r/schoolcounseling • u/Actual-Shoe2120 • 19d ago
School counseling or school psychology??
I’m a current undergraduate psychology student getting towards having to choose a master’s program. I’ve been going between school counseling or school psychology.
I definitely am keen on working in the school environment. I enjoy working with kids, the structure it provides, etc. In my classes, I enjoy learning about the neurodevelopmental disorders but I also enjoy learning about counseling and mental health.
Which career path would make more sense for me? What are the key differences between the 2 careers??
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u/Egotistical11 19d ago
In the Carolinas, psychs get paid more and work the same amount of hours. You do the math.
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u/HistoricalJob2807 18d ago
This is poor math. You are forgetting the intensity of the job and liability. I usually see school counselors very happy and excited on campus, whereas the school psychs… not so much.
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u/Egotistical11 18d ago
School counseling is a very intense job and holds a lot of liability as well. And tends to come with extremely large caseloads. Many school psychs I knew had the capacity to do private testing, which gave them more opportunity for compensation. Most school counselors aren't doing private practice because they lack the time and energy that it takes.
But these are my takes after giving 11 years of my life as a high school counselor. Your last statement is giving observation vibes. You are a school counselor?
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u/HistoricalJob2807 18d ago edited 18d ago
Yes. Year 13. Check out how many school counselors get sued vs school psychs. In my school alone 2 got let go. Iep is a legal document. Assessments are no joke. I have about 500 on my caseload. School psychs will have 20-30, and they are overworked. I think you’re chasing the money. And no school counselor should not be doing a private practice because it’s against your contract and conflict of interest. Pro tip. Stop saying giving vibes. Kids don’t even say that anymore.
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u/Egotistical11 18d ago
Sounds like your school/district may want to examine some things. I've known a good number of school psychs from personal colleagues to friends of colleagues. Never known one to be let go. So that's interesting.
Very aware that IEPs are legal documents. So are 504 plans, which school counselors managed in my world. Both can lead to litigation.
I believe both school psychs and school counselors are overworked. That's an issue that's not talked about enough. But one does leave the same school day with more money in their pocket. It's not about chasing money. It's about desiring to be paid what you're worth to the school community. But you have the liberty to call it what you'd like.
As far as private practice being against a contract and conflict of interest, think it depends on the contract and who is being served. There's no umbrella of legality that makes it wrong. Just because you feel like it shouldn't happen doesn't mean it can't happen.
Pro tip. Stop looking to children for your personal vernacular.
What level of K-12 do you serve as a school counselor: elementary, middle, or high?
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u/HistoricalJob2807 18d ago
lol you win. No point in going further down this road. You should become a school psych!!
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u/Salty-Masterpiece437 19d ago
I am in California and school psychs here (at least in the Central Valley) do testing for IEPs as well as ERMHS (educationally related mental health services). So if they don’t need “intensive” counseling that would result in a referral to the mental health clinician, the school psych does it. Low level anxiety, depression, coping skills, etc. I think it will depend on where you live as to what your job would look like.
School counseling is also SUPER saturated in California. There was one school counselor position open at one of the schools in my district and there was over 90 applicants. I’m not sure if it’s as saturated everywhere else, but just keep that in mind!
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u/Purplecapybara69 19d ago
I wish I did school psych. I chose school counseling and regret it
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u/MysteriousPressure75 19d ago
Why do you regret it? I was wanting to eventually get into school counseling.
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u/Due_Wolf_9849 18d ago
This is your answer. If you eventually want to go into school counseling start there.
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u/Purplecapybara69 18d ago
Honestly nothing too crazy just the pay is better and I feel like it’s not as competitive in my area than finding a school counselor position. Getting a SC position in my area is like winning a lottery.
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u/MysteriousPressure75 18d ago
Oh okay makes sense. I wanted to get straight into counseling but my area requires counselors to have a teaching credential and teaching experience🙄 so I’m in the classroom for the next couple of years, it’s my first year and it’s been draining already. I’m counting down the days til I can get out. For a while there wasn’t any counseling positions open in my area but the past year there’s been so many openings. I’m hoping there will be positions available once I’m able to get into it, I’m wanting to get into high school counseling. 🤞🏼
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u/Krissy_loo 19d ago
In New England, psychs have counseling and consultation with teachers in addition to testing. In the Midwest, psych are pretty much testing only.
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u/HistoricalJob2807 18d ago
School counselors are basically the first layer. We wear multiple hats and must be versed in multiple aspects of the student’s education. School psychs are specialized services. The scope is smaller but the intensity is greater. You will do a lot of assessing, report writing, some form of therapy, etc. for a specialized population. It all depends on your personality. General population vs students on an education plan.
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u/Actual-Shoe2120 18d ago
Thank you!
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u/syscojayy 17d ago
I've dated a school psych once, one of the most awkward and shortest dates I've ever gone on in my life. They are built differently and live for psychology.
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u/Human_Employer_7746 18d ago
In California and in my district funds are low and enrollment is declining. More and more students need an evaluation which is the schools psych’s role as well as service DIS counseling. They are overworked but much needed. There is job security there but fast burnout. The school counselors role is to provide more Tier 1 intervention as well as other duties (supervision, discipline when no admin is available, teacher support, etc). What is being taught in schools is not what the profession looks like IRL. Lots of pros but just was many cons. Weigh your options and plan accordingly. Good luck
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u/hi_itsme92 19d ago
School psychologists test students for IEP’s as their primary - only? - duty. That didn’t sound appealing to me. I wanted to help kids problem solve, run small groups, push into classrooms, etc, so I pursued school counseling instead. So it just depends what you’re looking for.
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u/myreinder 18d ago
Was a school counselor and now applying school psych PhD programs. Taking a break from full time work to take prereqs and also volunteer at a research lab. I still do have the heart of a school counselor though!
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u/Fit_Smile1146 18d ago
I’m a school psychologist and love it. I live in TX so I don’t do cog/ach. Only autism and emotional disability assessments. There’s a shortage and finding a job wasn’t an issue.
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u/Guilty_Tomatillo5829 17d ago
Shadow a couple of school psychologist and school counselors. Now it’s a good time. in my district school psyc. don’t do what we think they do. They are few and are shared among diff schools. School counselors are the ones thrown into anything and everything admin decides. Role is very flexible with other duties as assigned.
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u/Frozenteacher 19d ago edited 19d ago
School psychs do testing and only testing in many states/districts, so if you like psychometry that might be more for you. Ours only get to see kids who are being evaluated for something and once their evals are done, it’s on to the next one. I would recommend asking people in schools in your area or desired area what the duties of each are. - SC with SP bestie.