Ask the Expert

Dr. Kathleen Wells is a professional career coach and Director of Coaches That Care. She has coached thousands of clients through the stages of successful career development.

Career Path

Q: I am a little confused about what career path to take. I have a BS in Psychology and am currently working in a long term care facility in the social services department. I would like to go to grad school but I am not sure what type of program to go into. I would like to stay in the field of psychology, but am not sure what kind of options there are for careers other than clinical psychology. Any information resources you could provide would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
B.T.

A: Dear B.T.,
Congratulations on your BS in Psychology. You're right; it's time to move on to grad school.

There are many fields in psychology from straight clinical to more abstract complimentary medicine. Something to consider before you proceed is what you find interesting or what you are passionate about.

For instance, if you are left brained and enjoy solving puzzles, you might be fascinated by forensic psychology or profiling for law enforcement or the FBI. If you are determined to help people heal, you could pursue psychology and specialized training in hypnotherapy, trauma touch or somatic reasoning. Many colleges have clinical psychology programs and more are offering forensic psych. Check the local library so called "blue books" for a list of schools by degree.

For alternative or complimentary medicine routes, check out the University of Arizona in Tucson. Dr. Larry Rice of New Dimensions Counseling in Colorado Springs or Dr. Brian Weiss in Florida provide excellent hypnotherapist training. Good luck!