7 answers
Dulce
Student
Rock Hill, South Carolina
1
Question
Asked
3889 views
How do you become a Psychologist? Is this career path hard?
How do you become a Psychologist?
What classes should I be taking? I'm a sophomore and I still don't know what classes I should be taking.
Is this career path hard?
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7 answers
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1464
Answers
Australia
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Hey there,
Dulce, you've already gotten some solid advice! Becoming a psychologist is definitely a long journey, but it's also an incredibly rewarding one if you're passionate about understanding the human mind and helping people.
Here is my Additional Advice to you!
Explore Specialties Early – Psychology is a vast field! Clinical, counseling, forensic, industrial-organizational, neuropsychology—the list goes on. If you get a head start on understanding the different branches, you can tailor your coursework and experiences accordingly.
Internships & Volunteering – Experience matters. Shadowing professionals, interning at mental health clinics, or even volunteering for crisis hotlines can give you a real-world feel for the work psychologists do.
Networking & Mentorship – Find professors or professionals who inspire you. Their guidance can be invaluable when choosing between a Ph.D. and a Psy.D., finding research opportunities, or navigating the licensing process.
Graduate School Readiness – Since psychology is competitive, consider getting research experience during your undergrad. Many grad programs look for candidates with hands-on research work.
Licensing & Continuing Education – Beyond your degree, becoming a licensed psychologist requires exams (like the EPPP) and supervised clinical hours. Psychology is also an ever-evolving field, so continuous learning is key!
I am gonna also add in the pros and cons of becoming a psychologist! So let’s go over them to give you a balanced view. 🤔
Pros of a Psychology Career
Fulfilling Work – You’ll help people overcome challenges, improve mental health, and make real, lasting impacts in their lives.
Diverse Career Paths – You can work in clinical settings, research, education, forensic psychology, sports psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, and more.
Job Demand & Stability – Mental health awareness is increasing, so psychologists are in high demand across multiple fields.
Opportunities for Private Practice – If you prefer independence, you can eventually open your own practice and set your schedule. And also the best thing About it is that you can even start even when studying, schools require consultants and you will do just great, that is ofcourse if you are headed there.
Lifelong Learning – The field is always evolving, so there’s room for continuous growth, new research, and personal development.
Cons of a Psychology Career
Time & Cost of Education – Becoming a licensed psychologist takes 8–12 years of education (bachelor’s, master’s, Ph.D. or Psy.D.), which can be expensive.
Emotional Toll – Working with patients dealing with trauma, depression, or crisis situations can be mentally and emotionally draining. I have been there myself so trust me if you are not ready to handle it you will not be able to, but if you are passionate bakout it then trust me you will learn it along the way.
Competitive Field – Graduate school admissions, internships, and job placements can be highly competitive, requiring strong academic and research backgrounds.
Licensing & Supervision – After your doctorate, you’ll need to complete supervised clinical hours and pass licensing exams, which can take additional years.
Long Work Hours – Depending on your specialization, you might work irregular hours, especially in clinical or hospital settings.
Dulce, Psychology is an incredible field for those who are passionate about human behavior and mental health. However, it requires patience, commitment, and resilience to succeed. If you truly love it, the rewards far outweigh the challenges!
Does this career still sound exciting to you? If so, keep going—you’ve got this, every step will be worth it. Keep pushing forward, and remember—you’re working toward a career that changes lives! 💪✌️
DrHResearch (From Steps to Sprints, We Dive and Soar)
Dulce, you've already gotten some solid advice! Becoming a psychologist is definitely a long journey, but it's also an incredibly rewarding one if you're passionate about understanding the human mind and helping people.
Here is my Additional Advice to you!
Explore Specialties Early – Psychology is a vast field! Clinical, counseling, forensic, industrial-organizational, neuropsychology—the list goes on. If you get a head start on understanding the different branches, you can tailor your coursework and experiences accordingly.
Internships & Volunteering – Experience matters. Shadowing professionals, interning at mental health clinics, or even volunteering for crisis hotlines can give you a real-world feel for the work psychologists do.
Networking & Mentorship – Find professors or professionals who inspire you. Their guidance can be invaluable when choosing between a Ph.D. and a Psy.D., finding research opportunities, or navigating the licensing process.
Graduate School Readiness – Since psychology is competitive, consider getting research experience during your undergrad. Many grad programs look for candidates with hands-on research work.
