i am sorry i am not ..but i dont think i can do it, because others problems will affect me so much and i wont be able to do my work.... but i believe we can be very good on this

 

I'm currently studying at uni to be a social worker. I think i could succeed in the field but i HATE university with a passion.
I imagine that any career in social work or psychology would as you say be difficult to handle emotionally. BUT, Perhaps if you're fortunate enough to become involved in an area that you are particularly passionate about than it may spur your empathy on into positive ambition...? wouldn't that be lovely!

 

I'm currently studying at uni to be a social worker. I think i could succeed in the field but i HATE university with a passion.
I imagine that any career in social work or psychology would as you say be difficult to handle emotionally. BUT, Perhaps if you're fortunate enough to become involved in an area that you are particularly passionate about than it may spur your empathy on into positive ambition...? wouldn't that be lovely!

I am working as a social worker since a few years. I work with children at an institution where they live for several months at at time and I find it rewarding getting to know the clients really well and be there for them. I am passionate about helping them and I find I can empathize at a deep level. Yes the deep relationships are difficult to handle emotionally at times but I have learned a lot over time.

I need to work with something that is complex and interesting and where I can use my INFP-ness. But I feel it is also like Queen of hearts wrote "because as an INFP I have difficult filtering other's emotions" . I feel I sometimes let people get too close to me and I neglect my own feelings and emotions. After containing a lot of feelings (others) I get overwhelmed and need time to recharge...

 

I`ve been a psychiatric social worker for just about 23 years.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

I`ve been a psychiatric social worker for just about 23 years.
Posted via Mobile Device

how you been liking it? I suppose your job is more stressful than being a psychologist, perhaps dealing more with child abuse and that sort of thing, right? Or do you do psychotherapy as well?

 

I'm studying to become community educator specializing in special education/ working with troubled youth etc. and my studies consist of lot of social psychology/pedagogy.I believe you can handle it, since many infp have been through a lot in their lives and we can really relate to people with problems and understand them on a different level.We don't patronise people, we walk the mile in their shoes.

 

I've done mental health case management for a few years. I think that is more towards the social work field than psychology. Psychology was far less appealing to me in that it seemed much more research oriented. INFPs have some unique gifts in that they can be very well-equipped to empathize with target populations and to develop trusting relationships with clients. It's hard to say to you whether or not you would be able to handle it emotionally, because I don't know anything about you. I will say that though it can be demanding, and that there is a very real potential for people to burn out, it is nonetheless rewarding.

 

yes --

Good answer, Sloe Djinn - it can't hurt to try, if there is a passion. I have a degree in psychology and work as a financial specialist because as an INFP I have difficult filtering other's emotions. It's not their problems or issues so much as the general negativity, anxiety, or hostility that I have trouble with. I'm happy with my choice, but I'm passionate about what I do. It's better to make a choice and change gears if necessary than to never follow your dreams for yourself.

 

I have a bachelor's in psychology, but I discovered that I didn't think I could be a therapist. I started going into the research side of it, working with animals (mostly training them). It was fun, and I felt a connection to the animals. But writing the papers seemed to strip all the real meaning from the experiences.

 

I can't help but today I came across something that influenced my thoughts on getting into that sort of thing. From fmylife.com where people anonymously post unpleasant things that (supposedly) happened to them:

Today, one of the psych patients I work with on a locked unit looked into my eyes and told me lovingly that I reminded him of his sister. The sister he killed after he raped her. FML

 

Oh no! It gives me more reason to not want to be a therapist! Ack...

 

One of my bachelor's degrees is in psychology as well, but I decided to be a lawyer instead of a psychologist.

 

I work doing two things: For a little $$ I work as a personal shopper (for the rich and famous :tongue but for passion and something I care about, I work as a marriage coach. I specialize in helping people recover after they've had infidelity in their marriage, and by "recover" I mean so that their marriage is better than it was before the affair.

