With today’s economic recession, the looming credit crises, federal “bailouts” and stimulus plans, increasing foreclosures and rising unemployment, the American Middle Class is being hit the hardest 生涯規劃. Average and ordinary families are finding it more and more difficult to keep up with minimum payments on their credit cards. These realities become especially apparent when a “reliable” income to the family is lost. Even the most traditional and “stable” jobs are going away on a daily basis in order to cut costs at the corporate level.
Whether it is due to being laid-off, displaced, rightsized, downsized, fired, or because of a failing business, an income reduction can be devastating to a family-especially when that family doesn’t have an emergency fund to fall-back on. Increasing numbers of jobs are being lost, and the unemployment line is getting longer and longer. This reduction in supply, and explosion of demand for jobs is making it more and more difficult for highly qualified workers to obtain gainful employment-let alone employment that pays what they are used to making in their previous jobs and careers.
More and more, former and current employees are turning to higher education and training programs to improve their skills and to become more marketable in this fiercely competitive job market. Those who can master the art and science of communication, and who can deliver the best results, will ultimately experience better job-searching experiences, including more offers from better companies with higher compensation packages.
There are many many options for job-seekers that will help to improve their skill-sets, and ultimately improve their marketability. Traditional colleges and universities offer outstanding courses that are designed to increase knowledge and allow someone to obtain a degree or other certification. Almost all of these courses and intensive training classes are accredited and will allow students to build confidence and effectively offer more in the way of structure and results to potential employers. The downside, however, is that these courses can take a long time to complete, and almost always will cost you more money than they might pay (that’s If they pay anything at all-most don’t). This will only add to the financial stresses of the family.
In addition to traditional universities and colleges, another solution to improve your skill-set included on-the-job-training. Of course, this usually means that you still have to be employed in order to take advantage of these services that may or may not be offered by an employer. If you are lucky enough to have training courses offered by your current employer, I would recommend taking advantage of them in order to increase your marketability-you never know when your job might be the next in line to go!
Online study courses are becoming more and more popular as they allow flexibility in schedule (for the busy family), are usually VERY competitively priced, and are looked-upon just as favorably as traditional study courses found at universities and colleges. Of course, you need to be careful that you only work with high-quality institutions and training companies-otherwise you might be throwing your time and money out the window.
Having said that, however, there are many many credible online study programs that will allow you to gain a distinct advantage over the majority of your job-seeking competitors. With a little bit of diligence and research on your part, I am confident that you will find the job-training solution that best meets your individual needs. The most important thing to remember is that even the smallest advantage that you can bring to the table can make all the difference when looking for a new job. Good luck! You have digestion problems. Would you go see a cardiologist? No, I think you would see the physician best trained to diagnose and treat your ailments. This same reasoning is valid for people seeking psychotherapy, but perhaps a bit more confusing to the layperson. In the murky water of mental health counseling, deciding what professional to see is challenging. I hope my insights from twenty plus years as a licensed psychologist will make the search for the right therapist clearer.
Psychologists: Most will have a doctorate (Ph. D. ), (Psy. D. ), and training in methods, knowledge and theories of psychology. There are many specialties, among them, but not limited to, are clinical, counseling, educational, social, developmental, school, and industrial/organizational. Approximately, 60% are in the areas of clinical and counseling specializations. These two areas of focus are able to diagnose, and treat mental and personality disorders and adjustment problems. Typically three to six years post-graduate study is required and most American Psychological Association approved programs mandate an internship. In order to call oneself a psychologist, passing of written and oral exams by a State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, with a period of supervision by a licensed psychologist, is the law in all fifty states. Some states (Louisiana and New Mexico) afford the opportunity to psychologists to have the designation of “medical psychologists, ” which allows limited prescription privileges. With additional schooling (a Master Degree in clinical psycho-pharmacology), supervision by a physician, and maintaining strict guidelines, these psychologists can prescribe medication.
Psychiatrists: They are medical doctors (M. D. ) who specialize in psychiatry. After completing medical school, they continue for an extra four years of residency training in mental health studies. Additional training is obtained to specialize in such areas of child/adolescent or geriatric. Psychiatrists prescribe medications and monitor medications for other providers who don’t have prescription privileges. They are usually found in hospital settings and community mental health clinics, while maintaining a private practice. They treat a broad range of mental health issues, and may combine “talk therapy” with “drug therapy. ” They often are the primary treatment physician for serious mental health issues such as psychosis and addictions. If you choose to consult with a psychiatrist and want “talk therapy” without medications, ask if counseling is provided, exclusive of medication, or in combination of both modalities.
Social Workers: Most social workers who offer counseling hold a M. S. W. (Masters of Social Work). Training requires two years of post-graduate study and hundreds of hours of “in the field” (internship) supervised training. They have their own licensing board and are found in private practice, schools, hospitals, mental health centers, and chemical dependency facilities. They work closely with psychologists and psychiatrists, performing assessments of family structures, often counseling within the family home. You may find social workers who go by the titles, ‘psychiatric social workers” or ‘clinical social workers. ”
Psychoanalysts: Psychoanalysis refers to a specialized treatment obtained through accredited programs. Psychoanalysts can be medical doctors, as well as psychologists or social workers. They have certification in a form of psychotherapy associated to Sigmund Freud and his followers. It is best described as an approach that probes the unconscious mind and its relationship to current feelings, thinking and behaviors. In most instances, part of their training is to undergo their own psychoanalysis. Caution is given of anyone identifying themselves as a psychoanalyst. Psychoanalytic therapy is typically of long duration and expensive. to this extent, managed care insurance companies may not cover this form of treatment. You should check with your insurance provider.