Licensing & Continuing Education – Beyond your degree, becoming a licensed psychologist requires exams (like the EPPP) and supervised clinical hours. Psychology is also an ever-evolving field, so continuous learning is key!
I am gonna also add in the pros and cons of becoming a psychologist! So let’s go over them to give you a balanced view. 🤔
Pros of a Psychology Career
Fulfilling Work – You’ll help people overcome challenges, improve mental health, and make real, lasting impacts in their lives.
Diverse Career Paths – You can work in clinical settings, research, education, forensic psychology, sports psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, and more.
Job Demand & Stability – Mental health awareness is increasing, so psychologists are in high demand across multiple fields.
Opportunities for Private Practice – If you prefer independence, you can eventually open your own practice and set your schedule. And also the best thing About it is that you can even start even when studying, schools require consultants and you will do just great, that is ofcourse if you are headed there.
Lifelong Learning – The field is always evolving, so there’s room for continuous growth, new research, and personal development.
Cons of a Psychology Career
Time & Cost of Education – Becoming a licensed psychologist takes 8–12 years of education (bachelor’s, master’s, Ph.D. or Psy.D.), which can be expensive.
Emotional Toll – Working with patients dealing with trauma, depression, or crisis situations can be mentally and emotionally draining. I have been there myself so trust me if you are not ready to handle it you will not be able to, but if you are passionate bakout it then trust me you will learn it along the way.
Competitive Field – Graduate school admissions, internships, and job placements can be highly competitive, requiring strong academic and research backgrounds.
Licensing & Supervision – After your doctorate, you’ll need to complete supervised clinical hours and pass licensing exams, which can take additional years.
Long Work Hours – Depending on your specialization, you might work irregular hours, especially in clinical or hospital settings.
Dulce, Psychology is an incredible field for those who are passionate about human behavior and mental health. However, it requires patience, commitment, and resilience to succeed. If you truly love it, the rewards far outweigh the challenges!
Does this career still sound exciting to you? If so, keep going—you’ve got this, every step will be worth it. Keep pushing forward, and remember—you’re working toward a career that changes lives! 💪✌️
DrHResearch (From Steps to Sprints, We Dive and Soar)
Doc Frick, I truly appreciate your support! Your acknowledgment means a lot and adds to the motivation to keep contributing with depth and clarity. Your insights always bring value, and it's great to have your presence in the discussion. Thanks for the encouragement—it pushes me to keep refining and sharing knowledge with even more dedication!
Dr H
Chinyere Okafor, I truly appreciate your support! It’s always great to connect with those who value knowledge. Thanks a lot for being alongside this journey with me.
Dr H
Doc Ashley, your support means a lot! It’s always a pleasure to share thoughts and learn from brilliant minds. Looking forward to more enriching support ahead!
Dr H
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1942
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Dulce in most cases, becoming a PSYCHOLOGIST takes somewhere between
8-12 years of schooling. However, when considering a career in psychology, this timeframe is not always cut-and-dry. The amount of time it takes to complete your college education depends largely on your specialty area and career interests. At a minimum, working in this field generally requires that you earn a bachelor's degree in psychology or a related field such as sociology, education, anthropology, or social work. The next step is to decide if you want to earn a master's or doctorate-level degree. The reason it's beneficial to make this decision even before beginning undergraduate schooling is that some programs do not offer a master's degree in psychology. In such cases, you will need to enroll in a graduate program after earning your bachelor's degree and then spend four to seven years working on your doctorate.
☑️ RECOMMEND HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES
Psychology is not necessarily a common course offered at most high schools, but increasing numbers are beginning to offer AP Psychology classes. If your high school does offer some sort of psychology course, it would definitely be a good idea to add this class to your schedule. Having some background knowledge about general psychology can really be helpful during your first year of college. Beyond science and math classes, taking courses in history, philosophy, writing, religion, and language can also be beneficial. By learning more about human history and behavior, you can put yourself on the road to future success as you continue your psychology education. Finally, remember to maintain good grades in all of your courses. University admissions can be competitive, so having a strong GPA and great teacher references is important.
☑️ BACHELOR'S DEGREE
You might want to begin by earning your undergraduate degree in psychology, but some people choose to pursue a degree in a related social science field. While it depends upon the requirements of the individual graduate school you plan to attend, some programs also accept students who have undergraduate degrees in A subject unrelated to psychology or social science.
