Psychology Career Changes

Psychology career changes can be more difficult to navigate than career changes within other fields. As en example consider a newspaper editor who wishes to break into the magazine industry as an editor. While they are two different working environments many of the skills required such as proofreading documents, meeting deadlines and overseeing layout designs are very similar. This individual may find it trying but not impossible to make this career change. Conversely consider an individual with only a bachelors degree in psychology who is working in a career as a probations officer. This individual will not find it easy to switch to a career in clinical psychology. This is because practicing as a clinical psychologist requires completion of a doctoral degree as well as passing licensing examinations and requirements. Therefore, this type of career change would be much more difficult to make.

Even graduates who already have a doctoral degree may find they are not able to easily make career changes within the psychology field. This is because during the course of obtaining their doctorate they likely chose a very specific course of study. This may qualify the individual for his current career but may not necessarily qualify him for other psychology careers.

Related Tip: Psychology career changes are certainly possible but they may require a great deal of time and effort. Career changes within the psychology field which have similar degree and licensing requirements may be easy but making changes which require higher level degrees are often much more complicated. In these cases it is still possible to make a career change but the individual will likely be required to take additional courses and obtain additional degrees to change careers successfully.

Working with a Psychology Associate's Degree

There are human service jobs where you can use an Associate's Degree in Psychology, depending on the job market where you will live and hope to work. Some of these might be; teacher's aide, case management aide, family support aide, residential case manager, government benefits case worker, teen mentor, childcare worker and other possibilities. These are usually entry-level positions, although with experience there might be opportunity to advance in some organizations. This will depend on the organization and the work.

Some people with Associate's Degrees work in resource referral positions, in human resources, in development (fund raising and grant writing, as examples) and in grass roots campaigning, political action and organizing capacities. Some people with Associate's Degrees work in hospital, human services and education reception and admissions positions. They may also work as testing assistants, training assistants, psychiatric hospital technicians and in any number of other capacities where psychology can be put to practical use.

Again, check with a college-based or other career counselor, do your own job market survey, as described under, "Degrees for Counseling and Therapy," and look at job market projections for health, education and human services sectors. You may want and need to work in one of these jobs while you continue your education towards another degree, perhaps a Bachelor's, a Master's and even a Doctorate in Psychology. Many professionals start out with an Associate's Degree in Psychology.

Jobs in Research Psychology

Consider private and public organizations, such as government departments responsible for meeting human needs, hospitals, large human service agencies and policy-making entities to discover the kinds of positions that exist in Research Psychology. Also check with a college-based or other professional career counselors for this information. Professors who teach Research Psychology are a good source of this information too.

How to Become a Psychologist

Figuring out how to become a psychologist is the simple part of the equation. The more difficult part is actually completing all of the requirements. Becoming a psychologist will require approximately 5-7 years of graduate work as well as the completion of a doctoral dissertation. Graduate school students are typically required to earn a bachelors degree as a prerequisite to graduate school but it is not always required for this undergraduate degree to be in psychology.

Once a student gains admission into graduate school they will need to earn a masters degree and a doctoral degree to become a psychologist. This will require approximately 5-7 years of fulltime coursework to achieve these degrees. Even after the student managers to earn a doctoral degree in psychology such as a PhD or a PsyD, he is not always eligible to practice as a psychologist just yet. This is because many states have additional licensing requirements which require applicants to pass one or more standardized tests. These examinations are typically not easy and often have high failure rates. Once a graduate completes all of the educational and licensure requirements of a particular state, they are eligible to practice as a psychologist in that particular state.

