Any Aspie Psychology Majors?

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I am a psychology student. I frequently feel frustrated with the lack of help for adults with Autism. Anyone else inspired to become a counselor, psychiatrists, vocational teacher etc., to make a difference?

I have a friend who is a social worker, he has Asperger. His peers were reluctant to accept him at first, thinking he couldn't empathize with his patients but he's actually a really good listener.

I have a Psychology degree. I realised throughout my studies that I most certainly was not a people person. I even had to swap my practical unit for an alternative unit that I studied by myself.

I think my schizoid tendencies came to the fore there.

Now I'm studying IT. If I can combine my psychology knowledge with my computer skills maybe I can make a difference. Not sure yet.

I just finished my undergrad degree in Social Work and I am shopping for a MSW program now.

Even if you are only interested in being some sort of therapist, I would urge you to change your major to social work. Most people WORKING in behavioral health are MSWs.

The most common non-SW undergrad degree in most MSW programs is psychology, because you really cannot do much with a BS in psychology. If you go into grad school (MSW program) with a BSW it will save you an entire year of classes, and a lot of money.

Plus, if you get out in the real world and figure out that you hate being a therapist, you can do many other things with a MSW degree. It is extremely versatile.

Generally speaking, I believe that people think that people with autism (Aspergers) can’t empathize. Based on myself I think it has more to do with the inability to predict on how to respond contextually. I actually have to practice and really process what the individual is saying or feeling.

I am realizing communicating via web form has its own social components. I feel like someone with autism could study human behavior and benefit from combining psychology with their computer strength. Renaeden creating a new system "psychology knowledge with my computer skills” could be interesting and another example of human ingenuity. I wish I was good with computers.

I am in my senior year working on a psychology degree. I am still trying to figure out the best approach to take while still considering my personality and strengths. I want to do therapy but I want to build systems. I want to replace old models of therapy approaches by doing research and doing therapy. As Tony Attwood says, therapy for aspies by aspies.

I am really interested in alternative therapies and research too. My last internship was at a place that did Canine Assisted Therapy (CAT ) for people with PTSD. What I mostly did there was help them research best practices and develop program evaluation tools for their own research project.

Now, I'm helping another local nonprofit develop an adaptive cycling/recreation therapy program for people with physical disabilities...

As Abraham Maslow (my favorite psychologist) once said: "I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail."

The great thing about Social Work as opposed to just psychology is that Social Work gives you so many more tools.

Another path for a psychology major looking to specifically help people with autism is Rehab Counseling. You can get a Masters in that in a bit over a year--it's like 43hrs, for anyone with an undergrad degree in a social science.

I'm a liberal arts/general studies major but I'm taking a lot of psychology courses. I'm not sure what I'm going to do once I earn my degree, I still have a long way to go, but I do wonder sometimes if I should work in a psychology-related field.

I chose to re-trade nearly 6 years ago and began my training/study to become a counsellor.
I have been working with clients for over 2 years and recently qualified.
My aim is to work with people with autism as there seems to be a big hole in this area. In fact this could be my next move. I am just about to take a very much needed and desired break to re-energise before I make any solid decisions.
Being person-centred/client centred has made my learning very difficult but I wouldn't have it any other way now I have made it. I may get some extra training in CBT at a later date but I much prefer Buddhist Psychology and have used this personally for some years now. I find it more helpful than CBT alone.
I hope I don't offend anyone but I find psychoanalysts a bit creepy after having 2 different ones for my own personal therapy - I just don't get on with their way of being. Ooh, I just shivered.

BA, cognitive science, 2007, ucsd, 2.19 gpa out of 4

with the exception of certain private (financially more expensive) grad schools, grad schools do not take students with my gpa. so, can't get a teaching credential. so can't become a psychiatrist.

the word "counselor" is vague. anyone could call himself/herself a "counselor."