GRADUATE EDUCATIONAL DEGREES
☑️ MASTER'S DEGREE (Optional): While not always mandatory, a master's degree can enhance your professional development and provide specialized knowledge as a psychologist. If you are interested in what is known as a terminal master’s degree in a field such as counseling, social work, or school psychology, you can often enter the workforce immediately after completing your your master's degree.
☑️ DOCTORAL DEGREE (Required): To practice as a psychologist, you'll need a doctoral degree (Ph.D. in psychology or Psy.D. in clinical or counseling psychology). The next big question you need to ask yourself is what type of graduate degree you plan to earn?
• PhD IN PSYCHOLOGY: The Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD) is what most people think of when they talk about a doctorate in psychology. Typically, the PhD degree tends to focus more on a scientific model and places a lot of emphasis on experimental methods and research, but it is not your only option.
• DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY: You could also choose to earn a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree. The PsyD degree is a newer option focusing more on a practitioner model and emphasizing clinical work as a psychologist.
CONCLUSION
The type of degree you choose will depend largely on your career goals. Do you imagine doing research in addition to treating patients? Then the PhD option might be a good fit for your needs. Would you prefer to focus purely on working with clients in a clinical setting? Then the PsyD degree might be well suited to your goals.
I hope this was helpful Dulce
8-12 years of schooling. However, when considering a career in psychology, this timeframe is not always cut-and-dry. The amount of time it takes to complete your college education depends largely on your specialty area and career interests. At a minimum, working in this field generally requires that you earn a bachelor's degree in psychology or a related field such as sociology, education, anthropology, or social work. The next step is to decide if you want to earn a master's or doctorate-level degree. The reason it's beneficial to make this decision even before beginning undergraduate schooling is that some programs do not offer a master's degree in psychology. In such cases, you will need to enroll in a graduate program after earning your bachelor's degree and then spend four to seven years working on your doctorate.
☑️ RECOMMEND HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES
Psychology is not necessarily a common course offered at most high schools, but increasing numbers are beginning to offer AP Psychology classes. If your high school does offer some sort of psychology course, it would definitely be a good idea to add this class to your schedule. Having some background knowledge about general psychology can really be helpful during your first year of college. Beyond science and math classes, taking courses in history, philosophy, writing, religion, and language can also be beneficial. By learning more about human history and behavior, you can put yourself on the road to future success as you continue your psychology education. Finally, remember to maintain good grades in all of your courses. University admissions can be competitive, so having a strong GPA and great teacher references is important.
☑️ BACHELOR'S DEGREE
You might want to begin by earning your undergraduate degree in psychology, but some people choose to pursue a degree in a related social science field. While it depends upon the requirements of the individual graduate school you plan to attend, some programs also accept students who have undergraduate degrees in A subject unrelated to psychology or social science.
GRADUATE EDUCATIONAL DEGREES
☑️ MASTER'S DEGREE (Optional): While not always mandatory, a master's degree can enhance your professional development and provide specialized knowledge as a psychologist. If you are interested in what is known as a terminal master’s degree in a field such as counseling, social work, or school psychology, you can often enter the workforce immediately after completing your your master's degree.
☑️ DOCTORAL DEGREE (Required): To practice as a psychologist, you'll need a doctoral degree (Ph.D. in psychology or Psy.D. in clinical or counseling psychology). The next big question you need to ask yourself is what type of graduate degree you plan to earn?
• PhD IN PSYCHOLOGY: The Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD) is what most people think of when they talk about a doctorate in psychology. Typically, the PhD degree tends to focus more on a scientific model and places a lot of emphasis on experimental methods and research, but it is not your only option.
• DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY: You could also choose to earn a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree. The PsyD degree is a newer option focusing more on a practitioner model and emphasizing clinical work as a psychologist.
CONCLUSION
The type of degree you choose will depend largely on your career goals. Do you imagine doing research in addition to treating patients? Then the PhD option might be a good fit for your needs. Would you prefer to focus purely on working with clients in a clinical setting? Then the PsyD degree might be well suited to your goals.
I hope this was helpful Dulce
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1210
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Dulce,
Good question! Becoming a psychologist is a long but rewarding journey that requires dedication, education, and hands-on experience. The exact path depends on what type of psychologist you want to be, but in general, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree, followed by a graduate degree (either a master’s or doctorate), and then supervised clinical experience before earning your license.
Since you’re a sophomore, now is a great time to start preparing. If your school offers psychology classes, taking them will give you a solid foundation. Courses in biology, chemistry, statistics, and sociology are also helpful since psychology involves understanding both the human brain and behavior. If you can take advanced placement (AP) or dual-enrollment courses in these subjects, they will give you a head start when you reach college.
