4 answers
Lily
Student
Toledo, Ohio
1
Question
Updated
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How can I pursue my major (and eventually career) in psychology without becoming burnt out?
I want to become a psychiatrist, but it’s my understanding that most people leave this field due to burnt out. Am I making the right choice by pursing it?
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4 answers
Michelle M.
Actress
3276
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Lily !
It's nice to know that you are concerned about the pace that college life will present. Unfortunately, only you know your threshold for what you can handle. Go with that.
Since you really can't tell exactly what you'd be doing, what the assignments and projects and how each semester has a different course load, all you can do is arrange your schedule and mix your courses with light work mixed with a couple of demanding courses. You can also consider taking some General Education courses in a summer session if your college has a summer session. Another thing that will save you time and energy is to obtain a Work Study job on campus which you would apply for when you apply for Federal Student Financial Aid. You can speak to the financial aid office at the college before you apply to get full information. You can work the job in the Psychology Department or any office or department on campus.
I can be honest and say that no matter what the Major is, there is a tendency to be ever so busy as a student. You can be in charge of your schedule and arrange it to your convenience, though. It may help to break the ice your first semester with 12 credits just to see how it goes at first. Something like Introduction to Psychology and maybe three General Education requirements. That's what I did - Introduction to Theatre and three general ed courses. You can then build on that your second semester or keep it at that pace. Limit any activities, groups or extracurriculars unless they are connected to human behavior/psychology.
High stress can come from working with too many cases, a busy venue, overextending your commitments, but these are things that you can control by where you apply for work at and keeping it light at first. The phase that might seem the heaviest would be Medical School and your residency for Psychiatry.
If you go for a Bachelors in Psychology and learn more about medical school and decide it's not for you, you can always use the Bachelors to go for a Psychology Masters Degree to be a Psychologist. So even if you start changing your mind, the Psychology Bachelors is valuable for many other type of mental health professions.
It's best not to pre-think about it. Use reasonable scheduling and you should be fine. If this career is your passion, you won't mind the academic path. You'd enjoy it.
This is a choice that only you can make. Focus on your first four years of college. You will gain much insight in those four years and will know if you should or want to go to Medical School. Try not to cloud the plan with fears or worries of things people may say. Get lots of advice. Know that you have this under control.
I hope this helps and I wish you the very best !
It's nice to know that you are concerned about the pace that college life will present. Unfortunately, only you know your threshold for what you can handle. Go with that.
Since you really can't tell exactly what you'd be doing, what the assignments and projects and how each semester has a different course load, all you can do is arrange your schedule and mix your courses with light work mixed with a couple of demanding courses. You can also consider taking some General Education courses in a summer session if your college has a summer session. Another thing that will save you time and energy is to obtain a Work Study job on campus which you would apply for when you apply for Federal Student Financial Aid. You can speak to the financial aid office at the college before you apply to get full information. You can work the job in the Psychology Department or any office or department on campus.
I can be honest and say that no matter what the Major is, there is a tendency to be ever so busy as a student. You can be in charge of your schedule and arrange it to your convenience, though. It may help to break the ice your first semester with 12 credits just to see how it goes at first. Something like Introduction to Psychology and maybe three General Education requirements. That's what I did - Introduction to Theatre and three general ed courses. You can then build on that your second semester or keep it at that pace. Limit any activities, groups or extracurriculars unless they are connected to human behavior/psychology.
High stress can come from working with too many cases, a busy venue, overextending your commitments, but these are things that you can control by where you apply for work at and keeping it light at first. The phase that might seem the heaviest would be Medical School and your residency for Psychiatry.
If you go for a Bachelors in Psychology and learn more about medical school and decide it's not for you, you can always use the Bachelors to go for a Psychology Masters Degree to be a Psychologist. So even if you start changing your mind, the Psychology Bachelors is valuable for many other type of mental health professions.
It's best not to pre-think about it. Use reasonable scheduling and you should be fine. If this career is your passion, you won't mind the academic path. You'd enjoy it.
This is a choice that only you can make. Focus on your first four years of college. You will gain much insight in those four years and will know if you should or want to go to Medical School. Try not to cloud the plan with fears or worries of things people may say. Get lots of advice. Know that you have this under control.
I hope this helps and I wish you the very best !
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1085
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Lily,
It's great that you are interested in the mental health field! You should research what the different career options in this field are. A psychologist treats mental health problems using different forms of talk therapy. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor and treats mental health problems with medication. And then there are also counselors and therapists and mental health nurses and psychiatric nurse practitioners.
If you want to work as a clinical psychologist, you'll need to complete a bachelors (4 years), masters (2-3 years) and doctorate in psychology (4-7 years). You will then need 1500 to 6000 hours of supervised clinical practice (depending on your state). Before you can apply for your license to practice as a psychologist in your state, you'll take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).
