Tally: Online Education Psychologist - July 2010

Becoming a Psychologist: Career and Practice Basics

If you're the type of person who is fascinated by the complex workings of the human mind, emotions, and behavior, a career in psychology could be your true calling. But due to the confidential nature of the work that most psychologists perform, it can often be very difficult for prospective students interested in pursuing degrees in psychology to get a realistic sense of what work in this field actually entails. In this month's roundup of posts from our psychology expert, we'll explore a few questions that address the nuts-and-bolts aspect of becoming a psychologist and working in the field.

Spotlight on Psychology Jobs: Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychology is a broad area of practice that involves providing therapy to clients. The most common setting in which clinical psychologists provide services is a private practice office, but clinical psychologists also work in a number of other settings, such as schools, prisons, inpatient hospitals, and treatment centers. In answer to a question from a student who wants to parlay an undergraduate degree in organizational psychology into a career as a clinical psychologist, our expert delves into some of the specific educational requirements involved in the pursuit of a graduate degree in clinical psychology.

Because certification and licensure requirements for clinical psychologists can vary significantly, schools in different states may have vastly divergent requirements. For example, psychology schools in California offer doctorate programs to students who wish to pursue licensure as a clinical psychologist in the state, whereas some states offer licensure in the field to graduates with other degrees, such as the master of social work degree.

Psychology Basics: Therapeutic Methods and Coaching

For decades, talk therapy has been the therapeutic approach most commonly used by psychologists. However, it is by no means the only method out there, and in light of recent research indicating that talk therapy often has mixed or inconclusive results, a growing number of psychologists are turning to other therapeutic techniques. Replying to a question about different types of therapy, our expert discusses several different modes of therapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, which has emerged as a particularly effective treatment for certain types of problems in recent years. In this type of therapy, clients are encouraged to identify and disrupt destructive thought patterns, eventually substituting more positive and productive self-talk.

Although licensure requirements vary for the two professions, this approach bears a strong similarity to the techniques used by many life coaches. Another question posed to our expert in July asked for more information about the similarities and differences between life coaches and psychologists, and the training and education requirements for each type of role. The most salient point of distinction is that while virtually every state demands that practicing psychologists must possess terminal degrees in psychology, many states do not require that life coaches have degrees in psychology. However, more life coaches are beginning to seek credibility by pursuing training in the field, sometimes through alternative methods such as online psychology certification courses.

Psychology Basics: Mental Health Diagnoses

In the past, it was widely assumed that people sought the help of a psychologist or psychiatrist because something was "wrong." Today, however, there is a greater emphasis in the field on helping clients to identify their personal strengths and using this knowledge to develop better coping methods. Still, as our expert points out in a post about mental health diagnoses, in some instances, psychologists are faced with the prospect of diagnosing and treating serious mental illness or mental health problems. In some cases, they may refer the patient for medical treatment by a psychiatrist or primary care physician. Other psychologists prefer not to focus on diagnoses, as they feel that this approach conflicts with their philosophy or method of practice.

The Psychology Workplace

Where do psychologists ply their trade? According to our expert, psychologists can be found practicing in a surprisingly diverse array of settings, including private offices, hospitals, public health centers, emergency rooms, crisis centers, university infirmaries, public and private schools, testing facilities, suicide hotlines, military facilities, and inpatient and outpatient treatment centers. In addition to these roles, some individuals who have obtained degrees in psychology have opted not to practice and instead work in research, policy, or private-sector positions that require knowledge of psychology but do not involve direct patient care.

Do you think a career in psychology might be right for you? You can learn more about the field by posing your own question to our expert or by participating in a few introductory online psychology courses.