In college, you’ll major in psychology or a related field. If you want to work in clinical psychology, counseling, or therapy, you’ll likely need a doctorate (Ph.D. or Psy.D.), which takes several more years of study and supervised clinical training. If you’re interested in research, a Ph.D. is the best path. If you want to work in applied psychology fields like industrial-organizational psychology, forensic psychology, or school psychology, a master’s degree may be enough.
As for difficulty, psychology like every other course is challenging but achievable if you're passionate about it. There’s a lot of reading, research, and writing involved, and if you go into clinical work, you’ll need strong emotional resilience. The education path is long, especially if you plan to earn a doctorate, but if you genuinely love understanding human behavior and helping people, it can be incredibly fulfilling.
To make the journey easier, get involved in psychology-related activities now. Join clubs, volunteer at mental health organizations, or find internships in psychology-related fields. This will give you experience and help you confirm that this is the right path for you. If you stay curious, dedicated, and open to learning, you’ll be well on your way to a successful career in psychology!
Best wishes!
Good question! Becoming a psychologist is a long but rewarding journey that requires dedication, education, and hands-on experience. The exact path depends on what type of psychologist you want to be, but in general, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree, followed by a graduate degree (either a master’s or doctorate), and then supervised clinical experience before earning your license.
Since you’re a sophomore, now is a great time to start preparing. If your school offers psychology classes, taking them will give you a solid foundation. Courses in biology, chemistry, statistics, and sociology are also helpful since psychology involves understanding both the human brain and behavior. If you can take advanced placement (AP) or dual-enrollment courses in these subjects, they will give you a head start when you reach college.
In college, you’ll major in psychology or a related field. If you want to work in clinical psychology, counseling, or therapy, you’ll likely need a doctorate (Ph.D. or Psy.D.), which takes several more years of study and supervised clinical training. If you’re interested in research, a Ph.D. is the best path. If you want to work in applied psychology fields like industrial-organizational psychology, forensic psychology, or school psychology, a master’s degree may be enough.
As for difficulty, psychology like every other course is challenging but achievable if you're passionate about it. There’s a lot of reading, research, and writing involved, and if you go into clinical work, you’ll need strong emotional resilience. The education path is long, especially if you plan to earn a doctorate, but if you genuinely love understanding human behavior and helping people, it can be incredibly fulfilling.
To make the journey easier, get involved in psychology-related activities now. Join clubs, volunteer at mental health organizations, or find internships in psychology-related fields. This will give you experience and help you confirm that this is the right path for you. If you stay curious, dedicated, and open to learning, you’ll be well on your way to a successful career in psychology!
Best wishes!
Annah Edmonds
Licensed Clinical Counselor and Art Therapist
221
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Annah’s Answer
Dulce, First I am wondering if you are a sophomore in high school or college- either way I can share my thoughts! If you are in high school, it all depends on what courses your school offers. I say this as someone with a master's in clinical counseling who attended an urban public school. My school was very limited but other schools may offer psychology or social service-related classes. You can also look at what extracurricular clubs might apply. Psychology is technically a science- a social science. This makes it very different from the life sciences, like biology. It helps to have background in statistics or anatomy (as it relates to somatic work)- but I believe it is important to have people entering the field with a variety of backgrounds. Sports build character, leadership qualities, and physical and mental endurance. The arts are incredibly useful; drama and improv work build skills in facilitating expression and mental flexibility, fine arts are also a form of expression that may assist patients in accessing pre-verbal information, and music and dance are also ways to work with memory, emotion, and the body. An interest in history is helpful as you will learn the history of psychology (in graduate school), including the great innovators and trajectory of different theoretical frameworks. Anything you are doing to learn about yourself (personal growth) will serve you well into the future! This may have nothing to do with taking a certain class or joining a club; it is more of a mind-set. Be curious about your own mind and body and other people. Find a blog or podcast and begin listening to clinician's talking about their work and philosophy of treatment. Follow your own interests and see where this leads you. If you are in college, I suggest you major, double-major, or minor in psychology (though FYI I did not and made up the coursework later). This will give you a solid foundation. Complementary studies- anthropology, sociology, music, dance, fine arts, theater, philosophy. Learning a second language will make you very hirable if you enter into public or community health especially. Using a translation service is useful but also a barrier to communication and rapport. It is always better to pair a patient with someone who speaks their birth language.
