Working As a Psychologist : Advantages And Disadvantages of becoming a Psychologist
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Working As a Psychologist : Advantages And Disadvantages of becoming a Psychologist
Working As a Psychologist : Advantages And Disadvantages of becoming a Psychologist. By learning more about the daily life of a psychologist, you can better decide if this is a career path you want to follow. It can be helpful to know what a job entails before pursuing it, and you may be curious about the advantages and disadvantages of being a psychologist.
A psychologist working in a hospital may spend their time diagnosing patients, performing psychotherapy treatments and completing various administrative tasks. While, a psychologist who works for a university may spend their time performing research or teaching classes.
Where Does A Psychologist Work?
You can find psychologists working in a variety of places. Psychologists work in some of the most common areas such as in private practice, hospitals, research facilities, and universities. Psychologists are also employed by the governmentAgency. Many psychologists use their expertise to conduct court psychological evaluations as forensic consultants. There is so much variety to where you could work.
Is it worth it to be a psychologist?
If you enjoy working with people and helping them achieve their full potential, then becoming a psychologist can be extremely rewarding. While you will often face challenges, seeing your clients make real progress and work towards their goals can give you a feeling of accomplishment.
What Does A Psychologist Do?
Psychology is the study of emotions, behavior, and psychological activity. It is a science with an applied focus; psychologists are interested in what people do, think and feel. The goal of psychologists is to help people with their psychological issues. As a psychologist, your day-to-day will consist of analyzing and figuring out what people do and why they take certain actions. You will put together many pieces of the psychological puzzle to understand why people do what they do and how those actions affect them.
Disadvantages of being a Psychologist
1. Having to set up your own practice.
Over a third of psychologists are self employed. Many of these own and operate their own practices. Launching a psychology practice is a daunting task, and keeping it going is also challenging. In addition to finding an office, acquiring necessary equipment and finding clients, psychologists must also purchase malpractice insurance, deal with business taxes, set up a reliable document management system, and deal with never ending billing issues.
2. Dealing with clients can be stressful and draining
The biggest reward of being a psychologist is often the biggest challenge of being a psychologist – helping people overcome and deal with their mental and emotional struggles. The fact of the matter is, dealing other people’s problems on a daily basis is difficult. Most of us have a hard enough time wrapping our mind around our own problems, let alone everyone elses. Psychologists have to learn how to help their clients find effective and productive methods for dealing with their struggles without taking them on themselves.
3. Dealing with billing issues.
All psychologists, regardless of whether they work as employee of an organization or run their own practice, have to deal with billing issues. These include processing and collecting payments from insurance companies, dealing with piles of paperwork, the unpleasant experience of sending clients who don’t pay their bills to collections, and various other billing issues. Dealing with insurance companies in and of itself can be a very trying process, especially if you have your own practice.
4. Its schedule can also be quite erratic
One of the advantages of being a psychologist is that your schedule can be quite flexible, especially if you run your own practice. At the same time, psychologists are often on call and must deal with client issues that arrise at the most inconvenient times. It’s not uncommon for psychologists to meet in evenings with clients who work all day and can’t meet during normal business hours, or be called out of bed to help a client that’s facing a crisis situation.
How Much Does A Psychologist Make?
As a psychologist, you can expect an annual average salary of $100,130. This six-figure salary will be about $48.14 an hour. Now, there is some variation in the pay you can be making as a psychologist based upon your level of experience. If you are new to the career of psychology, you can expect an hourly wage of $21.39 an hour or $44,500 a year. Once you have gained some experience, you can expect a sharp increase in what you will be earning. For a mid-level experienced psychologist, you can expect an annual salary of $105,780 a year or $50.86 an hour.
Advantages of being a Psychologist
1. Flexible work schedules.
While many psychologists pull long hours, once you’ve established your own practice your schedule becomes very flexible. You’re able to set your own hours, come and go when you want and have ample vacation time. Most psychologists report one of the aspects of their job they enjoy the most is the ability to spend time with their family and friends.
2. Ability to work for yourself.
Becoming a psychologist is a great career choice for those with an entreprenuerial spirit. Many psychologists go on to establish their own private therapy practices once they get a little experience under their belt and have proven themselves as competent professionals. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 35 percent of psychologists are self-employed – many of these owning and running their own practices.
3. It reward helping people overcome their challenges.
One of the top reasons psychologists cite that they enjoy their careers is that they’re able to help other people improve the quality of their lives. Many people throughout the world struggle with disabling mental disorders and disabilities. Pyschologists help these individuals learn to cope with their disorders and disabilities and overcome mental and emotional challenges.
4. High earning potential.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, on average psychologists working full-time earn between $50,000 and $100,000 a year. Those who work part-time obviously earn less but they still earn a respectable amount. Psychologists who are able to run a successful private practice can earn up to $200,000 a year and psychiatrists (a field closely related to psychology) average between $150,000 and $200,000 a year.
Job requirements for a psychologist
Common requirements to have so as to work as a psychologist are:
1. Master’s degree
Specific requirements for becoming a licensed psychologist vary by state. However, the minimum requirement is typically a master’s degree. To earn a master’s degree, you first begin by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in any field, but a bachelor’s degree in psychology is common. Once you have the required educational background, you can then enter a master’s degree program.
2. A Supervised work experience
To earn a state license, psychologists typically need to complete a supervised work experience. These experiences can vary based on your career path. For example, if you wish to work with patients, a supervised work experience may include treating patients under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.
3. State license
Licensing requirements vary by state. The majority of states require aspiring psychologists to pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology, which tests your preparedness to practice independently. Some states also require candidates to pass an oral exam or take a jurisprudence exam, which covers the laws surrounding psychology.
Doctorate degree
Most states also require a doctoral degree to legally practice psychology. There are two types of doctoral degrees you can pursue, a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) or a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Which one you pursue depends on your career goals, much like your master’s degree. For example, those who earned a master’s in clinical psychology commonly pursue a Psy.D. in clinical psychology.
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