Research?

Graduate School
1

<p>Note: I accidentally posted this in the wrong section the first time so if you've already seen this I apologize!</p>

<p>Hello guys, I am currently a sophomore psychology major and after I finish my degree I plan to obtain a Masters in Mental Health Counseling. I am planning on doing lots of psychology related volunteer work starting this summer and next school year. One thing I'm concerned about is research. Aside from high GPA, GRE, volunteering and etc, is research necessary to help me get into a program? Is it important to have a lot of experience with this if I am entering a masters in mental health counseling? I know that many science, engineering, and premed majors do research but I'm not sure it's crucial for what I want to do or not. I'm not interested in being a psychologist or getting a PhD, I just want to be a therapist basically. I'm just a little lost. I am planning on speaking with my adviser about this but for the time being, I'd appreciate some of you guys' feedback. Thanks a bunch!</p>

2

<p>For mental health counseling, it’s not necessary. It is <em>helpful</em>, however. MA programs in the field look favorably at students who have done some research, because 1) good counselors will need to be good consumers of the current research on therapy so they know what works and what doesn’t, and 2) being a research assistant teaches some great skills that are applicable to other areas of life. But it’s certainly not necessary.</p>