Taking up psychology as a chosen profession is something that will surely be challenging. If you are aspiring to be one, it will be best to get to know their roles as medical specialists and know what it takes to be an effective one. It will also be a big consideration, so you better ask yourself first “can I handle it?”. If yes, keep on reading to be briefed.
What is a Psychologist?
A psychologist is a mental health professional whose expertise is in using psychological evaluation and talk therapy to help a patient cope with their mental well-being.
There is a list of specific specialities in psychology, and the following includes:
- Clinical psychologist – this field of speciality focuses mostly on the three most important aspects: Assessment, treatment, and research. To best assist patients with mental, emotional, and behavioural illnesses, the area is primarily concerned with the practical applications of research findings and methodology.
- Neuropsychology – this speciality is a combination of neurology and psychology. Meaning, that it is the study of neurological illnesses (disorders of the nervous system). In other words, neuropsychology is the connection between brain problems and mental illnesses.
- CyberPsychology – this refers to the study of phenomena in the use of technology. It studies how technology and overusing gadgets could cause illnesses or issues such as sleep deprivation, malnutrition, dehydration, social isolation, low self-esteem, and cyberbullying.
- Developmental Psychologist – studies the overall development of a person. It identifies the changes in a person in terms of personality development, learning, language development, and motor skills.
- Educational Psychology – involves the study of emotional, social, and cognitive aspects of learners. Can be mostly seen through academic examinations, quizzes, and more. Overall, it studies the development of learners in schooling and how it affects their emotional and mental wellbeing.
What are the roles of a psychologist?
Generally speaking, psychologists are the ones who help in times we struggle with our emotions and mental health. They assess, diagnose, and handle our emotional and mental burdens. They also treat and study the background of a patient’s psychological problems and behavioural destruction. To brief you more about this profession, their goals are to:
- Understand why a patient is acting that way – A psychologist’s goal is to create a safe environment for their patient to make a comfortable space for them to open up about how they feel and what made them feel like so.
- Diagnose – part of a psychologist’s job is to identify the cause of the behaviour and to prescribe necessary medications to control and manage the illness.
- Control illness – this is where the medications come in, psychologists prescribe medications necessary for the disorder. Aside from prescriptions, this is also the part where they do follow-up appointments to check progress and adjust medications if necessary.
How do you become a Psychologist?
Pursuing psychology can take up many years of education and training. To become a licensed professional, one must take a bachelor’s degree in the course of psychology or a related field with a concentration in psychology. The years of education depend on the field of speciality you desire to take.
- Clinical Psychologist takes up to 8–12 years of a college degree and 1-2 years of post-degree supervised work experience.
- Counselling Psychologist takes up to 8-12 years of a college degree and 1-2 years of post-degree supervised work experience.
- Forensic Psychologist takes up to 8-12 years of a college degree and 1 year of post-degree supervised work experience.
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist takes up to 6 years of a college degree and 0-1 year post-degree supervised work experience.
Aside from the necessary and required education, it is also important that you acquire every skill required for this job and be able to perform it well. With that being said, you need to be able to present yourself effectively in your resume. Write all of your competencies and skills acquired. If you are struggling to do so, create an effective resume with the help of a resume builder online to make your writing experience easy, immediate, and well-written.
Conclusion
Being a psychologist is challenging as you deal with different patients with different needs and different ways of coping, and as a psychologist, you must know to help them cope effectively. It is your job to keep them on the right track in life and with a healthy mind and lifestyle. Though it can be challenging to put others’ mental health before yours, it can be truly rewarding too.