To answer your question about difficulty- getting a doctorate is always going to require a commitment- of your time, money, and attention. Working with people who have experienced trauma and mental illness is always going to be hard. Most things in life that are worthwhile are also challenging. You can choose whether to work directly with patients, to work in a managerial role, or research. You will also engage in your own therapy as well; working in mental health means having a great awareness of your own issues along with the issues your patient(s) bring. This takes focus and intentionality that you will learn with practice. I also strongly believe you will gain superpowers doing this work! It will elevate your personal/interpersonal awareness, keep your brain active (lifelong learning), and has the potential to make you a better human being. For these reasons I believe the path is well worth it.
To answer your question about difficulty- getting a doctorate is always going to require a commitment- of your time, money, and attention. Working with people who have experienced trauma and mental illness is always going to be hard. Most things in life that are worthwhile are also challenging. You can choose whether to work directly with patients, to work in a managerial role, or research. You will also engage in your own therapy as well; working in mental health means having a great awareness of your own issues along with the issues your patient(s) bring. This takes focus and intentionality that you will learn with practice. I also strongly believe you will gain superpowers doing this work! It will elevate your personal/interpersonal awareness, keep your brain active (lifelong learning), and has the potential to make you a better human being. For these reasons I believe the path is well worth it.
Heather Cowan
Career coach
10
Answers
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Heather’s Answer
You may find that once you get started on your educational pathway to becoming a Psychologist you discover adjacent pathways that intrigue you.
Ask yourself the following now & again when you are applying for post secondary jobs & education:
What interests me about psychology
What interests me about working as a psychologist?
What would an ideal workday include?
What kind of challenges do I want to work towards solving in the world?
What kind of environments do I want to work in? (1:1 , groups, education, employee support, hospital settings, outdoors, inside, rural, urban, tropical, frozen, traveling, never needing to travel, family doctor's office)
Do I like the idea of freedom, extra hours & responsibility of entrepreneurship or would I prefer the structure and perception of stability as an employee?
What people groups do I want to work with? (Children, families, teens, seniors, people in crisis, spiritual influenced work, businesses, people with mental or developmental and learning disabilities, people with physical disabilities)
What are the other goals I have for my life? (to travel, to have a big family, to avoid having children, to make a difference in the world, to make a lot of money, to move to farm, to move to a big city)
Once you have a better idea of how income earning fits into who you are and what you want, then start finding people who do the work in the places you want to live, or who work with the people groups in any capacity, who work in the environments you want to work in. Ask them questions about their workday, the requirements to maintain status in the field, what the hours and income are like, what the challenges and joys are of their job. And ask them who else they suggest that you talk to. here's a free resource for what is called an "informational interview": https://www.cowancareercoaching.ca/resources-to-get-you-started#h.vwqsq0lsq1sq
Understanding more of what you're looking for will help you to know what path to go in, and then you can start matching post secondary programs to your goal. Most schools in Canada will meet with prospective students to help you know what courses and grades you need in high school to get into their programs. Typically math/stats is involved so you can learn about psychometric assessments, and anything related to human interactions. If you are interested in organizational psychology then business classes are helpful foundation to understand your audience, if you're interested in the physiology of humans then biology and chemistry.
Finally, keep your options as open as possible. If there's an option where you are for a broader discovery version of education, I'd highly recommend that. You don't know what you do not know yet, so any program that is likely to introduce you to as many options as possible before forcing you to choose a specialty is likely to improve your career satisfaction.
Ask yourself the following now & again when you are applying for post secondary jobs & education:
What interests me about psychology
What interests me about working as a psychologist?
What would an ideal workday include?
What kind of challenges do I want to work towards solving in the world?
What kind of environments do I want to work in? (1:1 , groups, education, employee support, hospital settings, outdoors, inside, rural, urban, tropical, frozen, traveling, never needing to travel, family doctor's office)
Do I like the idea of freedom, extra hours & responsibility of entrepreneurship or would I prefer the structure and perception of stability as an employee?