Berkeley Free Clinic offers free peer counseling. (emphasis on the word "peer"). counselors have 170 hours training. counselors are volunteers. counselors do not (necessarily) have a graduate degree, undergrad degree, or any other degree.

my demeanor is so weird. personality. find it hard to imagine that i could attract enough clients, to maintain a business.

but whatever.

totally sick, tired, and bored of school.

school is like an emotional rollercoaster. socially awkward. everything is so "important" and urgent.

emotionally can't handle it

actually surprised i could get the degree in the first place

but whatever

in the past 10 years my Global Area Functioning has quickly and drastically and permanently plummetted

furthermore GAF was never that high to begin with



and it is only getting worse

I guess the training is a bit different over here in the UK and I chose the courses which were recognised by all the major institutes including our NHS.
I have been training for nearly 6 years the last 2 year course being my Dip in Humanistic Therapeutic Counselling and Psychotherapy. Before this I had to do all the year long courses which equipped me for this including counselling skills for a year and theory for a year. The route I took was a long one but worth it.
I cannot say how many hours I have done but I reckon it is probably way over 2 thousand maybe more - I have never tallied it up. My qualification is a reputable one and enough for me.
The proof is in the pudding etc and I am accountable for my work with regular supervision ( this is a requirement here in the UK) having to show how I am working and how it is working for the client. I am also a member of a professional body which is another way to show I am qualified and accountable for my work.
But yes you are right, anyone can call themselves a counsellor, but not everyone will have a certificate or will they be aware of all the ethical and lawful requirements when working with people. But what these other people are doing is not counselling, it is possibly active listen, support work or something similar. Some of these people without qualifications can also be very therapeutic and I have met many along the way who do just as much effective work with people as those who are qualified.
This training has absolutely drained me and as I said before I am taking a long break soon to re-energise and get my bearings.

When I read this I was so encouraged. I am about to complete my undergrad in psychology. Since I have posted this originally, Ive decided that for my masters I was getting a degree in counseling. Although what I really would like to explore is psychotherapy. I am no way offended with the level of uncomfortableness in the idea of a psychoanalyst. I completely understand why Being person-centred/client centred would have made it difficult. I took a couseling course and one of the chapters main focus was on person centered/ client therapy this chapter took the longest to understand but with some coaching and a lot of studying I think I did pretty well. It's provided a pretty firm foundation as too understanding my difficulties and potential blind spots.

I think it's my first time of hearing of Buddhist psychology. Very interesting... I was wondering do you find it better because of the mindfulness practice and the solitude?

I find it a little humorous that a psychoanalyst could make some feel uncomfortable since being a psychoanalyst is suppose to make someone feel "safe" or at ease but I can also see how a psychoanalyst could creep a person out.

You will find that you come across many therapists with very different ways of working and that whist you accept this, it may clash with you own way of being. Analyst are just so opposite to me. Wait till you get out into the world of working with people and supervision. This will open your eyes up.
Buddhist psychology just sits well with me and fits with my own philosophy. It is important to practice in a way which suits your own values and beliefs. Humanistic. Empowering.
I don't see the difference between counselling and psychotherapy - it's all the same to me. Some say psychotherapy is longer but so can counselling be. It depends upon the knowledge and experience of the therapist as well as the resources of the client as to what the outcome will be and in what amount of time.
Being self-aware is very important in any therapy work and it never ends. But the great thing about the training is, as you said, when you find out about yourself and can begin to grow yourself as a person. This is very useful and helpful for ourselves. It can be painful too so remember to look after yourself. Self-care is very important throughout.
I wish you lots of luck and happiness in your journey and hope you will let me know how it is going as you learn more.

Right now I’m in a special ed program but I plan to major in psychology. I can’t be in the program and pursue a Bachelor’s at the same time; it’s a non academic life skills program. Once I’m done, I want to major in psych and specifically take a lot of developmental psych and neurology courses!

I major in psych and will be graduating with my BA in 2018, but I unfortunately don't know where to go with it. Was thinking of getting into psychotherapy, but I don't know. Social interaction can be extremely fatiguing to me, and counselling in any form might be out of my range of occupational abilities. I have heard of a job called a Certified Peer Specialist in Canada where I live but I have no idea if they accept people on the Spectrum. It seems geared toward diagnoses like schizophrenia and bipolar, bpd and addictions. Would be something I would be more eager to try out, as I would at least feel a bit more comfortable working with high-functioning individuals on the spectrum.

Honestly, you should never listen to what a psychologist tells you because it's a pseudoscience for starters and they give terrible advice. Unless of course you're collecting welfare and you need an excuse, but that's the only circumstance in which I'd lose my time talking to some charlatan who is probably less educated than me. Psychiatry is an even more dangerous scam because they can irreversibly poison you with addictive meds. They constantly make the whole DSM up with no solid arguments whatsoever because they can barely diagnose people properly.

So basically you should abandon College. Being a NEET is cheaper and better than throwing your money away like that.

Hello! I’m currently in my second year of my doctorate with the hopes of becoming a clinical psychologist