Psychologist Job Description – Mental health is an important issue in today’s world. Poor mental health afflicts a large number of people, especially the younger generation. Mental health problems are not something we can overcome ourselves. People suffering from poor mental health require help and support. They need assistance so that they can lead a normal life and be part of society. A psychologist plays an important role in the lives of people suffering from mental health issues. They are needed in society to help out ill patients as there is an increase in people suffering from poor mental health. A psychologist’s duty includes diagnosing the problem with the patient and giving the appropriate treatment and medicine. They have to listen to the problems of their patients and figure out solutions to help them out.
Psychologist Job Description
A psychologist studies the human brain and human behavior. They diagnose behavioral problems and administer specific drugs and proper treatment. They deal with issues like stress, anxiety, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, etc. They see the relationship between behavior and the mind. A psychologist helps people suffering from mental health issues overcome their problems through regular appointments and counseling. They help patients lead a normal life despite their illnesses. The psychologist needs to understand the patient well to be diagnosed, and proper treatment can be given. They listen to patient problems and offer guidance and support to make it out of their illness. A psychologist works towards improving the psychological well-being of a patient.
Duties of a Psychologist
Here are some of the duties undertaken by a psychologist:
- Study the behavior of the patient and diagnose the condition.
- Administer the required drugs
- Give specific treatment
- Give counseling sessions to the patient
- Interview the patient to troubleshoot the problem
- Monitor work of staffs and interns
- Improve the patients quality of life
- Promotes healthy lifestyle and behavior.
Skills Required to Become a Psychologist
Here is a list of skills you need to have if you are aspiring to become a psychologist:
- Excellent communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Good people skills
- You must be trustworthy
- Good in-depth knowledge of the subject
- Good listening skills
- Must be detail-oriented
- Must be able to think analytically
- Must be patient with clients
- Must be passionate about learning new things
- You must be empathetic.
- You must have problem-solving skills.
- You must be sensitive with people of all races and cultures.
Educational Qualification for Becoming a Psychologist
The qualifications you need to become a psychologist are:
- You will need an advanced degree in psychology or any related field
- You will need a state license
- You will need more than two years of experience in clinical psychology or related fields.
- You will need in-depth knowledge about your subject
- You will need good English spoken, written and reading skills.
- You must have passed your schooling with psychology as one of the subjects preferably.
Work Environment of a Psychologist
Some psychologists practice at home. Others practice in hospitals as part of a team. They will also need to work weekends if they have a private practice. Psychologists work more than 40 hours every week. Their work is indoors. Being a psychologist means you have to work with a lot of people. You will meet people from all walks of life. It can be stressful listening to all the problems of the patient. You may also have to deal with angry and rude people. So, the job can be taxing at times. Psychologists work in schools, hospitals, and government institutions. Theirs are mainly an office setting. The problems of your patients may influence your private life. It is a lonely occupation without colleagues even though you meet new people in the form of patients. The job is very emotionally draining.
Salary of a Psychologist
In the US, the average annual salary is around $85,000. Salary depends on your experience, qualification, the organization you work for, and the type of psychologist you are. The salary of a neuropsychologist is not the same as the salary of a clinical psychologist. The monthly salary for a psychologist practicing in the US is around $9,252.
Job Outlook for Psychologists
There will be a 14% increase in demand for psychologists in the future 10 years. This rate is faster compared to the rise of other jobs. Employment varies with qualification, area, and specialization. There is rapid growth in the field of school psychology. This is because of rising awareness of mental health issues in children.
Job Outlook for Graduates in Psychology
Availability of jobs may lean towards those with a Ph.D. in the field. There will be high competition for those with master’s degrees in psychology. The availability of seats for those with a master’s degree in psychology is limited compared to seats available for Ph.D. holders. Those with only a bachelor’s degree will find out that seats are even more limited than the other two qualifications.
Job Titles for Psychologists
Here are a few psychology-related jobs:
- Child Psychologists-Works with problems that children are facing.
- Mental Health Counselors-Deal with issues such as drug abuse, alcohol addiction, and marriage problems, etc.
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists-Psychology is integrated with human resources, management, etc.
- Educational Psychologists-Studies how people learn
- Forensic Psychologists-Deal with psychology in the forensic field. Involves investigations etc.
- Experimental Psychologists-Works with the human mind, human thoughts, etc
- Clinical Psychologists-Works with mental health issues of people
- Developmental Psychologists-Deals with why and how human beings show change as they progress through their life
- Juvenile Detention Specialist-Makes sure of the safety of those visiting the facility
- Speech-Language Pathologist-Work with individuals who are suffering from speech-related disorders
- Eating Disorder Psychologists-Deals with people suffering from eating disorders.
- Human Resources-The HR team consists of psychologists that interview candidates for a job.
- Neuropsychologist-specializes in the relationship between the brain and behavior of humans
Role of a Psychologist in Society
A psychologist has an important role to play in society. They help deal with tension, handle anxiety, and treat different disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, etc. They help improve the quality of life of the individual and encourage them to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Since there is a rise in mental illness cases, the psychologist’s role is becoming more and more important. Society is in dire need of psychologists today as the number of mental illness cases is rising, and so are the resultant suicides.
Role of a Psychologist in School
A psychologist working in a school monitors the mental health and behavioral problems of school children. A school is a place where mental illnesses are on the rise due to peer pressure and exams. We need psychologists in school. They also check the ability of school teachers to teach and the children’s learning capacity. They help in the social, academic, and emotional supervision and growth of the students and teachers. They must also report behavioral changes to the student’s parents as well.
Pros of Becoming a Psychologist
Here are a few perks of the job:
- There is job satisfaction
- Provides more than one job opportunities
- It has a good salary
- There is flexibility in work hours
- You get to meet people from all walks of life
- You can work independently
- The job outlook is good
- There are more than one specializations in this field
- There is good job security
- You get to experience the gratitude of the patients you have helped.
- You will build a good reputation as you are a psychologist
- You can also help your near and dear ones.
Cons of Becoming a Psychologist
Here are a few demerits of the job:
- It can be emotionally draining.
- A lot of time and a lot of hard work is required to get into this field
- It isn’t easy to set up private practice
- You might not get weekends off
- You may have to deal with rude or maybe even violent people.
- It is a lonely practice even though you meet people
- You have to listen to people problems all day long
- Working hours are irregular
Conclusion
The world needs experts on human behavior, which would help explain a lot of questions. This is the job for you if you are interested in human behavior and the human mind. Take up psychology if you enjoy working with people and solving their problems. It can be a rewarding job as you are helping people from all walks of life. Help solve the mental issues like depression that are present today and prevent crises. Become a psychologist and play a part in making the world a happier place.
Also, read How to become an Occupational Therapist?