Battling Stress? Don't Relax -- Get Tough

Take a look at most books and courses on stress management and you might think that reducing stress is all about taking a few deep breaths, uttering a few calming chants, and blissfully floating on a cloud. Is that your real world? I didn’t think so.
Actually, a stress-free life can be as unhealthy as an over-stressed one because, for most of the important things we do in our lives, a certain amount of optimum stimulation is necessary for health and peak performance. Research at the University of Nebraska has identified a psychophysiological process called toughening to describe what happens when challenging situations are dealt with by active coping and problem solving.
Overwhelming stress overtaxes the nervous system and leads to a variety of maladaptive mental and physical effects, including high blood pressure, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal problems, chronic anxiety, and depression. However, individuals who have developed effective coping and mastery skills show a more efficient and adaptive nervous system response that returns promptly to normal baseline when the crisis is over.
Over time, a positive spiral develops: More effective coping leads to a smoother psychobiological stress response and, the more this happens, the more the person learns to have faith in his or her own coping abilities – so the stress response becomes even more adaptive and less disruptive. The result is less stress, fewer illnesses, and better overall functioning and productivity.
So how do you learn to toughen up? Unfortunately, by relying mainly on relaxation or other arousal-reduction techniques, many so-called “stress-management” programs portray stress as something to be reduced or avoided at all costs, thus inhibiting the learning of adaptive coping skills to deal with life’s challenges.
Here in the real world, there are a number of practical psychological strategies that can help you become more stress-resilient:
• Arousal control. learning to both increase and decrease arousal as appropriate to the situation.
• Attentional focus. Utilizing the proper beam of attention to take account of the situation and its requirements.
• Imagery. Using mental imagery to internally rehearse adaptive coping strategies.
• Cognitive Restructuring. Learning to reinterpret situations in terms of mastery and control.
• Self-talk. Becoming your own instructor and mentor in challenging situations.
The key is flexibility in both behavior and the nervous system’s stress-response system that enables the stress-adaptive person to adapt to and master challenging situations. While some people do this naturally, with the right training, almost all of us can learn to be better stress-busters.

Psychological Principals of Effective Leadership

In the field of leadership, the perennial question has been, “Are great leaders born or made?” And the answer from clinical and organizational psychology is that it’s a little of both: innate talent, bolstered and refined by hard work, proper training, and practical experience. Whether dealing with the day-to-day running of a complex organization or handling an emergency that requires you to make critical command decisions, the following represent the basic psychological skill-set of effective, dynamic leaders in any organization.
• Communication. This involves both input and output. The effective leader quickly and accurately assimilates what others tell him/her from a morass of often rushed, confused, and conflicting information, and is able to translate complex plans and strategies into specific, focused directives.
• Team management. The effective leader coordinates the efforts of individual team members into a united force. He/she is able to delegate responsibilities as needed, but can quickly jump in and take personal control where necessary.
• Decision making under stress. In a crisis situation, the effective command leader must be able to think clearly and make critical split decisions under fire. This requires the ability to tune out the noise, take in and sort through the relevant environmental data, and come up with a useful plan of action.
• Planning, implementing, and evaluating. These are the cognitive skills required to quickly and efficiently size up a situation, weigh the options for effective action, implement those actions, and then accurately assess their effects on the overall situation. For superior command leaders, this process seems to operate in a seamless, coordinated flow – they make it “look easy.” It isn’t easy, but skill, practice, and experience build the expertise that makes the leader’s decisions the right ones.
• Emotional stability: Underlying the thought and action of superior leaders is a basic emotional ballast and stability of character. This is a calm, purposeful, self-assured interpersonal style that inspires the troops with confidence and commands respect without having to fish for it. Team members will go out on a limb for this leader because they trust his/her judgment and commitment to the job and to themselves.
So, where do leaders come from, and can you learn to be one? If you think you have leadership potential, then you can start right now to take the leap, make the effort, and avail yourself of the training and experience that will give you the best opportunities to lead with confidence.

Psychological Tips For Testifying In Court

Maybe you thought it would never happen to you, but now you’ve been summoned to testify in court as a witness, plaintiff, defendant, or crime victim, and you need some advice on how to best present your case to the judge or jury. The following tips from the field of forensic psychology can help reduce the stress and enhance the credibility of your day in court.
Preparation. Nothing eases anxiety more than knowing what to expect and how to handle it. Before the trial, carefully review the facts of your case. Discuss with your attorney what kinds of questions to expect. Both mentally and aloud, rehearse your testimony. Try to anticipate questions that may come out of “left field” and how to deal with them. There’s no such thing as too much preparation.
Attitude. In court, maintain composure and dignity at all times. Confidence, not cockiness, is the key. Treat the courtroom players – judge, attorneys, jury – with respect and expect to be so treated in return.
Behavior. On the stand, sit up straight and avoid shifting in your chair. If you’ve brought papers or other materials with you, arrange them carefully in front of you. Look at the attorney who is questioning you and wait till he or she has finished the question before answering. When responding, switch your gaze to the jury, who tend to find witnesses more credible when they “look straight at us.” Speak and act in an open, friendly, and dignified way.
Speech. Speak as clearly, slowly, and concisely as possible to be understood. Keep sentences short and to the point. Maintain a steady, conversational tone of voice. Listen carefully to each question before you respond. If you don’t fully understand the question, ask the attorney to repeat it or rephrase it. Take time to compose your thoughts. Answer the question completely, but try not to ramble. If you feel you cannot honestly answer a particular question by a simple yes-or-no answer, say so and let the attorney rephrase it. If you don’t know the answer to a question, never try to fudge or wing it; just state, “I don’t know.”
Tricks and traps. The opposing attorney may try to seize on omissions and inconsistencies in your testimony to discredit you. Don’t take the bait: avoid becoming defensive or hostile and continue to maintain your composure. Any time you’re stuck, ask for clarification. If opposing counsel is giving you a really hard time, your attorney will most likely pop up and raise an objection.
Remember: While court testimony is often challenging, with the proper mindset and preparation, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

