I have to declare a major when I apply so I’m a little stressed about it.
I’d probably go literature or philosophy for the librarian track. And psychology for the art therapist track. I think I’d way more enjoy doing lit/phil for undergrad, but I think where I end up after matters more. I doubt many art therapy programs would want a lit/phil major.
I like the idea of being an art therapist as someone with a great deal of gender and gay. And it seems like a very vibes based profession which works for me. But if I was a librarian I’d probably read a lot more and that would make me happy. Plus maybe I could organize queer reading groups or something.
I’m curious if any of you have experience with either of those fields. Or just anything to add/offer.
Hey Comrade, I can offer some ideas as someone who is a therapist(LAC working toward LPC). also feel free to dm, i have a hard time responding to posts or dms timely- no hexbear at work is general rule.
So, I dont know too much about art therapy, but have several music therapist friends, and they’re wages are all higher than mine and they enjoy their work immensely. They do a lot of work with neurodivergent and child/adolescent clients. -Undergrad degree doesnt make too much of a difference, in a lot of ways it seems to be a hoop they want you to jump through just to prove you can. I got my BA in religious studies(focused on Tibetan Buddhism) not much of a link between that and my CMHC program(clinical mental health counseling). I did work in the field for my 20’s before going back to school tho- so that made my application look great i’m sure. Only folks in my program with psych undergrad degrees were fresh out of undergrad, almost everyone else had a less direct journey. Trying to go straight from undergrad into a grad program is doable, but presents with some career issues if going the therapist route- you’ll often find middle aged(or even just a few yrs older) cl’s struggle taking people much younger than them as experts. A simple ‘that isn’t an issue for the majority of my clients, how about we try several sessions and if it is still an issue I will help you find referrals for another clinician’ often does the trick, but not all the time. I would highly recommend volunteering or working in some fashion in both fields- it can be really hard to gauge a profession while just sitting on the sidelines, a few weeks of work will be a better guide than just about anything.
Friends who are librarians love the work, complain bitterly about the student debt vs wages; often find it depressing that they are the only social services available, and often feel un/under prepared(sometimes un-safe) for what the job actually entails as far as working with the public, often folks with addiction, mental health concerns, etc. And, to my understanding they do make lower wages than therapists.
both seems like excellent careers and ways to help our brother, sisters and others. Whatever you end up doing, one of these or mystery third option, looking for ways to engage that are creative and outside of the box are sorely needed. Hope something in there is helpful!