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Brian
Student
Anaheim, California
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What made you pursue going into the psychology field?
Hi my name is Brian and I have some questions that I would like to ask regarding the psychology field and possibly find my dream job in that field. First off, when did you realize you wanted to be in the psychology field and what is the reason you pursued it? What were the steps you took to be in the place you are in now? How long did it take you to be in the field and what job in the field are you in? Is there a specific reason you chose this pathway? What was the hardest and the easiest obstacle you overcame? Was there a personal matter that made you stick with this pathway(such as coming from a family that chose this pathway)? #Fall24
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Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
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Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Brian !
I majored in Theatre and minored in Social Science in college. Acting is my primary thing, but when I was 13, I started taking an interest in human services. I think that the influence centers on two things. One, my mother and sister were college students at the same time and I used to read their psychology textbooks. Secondly, I always loved people, their stories and what makes them who they are. It greatly helps with Acting, too. Although I never strove to be a mental health professional, I was a human services case manager and had numerous mentally ill clients. I was continually trained throughout that career on all aspects of mental illness. I also had ten years of training for Deaf Culture because towards the end of that career, I had some deaf clients, too. I also transitioned to this career because I enjoyed non-profit more than high corporate settings. I just wanted to help people and the community.
I moved from one entertainment industry hub to the other one and saw that the one I moved to didn't use my type very often so I quit the Union and transitioned to social services. I applied for a high school level position the first time, working with clients in an employment program and got hired right away as I had the Bachelors Degree so they thought that was a bonus. Through that job I met someone, a contact, that made it possible to obtain my first full time social service position. The transition went that smooth because I was also in a major city which had tons of opportunities. I retired from social services and working with mental health clients in 2018 and transitioned back to my always love - acting.
In retrospect, if I had to say what the biggest challenge was, I'd have to say vicarious trauma. I was able to manage it, but it's sometimes very overwhelming to be with so many individuals that have had such traumatic experiences and serious drug addiction. You develop a rapport with your clients when you are a case manager and you really connect with them and want the best for them. You wouldn't be getting that same connection as a psychologist, though. The easiest obstacle was getting that first job in a field of work I had not majored in.
I'd say my reason to remain in that field (till 2018) had nothing to do with me personally or socially, I just preferred working in human services and not in business. I believed I had a lot more to offer in the social service realm than in business.
Best wishes to you in your future plans.
I majored in Theatre and minored in Social Science in college. Acting is my primary thing, but when I was 13, I started taking an interest in human services. I think that the influence centers on two things. One, my mother and sister were college students at the same time and I used to read their psychology textbooks. Secondly, I always loved people, their stories and what makes them who they are. It greatly helps with Acting, too. Although I never strove to be a mental health professional, I was a human services case manager and had numerous mentally ill clients. I was continually trained throughout that career on all aspects of mental illness. I also had ten years of training for Deaf Culture because towards the end of that career, I had some deaf clients, too. I also transitioned to this career because I enjoyed non-profit more than high corporate settings. I just wanted to help people and the community.
I moved from one entertainment industry hub to the other one and saw that the one I moved to didn't use my type very often so I quit the Union and transitioned to social services. I applied for a high school level position the first time, working with clients in an employment program and got hired right away as I had the Bachelors Degree so they thought that was a bonus. Through that job I met someone, a contact, that made it possible to obtain my first full time social service position. The transition went that smooth because I was also in a major city which had tons of opportunities. I retired from social services and working with mental health clients in 2018 and transitioned back to my always love - acting.
In retrospect, if I had to say what the biggest challenge was, I'd have to say vicarious trauma. I was able to manage it, but it's sometimes very overwhelming to be with so many individuals that have had such traumatic experiences and serious drug addiction. You develop a rapport with your clients when you are a case manager and you really connect with them and want the best for them. You wouldn't be getting that same connection as a psychologist, though. The easiest obstacle was getting that first job in a field of work I had not majored in.
I'd say my reason to remain in that field (till 2018) had nothing to do with me personally or socially, I just preferred working in human services and not in business. I believed I had a lot more to offer in the social service realm than in business.
Best wishes to you in your future plans.