Philadelphia Counselor Urges Students To Explore A 'Variety Of Internships'
Frank Healy is a licensed professional counselor and works in South Jersey. He received his M.S. in counseling psychology from Chestnut Hill College 1991. Healy works as an outpatient therapist with AtlantiCare Behavioral Health and also has his own private practice.
Where did you get your degree?
"I graduated from LaSalle University in 1982 with a degree in psychology. During the next few years I worked in settings with clients with mental retardation and behavior problems. Although I did well with the work I wanted to get a master's degree and be a therapist. I took some graduate courses at Temple and eventually transferred them to Chestnut Hill College where they started a graduate program in Counseling Psychology in 1987. I graduated from their program in 1991."
Can you describe your duties in counseling?
"I currently work as an outpatient therapist with AtlantiCare Behavioral Health, providing individual and group counseling for adults struggling with mental health concerns as well as the stressors of daily living. I also see clients in a private practice."
How has education prepared you for your career in counseling?
"La Salle had one of the best undergraduate programs for psychology in the area. I learned a lot from studying Abnormal Psychology and Developmental Psychology. Their experimental psychology program helped me think in a logical manner which is now helpful in developing treatment plans and understanding the planning and process of change. Chestnut Hill's Graduate Program placed a high emphasis on counseling techniques, and little emphasis on theory."
What advice would you give someone who is pursuing a career in counseling?
"For anyone who considers a career in psychology, understand that there is a variety of opportunities. If you like helping people and have compassion for others, then social work might be your field. If you have compassion and understanding for people who suffer, whether from abuse or psychological conditions, you may want to explore master programs in clinical counseling or social work. If, in addition to wanting to help people, you are organized and have leadership potential then you would do well to be a supervisor or director of a program."
"The field of psychology and behavioral health also includes a lot of paperwork. Most of it is now done on the computer but you need to learn to pace yourself to get everything done, and accept that this is part of the job."
"If you are unsure which aspect you would like I recommend that you do a variety of internships when you go to school to see what you like doing."
Christina Thompson is a freelance writer living in Philadelphia. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.