Job Opportunities with a Doctorate in Psychology

Private psychology practitioners can be licensed as Psychologists with a Doctorate in Psychology. This allows the professional to work in private psychology practice. Some states require a passing score on a test, a fee for the license and proof of the degree. Doctoral level psychologists are also frequently employed in schools, government programs, hospitals and other health care, in disability settings and other education, justice, human service and health care organizations.

They may work as counselors, psychotherapists, college-level instructors, researchers, consultants, trainers and several other capacities. They are often called on to supervise other employees, serve on committees, direct programs, conduct research, perform psychological assessments, serve as expert witnesses, write reports and academic articles and do other administrative and highly responsible therapy, counseling and training work.

For more information, you can ask professors who teach doctoral level Psychology courses and a career counselor knowledgeable in doctoral level psychology who may be based at a college or university; survey the job market in your intended locale; see the employment and recruitment ads; and check certain education and career web sites.

More about the Psychology Job Market

You can talk to a career counselor at a college or another location, look up information on the Internet or check in a library. One place to look is in the Occupational Outlook Handbook. This is considered an essential resource for job market projections. If you look at the Handbook or elsewhere, you can use the keywords; psychology, social work, human services, psychotherapists, counselors and other related occupations. Many of those are listed in the Handbook under, "Related Occupations" (2006). The Handbook can also tell you what generally required qualifications you would need. If using the Internet, you can pair your keywords with other keywords too, such as; careers, career projections, job market projections and so forth. The Handbook also lists projections by state.

In addition, you can see your state's Dept. of Labor, Employment Security and Workforce web sites for job market projections. They aren't listed on all state's web sites, but you'll find the projections for most states. Many colleges and universities list job market projections on their web sites too.

Career in Psychology Options

The options for a career in psychology are virtually limitless; however, it is important to note that many of these career options require specific degrees. Students may opt to obtain a bachelors degree in psychology, a masters degree or a doctorate degree. Within each level of degree there are a variety of career options which range from business positions to owning a private practice as a clinical psychologist.

Graduates who only obtain an undergraduate degree in psychology still have a variety of career options available to them. They may wish to pursue careers in sales, marketing, personnel, criminal justice and education. Here graduates may work in careers which require them to use skills they obtained while pursing an undergraduate degree but do not require individuals to hold advanced degrees or professional licenses.

Psychology career options for masters degree graduates may include teaching at a two year college or any of the career options available to students with only an undergraduate degree. Additionally, masters degree graduates may be eligible to pursue careers in clinical or industrial and organizational psychology but will likely be required to work as an assistant in these fields.

A doctoral degree in psychology enables a graduate to pursue the widest variety of options for a career in psychology. Some of the available options include teaching and research, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, forensic psychology, health psychology, industrial and organization psychology and sports psychology. Graduates who wish to work in one of these specific areas will likely have taken a wide variety of courses pertinent to the career path.

Related Tip:  A career in psychology is a worthwhile endeavor which may lead graduates to a variety of career options. However, the bulk of psychologist positions will require a doctorate. However, students with only an undergraduate degree or a masters degree may still find a variety of career options which enable them to utilize their education. This may include working in any field which requires participants to utilize a variety of interpersonal skills. Career options for these graduates may include case workers, counselor’s aids, personnel directors or criminal justice workers just to name a few. However, those who have a doctorate degree may pursue other career options which require licensure such as clinical psychologist, sports psychologist and forensic psychologist.

Jobs in Psychology

The Psychology job market appears to be good through 2014, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2006-2007 (2006). Where you can find a job using your Psychology Degree depends on:

1) the degree level;


2) whether you have experience working, or perhaps volunteering, in any area of psychology;


3) whether you have a degree or experience in another area;


4) the job market where you'll live and can commute from to work; and


5) what you want to do in the field and with what population.

