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I am a person without a PHD. In my line of work, I don’t necessarily need one. Do i need a strong understanding of psychology? yes. Do I need to be able to treat mental illness? No. That’s what psychiatrists are for. I don’t need a PHD in clinical psychology to help my athletes and friends be better performers. My job is not to treat or diagnose mental illness. Am I aware of the signs? Yes. Do i keep up on the research? Yes.
You can be extremely well educated in a variety of subjects without ever leaving your home. You can learn significant amounts from typing what your interested in into google and google scholar and then reaching out to the people who wrote the books/ studies in those areas. Some are happy to discuss with you. Some are not.
I don’t need a PHD to help my clients. I don’t need a PHD to help someone who is struggling. If there is a discernible mental illness or signs, I always point them in the direction of a licensed practitioner. But, to tell me that I need a PHD in order to work with my clients, that’s delusional.
I’m a sport psychology consultant, not a psychiatrist. There are plenty of people out there who’s goal it is to help treat people with mental illness, I’m not one of them. I help healthy people develop strong goals and coping skills to make them better athletes, parents, performers, and students.
Do you need an education in the field in which you work? Yes. I did my education. 6 yrs worth in 5 years(because I’m an overachiever).I have the experience and the education to show that I know what I’m doing.
There are a lot of people out there who claim to be “life coaches”. When I hear life coach all I can see is the 15 year old girl on Royal Caribbean who gave me her card that said “life coach” on it. For goodness sakes, you’re 15 years old, what kind of a life coach can you be? Life coach is like “nu-chuck-chuck dojo’s(people who just make stuff up). We have real "life coaches", they are called career-counselors, clinical psychologists, licensed mental health professionals, and psychiatrists. These are people who went and got the education and experience necessary to help those who need “life coaching”. Practicing “life-coaching” without a license from the state and the education necessary: is illegal.
You do not need a PHD in order to be extremely knowledgable in your field. Unless you want to teach that subject in college or want to do research: there is no reason to get one.
Be aware that people without a PHD can be just as knowledgeable about a subject as someone with a PHD in that area. The letters after someone’s name and even on their resume, don’t necessarily mean they are competent or are not competent. Trust, but verify.
Don’t tell me I need a PHD to be competent and professional. That is not the case. And likely, neither do you.
Happy Wednesday!
