But let me ask you this, if you were starting your education now or changing careers, would you again choose to be a mental health clinician? Consider insurance and turf wars and everything you write about here and everything else. Is it possible the answer might be despite everything, yes?
I might but then again, I do not practice in the mainstream. I am a Jungian, I do long term therapy, and I don't accept third party payment. I wouldn't get a doctorate in psychology though. I would likely do an MSW and then eventually go for training as a Jungian analyst. And know I would never be rich.
Your response is interesting, in an affirming sort of way. The education track you describe is exactly what I am working toward at the tender age of nearly 50.
I am a psychiatric technician (that equals two years of college) from california. At the hospital where I work, this professional antagonism, between those trained in psychology and those trained in psychiatry, manifests every day through poor cooperation and communication between the social services staff, the occupational therapy staff and the nursing staff. Thank you for articulating it. It is a barrier to providing quality mental health care.
GREAT post, Cheryl. Although I didn't always practice the way you do, I valued the underpinnings of my education that was very psychology (and psychoanalytically) based. I saw U-Mich flip in under 5 years to biology and it was quite amazing. I also really appreciate your comment about a re-do on your education. I did my undergrad pysch degree at Michigan and then applied in clinical programs along with my partner who was applying in anthro- both THE grad programs of the early 70s. Where I got in, he didn't and vice versa. That was the last time I changed a major life path for a man but it worked out well. I loved UM Soc. Wk program, Selma Fraiberg and Anna Freud as mentors (Lord, am I getting old)and felt as though I came out far better equipped than most to practice. This post also has great linkage and the quote has me headed for Borders in the morning. Now I'm headed over to see what you are knitting. 
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