Psychologist Careers Information
Psychologists use their extensive education and training to examine human behavior with the goal of helping others through behavioral modification. An empirical discipline, psychology involves the study of people and their interactions with one another in order to understand better why people do what they do and perhaps to make predictions about future behavior.
Psychologist Careers & Degrees
- Grand Canyon University: Online
- Ph.D. in General Psychology with an Emphasis in Cognition and Instruction
- Ph.D. in General Psychology with an Emphasis in Industrial and Organizational
Colorado Technical University - Undergraduate: Undergraduate - Online
Unlike their psychiatrist counterparts, psychologists generally do not prescribe medication to treat psychological issues. Rather, they rely on talk therapy and/or behavioral modification techniques in order to treat their patients.
Psychologist careers may specialize in any number of fields. For example, a clinical psychologist, the most common type, will help those with mental or behavioral disorders as well as those facing tough emotional issues such as the death of a loved one or divorce. School psychologists work with students, trying to catch problems early and facilitate learning. Counseling psychologists help people deal with everyday life, to make their quality of living better.
Many psychologists work closely with medical personnel; these include health psychologists, neuropsychologists, and geropsychologists, who work to understand the connections between healthy lifestyles and general health, the connections between brain itself and behavior, and the psychological issues faced by elderly people, respectively.
Forensic psychologists work with the legal system, interviewing defendants and children of abuse, and often serve as witnesses themselves.
Psychologist Careers Path
Most psychologists have at least a Ph.D. or Psy.D., though some are able to find limited positions with only a Master’s or Bachelor’s degree. For some positions, such as school psychologist, a specialized degree is required. Furthermore, most states require practicing psychologists to have some form of licensure.
Many states require a doctorate in psychology and an internship to practice and all states require an exam in order to earn certification. In a couple of states, psychologists are able to prescribe medication on a limited basis, but further certification is needed for this ability.
Psychologist Careers Salary Expectations
The average salary for psychologists is $64,140 a year, with the middle fifty percent salary between $48,700 and $82,800. Since about 34% of all psychologists are self-employed, the average psychologist salary can vary greatly depending on specialty, region, number of patients seen, and pricing. Psychologists with a good reputation and experience may be able to earn more money than their salaried counterparts.
Psychologist Careers: Compatible Personality Traits
Excellent listener, excellent oral and written communication skills, compassionate, empathetic, strong desire to help others, patient, works well with others, self motivated, problem-solver, leader.
Psychologist Interview
Interested in a psychology career but you want to know what it takes to be successful? Read More from an Interview with a Professional Psychologist…
Psychologist Careers Job Outlook
The job outlook for psychologists is mixed. For those with only Master’s or Bachelor’s degrees in psychology, positions are limited to work assisting those with more advanced degrees or teaching psychology courses at secondary schools: competition will be strong.
Those with Ph.D. or Psy.D. degrees from the best schools in an applied discipline will have the best chance finding positions within many industries. With experience, they are also the most likely to be able to open successful private practices.
The field of psychology is expected to grow as fast as the average career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth is projected to grow by 12%.
Psychologist Associations and Resources
American Psychological Association
Slightly off the Footpath
- Guidance Counselor
- Marriage and Family Therapist
- Human Resources
- Social Worker
- Speech Therapist/Pathologist
- Audiologist
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Psychologists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos056.htm (visited November 1, 2011).
