Psych Tech in the Army

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

I have a few questions regarding my career field and different ways I can advance and/or continue being a Psych Tech. I am currently a 68X(behavioral health specialist) in the Army. I have been working in a clinic setting for about 6 months now and an Emergency Room Behavioral Health Setting for 2 months now. I very much love what I do in my field, but I am not sure where I can improve on my status as a tech.

The Army is currently downsizing and kicking a lot of people out, and given my time and experience in the Army there is a chance that I could be kicked out in the future without a lot of time to prepare. Especially since I not the greatest on my physical ability. Money is always another issue too seeing how privates in the military always get "oodles" of money to support their family

The only education I have toward being psych tech is what I have recieved through work experience and the schooling I had to go through to even recieve this MOS. The school was about 19 weeks long and it crammed about 2 years worth of psychology down my throat and we had to learn pretty fast. I do have some college credits , but they only pertain to computer software and not psychology. I do understand that having a career in psychology guarantees that you have to go to college at some point to move on up. The Army does not certify their psych techs so I am without any kind of certs. I have heard about the NCPT certification, but I am not sure on how much it is worth getting at this time.

My work expierences include: working in a behavioral health clinic with soldiers doing assessments and intakes. Occasionally I lead a group. I have done some therapy with patients but was not allowed to go past 6 appointments. I am currently working in an Emergency Room with the hospital on post triaging and making assessments and if needed hospitalizing patients. Near future plans call for me to work on the inpatient ward on post that is being build. I understand that working with soldiers is very different than working with civilians. Most of my work expierences have been geared toward TBI, PTSD, Adjustment Disorders, and Depression intensively.

I have plans on staying in the military and even though I have no close future plans on college. I am trying to set myself up in a position that if anything ever happens to me and I have to transition into civilian I would like to continue working in the field of psychology. So, I was wondering if you had any advice on the subject and suggestions for any kind of entry level certifications or classes I could obtain that could set the foundation for the future of my career. Thank you for your time

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