Being A Psychologist
DUTIES
Psychologists study the behaviour and actions of people to understand, explain, and change their behaviour patterns. They also provide counselling and therapy to those with emotional, learning, and behaviour problems. Psychologists work in schools, clinics, hospitals, and private practice. They can specialize in clinical, educational, quantitative, developmental, social, experimental, and industrial-organizational psychology. Their duties often include:
Students should prepare for a career in psychology by taking the most challenging (AP or IB) high school courses available, especially in English and science. Licensed psychologists must earn a Ph.D. in psychology. Admission to graduate programs is usually dependent on the quality of undergraduate performance in a psychology major. Clinical psychologists must complete a two-year supervised internship after earning their doctorate and pass oral and written state qualifying exams. School psychologists must earn at least a master's degree.
PAY SCALE
A Psychologist could expect to earn anything from AU$47,716 p/a to AU$112,975 p/a.
ENVIRONMENT
Work settings for the psychologist vary according to the specialty or area of work. Research psychologists generally work for universities or colleges. In addition to their research responsibilities, they often are required to teach certain courses each semester, and bring in a certain level of grant income by going through a tedious process of applying for various government grants.
Some psychologists are also known as industrial psychologists and work in companies or for corporations, helping the company better manage its key asset, their employees. This is a fairly stable field to get into, and often involves assessment and human resources-related work.
Forensic and neuropsychologists often work in private practice. Forensic psychologists often have to testify in court and court settings (becoming very familiar with lawyers and the law), while neuropsychologists often work in hospital settings as well. Neuropsychologists can be a part of a multidisciplinary hospital team and work closely with other medical disciplines,
including medical doctors.
Clinical psychologists work in a variety of settings, most often private practice or public mental health. You will also find them in clinical counselling centres at universities and colleges, helping students with milder problems of adjusting to college life. These psychologists all work in office settings, sometimes in conjunction with other mental health professionals such as psychiatrists and social workers.
SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS
Reading Text
Oral Communication
Critical Thinking
Sceptical
Open - minded
Self - aware
Tolerant
Ethical
Generous
Psychologists study the behaviour and actions of people to understand, explain, and change their behaviour patterns. They also provide counselling and therapy to those with emotional, learning, and behaviour problems. Psychologists work in schools, clinics, hospitals, and private practice. They can specialize in clinical, educational, quantitative, developmental, social, experimental, and industrial-organizational psychology. Their duties often include:
- Diagnosing and treating problems.
- Interviewing and observing patients.
- Developing, selecting, and administering tests.
- Counselling patients, groups, and families.
- Developing mental health programs.
- Conducting research and teaching.
Students should prepare for a career in psychology by taking the most challenging (AP or IB) high school courses available, especially in English and science. Licensed psychologists must earn a Ph.D. in psychology. Admission to graduate programs is usually dependent on the quality of undergraduate performance in a psychology major. Clinical psychologists must complete a two-year supervised internship after earning their doctorate and pass oral and written state qualifying exams. School psychologists must earn at least a master's degree.
PAY SCALE
A Psychologist could expect to earn anything from AU$47,716 p/a to AU$112,975 p/a.
ENVIRONMENT
Work settings for the psychologist vary according to the specialty or area of work. Research psychologists generally work for universities or colleges. In addition to their research responsibilities, they often are required to teach certain courses each semester, and bring in a certain level of grant income by going through a tedious process of applying for various government grants.
Some psychologists are also known as industrial psychologists and work in companies or for corporations, helping the company better manage its key asset, their employees. This is a fairly stable field to get into, and often involves assessment and human resources-related work.
Forensic and neuropsychologists often work in private practice. Forensic psychologists often have to testify in court and court settings (becoming very familiar with lawyers and the law), while neuropsychologists often work in hospital settings as well. Neuropsychologists can be a part of a multidisciplinary hospital team and work closely with other medical disciplines,
including medical doctors.
Clinical psychologists work in a variety of settings, most often private practice or public mental health. You will also find them in clinical counselling centres at universities and colleges, helping students with milder problems of adjusting to college life. These psychologists all work in office settings, sometimes in conjunction with other mental health professionals such as psychiatrists and social workers.
SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS
Reading Text
Oral Communication
Critical Thinking
Sceptical
Open - minded
Self - aware
Tolerant
Ethical
Generous