There are many jobs requiring a degree in Psychology. Some require an Associate's Degree, some a Bachelor's Degree, some a Master's Degree and others, a Doctorate's Degree. If you have any experience in a certain setting, performing certain work or working with a particular population, this may also be included in consideration of your qualifications for a job in the field.

If you have another degree, it may be applicable towards your specific area of interest in Psychology. You should explore the job market in the area where you want to live, or seek job projections in the work for the area in which you want to live. You may want to think about whether you would be willing to move for a specific job in the field too.

Perhaps most critically to your success in the field, you should think carefully about it is you want to do in the field; in what setting; if you want to work in direct service, consultation, teaching, community education, research, administration or some other position; and what population you hope to serve directly or indirectly. Direct service positions can include counseling, psychotherapy, patient or client education, case management, residential case work, aide work, family assistance, assessment, intake, referral, crisis intervention and other positions, depending on your degree, experience, interests and the job market in the locale you choose. Indirect service can include many types of administrative positions; research; research assistance; teaching within or for an organization, agency or higher education setting; grass roots or more formal political organizing; and other indirect service positions.

Psychology Job Settings

The settings in which you plan to, and initially, use your Psychology Degree can be important to deciding your academic and career path. Although you will likely work in more than one setting during your career, where you apply your education at first can be critical to your longer term career goals; later admission for a higher degree; advancement opportunity; and even if you'll remain in the field. Job setting may also, of course, be one determinant of your pay and job satisfaction. Deciding on the general types of work settings you'd like before you begin study towards your first, or even a second or third, degree may help you to choose your educational program too.

Can you picture yourself working in a school or higher education setting? Do you like or dislike the thought of working in a hospital? Does the autonomy of private practice and business acumen you'd need for private practice appeal to you or might that feel too isolated to you? Do you like the ideas of supervising others, planning, policy-making, writing, public speaking, or managing budgets and programs? In other words, would you rather work in a research, administrative or direct service environment?

Service Populations

Think about the populations you would like to serve as you consider possible job settings. You may be interested in serving seniors and elderly people, children, people with disabilities, adolescents, people of a certain ethnic or religious background, couples, employees, job-seekers, families, people with mental illnesses (or psychiatric disorders), immigrants, probationers, prisoners, or other people with certain specific issues, goals or challenges. There is a very wide range of possibility. Thinking about the issues you are interested in can help you decide what population you want to work with too.

Some of the issues of people who are served by paraprofessionals and professionals are; drug abuse and addiction, infertility, adoption issues, disability challenges, death and dying, academic issues, childhood abuse issues, anger and aggression and many others. Whether you choose to work with people who have mental illnesses, also called psychiatric disorders; people who have life issues, but not necessarily serious psychiatric diagnoses; or people who are seeking help with self-improvement, there are many different challenges they face. You may be able to help them with these if you have a Psychology Degree with the training appropriate to those issue(s).

Psychology Degrees for Counseling and Therapy

Most therapy and counseling positions require a Master's Degree in Psychology or a related field, such as Social Work. They usually don't distinguish between a Master's in Arts or Master's in Science. Before you decide, though, you should be sure to check with a few places where you can see yourself working to ask what the qualifications are for the kind of work you want to do. Ask for the human resources department or a person responsible for hiring therapists or counselors.

You may also find some relevant information from people you know who work in the field and from certain psychology career web sites pertaining to the location in which you hope to be employed. Once you have solid information written down, look at the range of qualifications. What are the qualifications in common between the sites you contacted? Did you contact at least four or five employment sources? Don't limit your investigation to less and try not to hear only what you want to hear. Apply some objectivity to the task. Later, you can combine this information with your more subjective inclinations. At first, though, you need to get the facts so that you don't go too far down an unrealistic or uninformed path.

Working With a Psychology Master's Degree

The Master's Degree in Psychology, or Social Work, is often considered the backbone of human services and is necessary for school school counseling, community college teaching, college student counseling and many other responsible, interesting, professional and middle income earning positions. you may also be eligible, with your Master's, for private practice as a therapist or counselor, depending on licensing certification and perhaps, registration laws in your state. However, you probably cannot be licensed as a Psychologist without a Doctorate in Psychology.

You can ask instructors who teach Master's level Psychology courses and a career counselor; survey the job market in your intended locale; see the employment ads; and check certain education and career web sites for more, and local, job market information. Although a Master's in Psychology is usually a very marketable degree, job markets vary from area to area.