If you want to work as a psychiatrist, you'll need to go to medical school because you will be licensed to prescribe medication. The path to becoming a psychiatrist includes earning a bachelors degree (4 years) in any field, taking the MCAT, going to medical school (4 years) and doing your residency in psychiatry (4 years) to specialize before you can sit for your board exams.
Now for the danger of burn-out. You could burn because of the workload and the long educational paths. Or you could burn out because of the mental load treating patients with mental disorders. Both is a possibility, but I don't think it's true that most people drop out. You'll have to try and keep some reasonable work-life balance and make sure that you are not taking patients' problems home. You'll learn some techniques that will help during your education and clinical practice. Nobody can say if YOU personally will be prone to burn-out. If you are worried about it, you already know to pay attention to this issue.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
https://www.apa.org/education-career/guide
https://www.psychology.org/careers/clinical-psychologist/
https://www.psychiatry.org/residents-medical-students/medical-students/choosing-a-career-in-psychiatry
It's great that you are interested in the mental health field! You should research what the different career options in this field are. A psychologist treats mental health problems using different forms of talk therapy. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor and treats mental health problems with medication. And then there are also counselors and therapists and mental health nurses and psychiatric nurse practitioners.
If you want to work as a clinical psychologist, you'll need to complete a bachelors (4 years), masters (2-3 years) and doctorate in psychology (4-7 years). You will then need 1500 to 6000 hours of supervised clinical practice (depending on your state). Before you can apply for your license to practice as a psychologist in your state, you'll take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).
If you want to work as a psychiatrist, you'll need to go to medical school because you will be licensed to prescribe medication. The path to becoming a psychiatrist includes earning a bachelors degree (4 years) in any field, taking the MCAT, going to medical school (4 years) and doing your residency in psychiatry (4 years) to specialize before you can sit for your board exams.
Now for the danger of burn-out. You could burn because of the workload and the long educational paths. Or you could burn out because of the mental load treating patients with mental disorders. Both is a possibility, but I don't think it's true that most people drop out. You'll have to try and keep some reasonable work-life balance and make sure that you are not taking patients' problems home. You'll learn some techniques that will help during your education and clinical practice. Nobody can say if YOU personally will be prone to burn-out. If you are worried about it, you already know to pay attention to this issue.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Karin recommends the following next steps:
Ilan Marouani, Esq., LL.M.
Tax Attorney
14
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Ilan’s Answer
I totally get where you’re coming from, burnout is so common these days, and it’s tough trying to figure out a path that won’t drain you. But here’s the thing: you shouldn’t choose a career just to avoid burnout. Instead, try to find something that genuinely interests or inspires you.
Think about those times you’ve worked on something for hours without even noticing the time pass , that’s what passion feels like. Your job might not always be exciting, but it should feel meaningful most of the time. You should feel like you’re learning, growing, and making a difference in some way.
Don’t let fear of burnout make the decision for you. Focus on what makes you come alive and what kind of work you’d be proud to do. And remember, balance is everything. Even when you love what you do, you still need boundaries and downtime. Taking breaks isn’t weakness; it’s what keeps you energized for the long run.
You’ve got this. The right path is the one that keeps you curious and gives you space to breathe.
Think about those times you’ve worked on something for hours without even noticing the time pass , that’s what passion feels like. Your job might not always be exciting, but it should feel meaningful most of the time. You should feel like you’re learning, growing, and making a difference in some way.
Don’t let fear of burnout make the decision for you. Focus on what makes you come alive and what kind of work you’d be proud to do. And remember, balance is everything. Even when you love what you do, you still need boundaries and downtime. Taking breaks isn’t weakness; it’s what keeps you energized for the long run.
You’ve got this. The right path is the one that keeps you curious and gives you space to breathe.
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1185
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Lily,
It's a good idea to consider burnout before you begin; being aware of it will actually shield you. Psychiatry is demanding, but it’s also deeply meaningful if you’re drawn to understanding people and helping them heal. Building routines that help in your recovery from stress is more important than completely avoiding it; boundaries, balance, and mentorship are important.
You can begin by putting into practice what you'll later preach: writing, getting enough sleep, exercising, and establishing time restrictions for studying. Additionally, to make sure the medical path (psychiatric) is a true fit for you, explore complementary professions early on, such as clinical psychology, counseling, or neuroscience.
It's definitely an interesting road if the enthusiasm is genuine, and you take care of yourself along the way.
Best wishes!
It's a good idea to consider burnout before you begin; being aware of it will actually shield you. Psychiatry is demanding, but it’s also deeply meaningful if you’re drawn to understanding people and helping them heal. Building routines that help in your recovery from stress is more important than completely avoiding it; boundaries, balance, and mentorship are important.
You can begin by putting into practice what you'll later preach: writing, getting enough sleep, exercising, and establishing time restrictions for studying. Additionally, to make sure the medical path (psychiatric) is a true fit for you, explore complementary professions early on, such as clinical psychology, counseling, or neuroscience.
It's definitely an interesting road if the enthusiasm is genuine, and you take care of yourself along the way.
Best wishes!