MUNKEYCORPSE - It's great that you're interested in a career in the mental health field. The work is very very rewarding.
I imagine you'll be starting college next year. Take intro courses in psychology and sociology. A smattering of science courses like biology, is advantageous too, but you may want to wait until you're more comfortable in school before tackling that.
Take courses in every area. You never know if a client will be into philosophy or theology or filmography, or physics. Expose yourself to a wide array of topics. The more informed and educated you are, the greater ability you'll have to bring different types of people out.
You'll probably want to major in psychology and take a double major in sociology or a minor in sociology.
During summers, many psychology departments offer summer internships. Some colleges REQUIRE a set number of clinical hours. It's a requirement in graduate school too
After college, you have to decide whether you want to go the three main routes.
1. Psychiatry - These guys are MD's who go to med school and specialize in pyschology. They are the only health therapists able to perscribe medicine.
2. Psychology. You'll go to a graduate school and take a PhD in psychology. Along the way, you'll pick up your masters, and when all is said and done, figure you'll be done with school and writiing your thesis in about 6 years. The same for if you get your PhD in social work.
3. Social Workers are well qualified psychotherapists depending on traiing, orientation and level of certification.
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