Too true Mary Arlene! It helps give me a sense of self worth. I helped a partially disabled friend move when he was in a real pinch, two hard days of work in the hot sun. I was crashing when I showed up, but the hard work and the fact that I was helping a great family brought me back up. Go with that career! Good luck to you.

Go with it girly, you look kind & lovely. I admire people like you,
I however am a warped selfish thing that does most things for me! At least I am honest ;)

Social worker? Care asisstant?

Getting a Master's in Social Work opens a lot of doors and it's only a 2 year program. DO NOT go to grad school in psych. It totally sucks. LOL!

I started a mixed martial arts gym to work with at risk youth. I will never be rich but i know it makes a difference

I got a city & guilds in Community care but decided I did not like people enough to care about them ...

i swear you read my mind.... i feel the EXACT same way which is why i'm enrolling into college in january (i never went after high school and i'm actually a little nervous!) i'm going to school for psychology/ human services so i can help people with mental issues/substance abuse.

Halter, do they offer that at community colleges?

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate your input!!!

you can get an associates degree in liberal arts with a concentration in psychology. or you can get an associates in human services. if you go into psychiatry - now thats medical school... no thanks!

I don't think that I want to go into psychiatry, all of the psychitrists that I have ever met just perscribe your meds and ship you off to a psychologist or therapist...

I did take 2 years of psychology in high school and I loved it!

I am like you Allison, I didn't go to college after HS, I went to rehab, lol...

I've always thought that helping young adults with substance abuse problems is a worthwhile career. Most of those kids are looking for an outlet and probably somebody to care about them.

That's a great idea, Tragic!

From what I have read on this site, you have helped quite a few people. I think this site may be a start. At first, why don't you try a psych tech -- maybe do that while you are in school. Then, after getting your core curriculum out of the way, you can decide the exact direction you wish to give your caring heart.

A Master's in Social Work typically takes 5 years where I'm at (if you're starting at ground zero, college-wise) and considering that, the pay is pretty crappy.
My ex got interested in Occupational Therapy when we went through the school and medical settings with our autistic son, so he went to school for that. Here, it requires a Bachelor's and it pays really well!! And there's still a good demand for OT's. He works with the school systems, which pays a bit less than if you go into the nursing homes, but he finds helping the kids extremely rewarding!!!!

How about checking out cognitive therapy, biofeedback or mindful meditation? There are a whole bunch of "wholistic" practices that are very helpful and you could draw on your personal experience as well