What people groups do I want to work with? (Children, families, teens, seniors, people in crisis, spiritual influenced work, businesses, people with mental or developmental and learning disabilities, people with physical disabilities)
What are the other goals I have for my life? (to travel, to have a big family, to avoid having children, to make a difference in the world, to make a lot of money, to move to farm, to move to a big city)
Once you have a better idea of how income earning fits into who you are and what you want, then start finding people who do the work in the places you want to live, or who work with the people groups in any capacity, who work in the environments you want to work in. Ask them questions about their workday, the requirements to maintain status in the field, what the hours and income are like, what the challenges and joys are of their job. And ask them who else they suggest that you talk to. here's a free resource for what is called an "informational interview": https://www.cowancareercoaching.ca/resources-to-get-you-started#h.vwqsq0lsq1sq
Understanding more of what you're looking for will help you to know what path to go in, and then you can start matching post secondary programs to your goal. Most schools in Canada will meet with prospective students to help you know what courses and grades you need in high school to get into their programs. Typically math/stats is involved so you can learn about psychometric assessments, and anything related to human interactions. If you are interested in organizational psychology then business classes are helpful foundation to understand your audience, if you're interested in the physiology of humans then biology and chemistry.
Finally, keep your options as open as possible. If there's an option where you are for a broader discovery version of education, I'd highly recommend that. You don't know what you do not know yet, so any program that is likely to introduce you to as many options as possible before forcing you to choose a specialty is likely to improve your career satisfaction.
Annah Edmonds
Licensed Clinical Counselor and Art Therapist
221
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Annah’s Answer
Dulce, First I am wondering if you are a sophomore in high school or college- either way I can share my thoughts! If you are in high school, it all depends on what courses your school offers. I say this as someone with a master's in clinical counseling who attended an urban public school. My school was very limited but other schools may offer psychology or social service-related classes. You can also look at what extracurricular clubs might apply. Psychology is technically a science- a social science. This makes it very different from the life sciences, like biology. It helps to have background in statistics or anatomy (as it relates to somatic work)- but I believe it is important to have a people entering the field with a variety of backgrounds. Sports build character, leadership qualities, and physical and mental endurance. The arts are incredibly useful; drama and improv work build skills in facilitating expression and mental flexibility, fine arts are also a form of expression that may assist patients in accessing pre-verbal information, and music and dance are also ways to work with memory, emotion, and the body. An interest in history is helpful as you will learn the history of psychology (in graduate school), including the great innovators and trajectory of different theoretical frameworks. Anything you are doing to learn about yourself (personal growth) will serve you well into the future! This may have nothing to do with taking a certain class or joining a club; it is more of a mind-set. Be curious about your own mind and body and other people. Find a blog or podcast and begin listening to clinician's talking about their work and philosophy of treatment. Follow your own interests and see where this leads you. If you are in college, I suggest you major, double-major, or minor in psychology (though FYI I did not and made up the coursework later). This will give you a solid foundation. Complementary studies- anthropology, sociology, music, dance, fine arts, theater, philosophy. Learning a second language will make you very hirable if you enter into public or community health especially. Using a translation service is useful but also a barrier to communication and rapport. It is always better to pair a patient with someone who speaks their birth language.
To answer your question about difficulty- getting a doctorate is always going to require a commitment- of your time, money, and attention. Working with people who have experienced trauma and mental illness is always going to be hard. Most things in life that are worthwhile are also challenging. You can choose whether to work directly with patients, to work in a managerial role, or research. You will also engage in your own therapy as well; working in mental health means having a great awareness of your own issues along with the issues your patient(s) bring. This takes focus and intentionality that you will learn with practice. I also strongly believe you will gain superpowers doing this work! It will elevate your personal/interpersonal awareness, keep your brain active (lifelong learning), and has the potential to make you a better human being. For these reasons I believe the path is well worth it.
To answer your question about difficulty- getting a doctorate is always going to require a commitment- of your time, money, and attention. Working with people who have experienced trauma and mental illness is always going to be hard. Most things in life that are worthwhile are also challenging. You can choose whether to work directly with patients, to work in a managerial role, or research. You will also engage in your own therapy as well; working in mental health means having a great awareness of your own issues along with the issues your patient(s) bring. This takes focus and intentionality that you will learn with practice. I also strongly believe you will gain superpowers doing this work! It will elevate your personal/interpersonal awareness, keep your brain active (lifelong learning), and has the potential to make you a better human being. For these reasons I believe the path is well worth it.
Ken Gish
Human Factors Research
11
Answers
Wilmington, Delaware
Updated
Ken’s Answer
Try having a look at the American Psychological Association (APA) website: apa.org. For example, there are lots of resources for pre-college and undergraduate students within the Psychology Student Network: https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/psn. Check out all the areas you can specialize in within psychology.