occupational / health psychologists - several of these may still be a one year masters course after your first degree.

if you already have a degree (Mental Health Nursing Bsc Honours), could you "just" do a post graduate degree to become a clinical psychologist?

You need a degree that is accredited by the british psychological society and then a clinical doctorate on top of that. A psychology degree will usually give BPS accreditation or there is a shorter conversion course if you already have a degree. The conversion course is in short supply these days though, the OU used to offer it but they have withdrawn it now.

Some useful info here: www.bps.org.uk/careers-education-training/how-become-psychologist/types-psychologists/becoming-clinical-psychologis

what is the easiest way to fund 2 seperate degrees? Would I be able to get 2 different student loans?

you would get a bursary / salary for the second degree dependent on the course. but it would be a full time course with placements etc. it can be very competitive to get places though...

If you haven't done a degree before, you can get a student loan for the undergrad psych degree. Then the Clinical course is paid (well) but as Concordia said, very competitive. I've been applying for 3 years. You have to fund your own educational psychology course (2 years), or counselling course (3 years min).

Hey good luck by the way :)

thank you all so much, you have all been very helpful