I can say that for me it can get somewhat emotionally tiring. I find I have to pace myself a little bit and on the occasion someone's situation hits close to home and I have to discipline myself to feel it like a professional (not like empathetically). All at once it's one of my biggest strengths and weaknesses--being an empath.

I think you can do it honestly, but it does take some practice and knowing your limits.

 

Yes, but I don't know my limits! I have a relationship with my mom that is quite complex. I baby her in a way because her love is so so important to me. I have loose boundaries and I'm afraid of getting too attached to my patients' well being and all. I invest so much in every relationship I have.

I'm not the kind of guy who'd see a suicidal patient, and then go out to dinner that night. I'll go home and cry. Or I'm not the kind of guy who'd bang a chick one night and it's over. I would get close to someone after a very long time and if we separate, I'll be terribly hurt.

But I'm desperate. I studied psychology and now I don't know what to do. I like to do something meaningful with my life. I tried research and it's okay but it's too impersonal. Where's the human touch? I could perhaps see patients but from a more "removed role" than that of a psychologist, so I don't get too close and don't learn too much. Then again, another role may not offer me the power to change people's lives and I'll be missing out on all the rewards there.

I am somewhat creative person but I have not focused on my creativity in a long long time. And I know there is so little money and too much headache in creativity related jobs like painting etc.

 

GUILTY

AS

CHARGED!

:tongue: :tongue: :tongue:

 

I have a friend who got a bachelor degree in psychology and she came out to work in human resources. Personally, I think a psychologist or social worker has to understand one's emotion on both emphathetic and sympathetic level. So, it's really up to you.

*Sorry I just realisied it's a post two years ago...but it just came on the top of my list?

 

I am an INFP studying social work, going for my BSW. Like many INFPS I research the crap out of careers and try and find that perfect dream job that aligns all my values, but I have not found it ;P. I think social work is fantastic for many of us as it is a very broad field. I am currently conquering depression and anxiety, I have fears of burnout, but what job doesn't have burnout or stress? I think it is really important for us INFP's to not remain in "limbo" where we don't take action while looking for that great job we desire. I think social work is a good balance of human interaction, and paperwork - so we get our downtime. There is room to be creative in how you approach clients and staff members, probably not enough to fully satisfy us but thats what hobbies are for. A job is a service we have to pay to humanity, a passion is a gift we pay to ourselves in return for our contributions to society! One last thing, try being a supervisor of a group home, you kind of get to be the "mom/dad" of the household and you can organize activities for your clients, get creative with cooking and planning staff meetings and training, as well as teach your clients many things that enable them to have quality of life! I wish you success in your decision!

 

I've studied psychology for a few years. I've been working in psychology research for a few years, which I love. When I first began studying, I worked as a telephone counsellor for a little while. I was good at it, but it was also very stressful. I got calls where people were committing suicide and I had to intervene. I also had calls from people experiencing intense trauma and abuse. People really underestimate how intense psychology is, both academically and in practice. I found it very fulfilling and I think INFPs could be very good at it, but it was very stressful and emotionally intense. The skills you learn are also very valuable. I think it's a hard job, but I also think that with training, experience and dedication, you can do it.

 

Wait, you can get more than one?
I'm only browsing this thread since I'm starting college soon haha.

 

I've just recently decided to pursue a Bachelor's in Psychology after being undecided this past year (my freshman year) and this was exactly what I was worried about - not being able to handle all the negative emotions and becoming attached to patients. My close friends have told me that they think that I would be good at it, but it's still a constant fear especially since I can barely handle my own problems. But I just figured that I should decide on something and psychology was the thing always in the back of my mind but always avoided because it isn't a "normal" major? My dad had always made comments about how you have to be weird in the head to be a psychologist. (Well, surprise! Your daughter is weird in the head. )

Bottom line, I KNOW it will be difficult, but I'm really willing to try. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. I figure you can always find a new job that is similar but less strenuous. You won't know until you try, though. And if it goes badly, it would have been worth the life experience it gave you. That's how I view it, but I might just be an overly optimistic young person who has her head in the clouds. (extremely likely)