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how do you handle when you said you want to be a psychology for child?
Im asking that because whenever people ask me that what I wanna study I always say I wanna be a psychology and they start saying that we dont earn alot of money aand I didnt care What they said it get me angry because I wanna be psychology for kids because I wanna help them
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2 answers
Updated
Elyse’s Answer
Handling the Critics
- Shake Off the Ignorance: People confuse general bachelor's degrees with specialized post-graduate careers. They do not understand the field, so their financial advice is fundamentally incorrect.
- Let Anger Fuel Focus: Use your frustration as competitive drive to protect your GPA and secure the advanced training needed to reach the highest-paying tiers of the profession.
The Financial Reality (How to Prove Them Wrong)
- School Psychologists: Working inside school districts offers high stability, excellent government benefits, summers off, and predictable salary steps.
- Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA): Exceptional earning potential. You design therapy plans for children with autism and developmental delays.
- Licensed Clinical Child Psychologists: If you pursue a PhD or PsyD, you can open a private practice. Specialized child psychologists often command premium hourly rates because demand heavily outweighs availability.
How to Respond in Conversation
- Shift the Title: Stop saying "I want to study psychology." Say: "I am pursuing a career as a Licensed Clinical Child Psychologist" or "I am targeting a role as a School Psychologist." Specifying the exact job immediately stops people from giving generic advice.
- The Definitive Shut-Down Phrase: If they bring up money, say: "Child psychology is actually a high-demand specialty right now. Licensed specialists and private practitioners do very well, and protecting children's mental health is exactly where I want to build my career."
Next-Step Experiences
- Volunteer with Kids: Build your resume early by volunteering at youth shelters, after-school mentoring programs, or specialized summer camps for children with developmental needs.
- Identify the Target Degree: Research whether your goal requires a Master’s degree (for school counseling or behavior analysis) or a Doctoral degree (PhD/PsyD for clinical child psychology).
- Shake Off the Ignorance: People confuse general bachelor's degrees with specialized post-graduate careers. They do not understand the field, so their financial advice is fundamentally incorrect.
- Let Anger Fuel Focus: Use your frustration as competitive drive to protect your GPA and secure the advanced training needed to reach the highest-paying tiers of the profession.
The Financial Reality (How to Prove Them Wrong)
- School Psychologists: Working inside school districts offers high stability, excellent government benefits, summers off, and predictable salary steps.
- Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA): Exceptional earning potential. You design therapy plans for children with autism and developmental delays.
- Licensed Clinical Child Psychologists: If you pursue a PhD or PsyD, you can open a private practice. Specialized child psychologists often command premium hourly rates because demand heavily outweighs availability.
How to Respond in Conversation
- Shift the Title: Stop saying "I want to study psychology." Say: "I am pursuing a career as a Licensed Clinical Child Psychologist" or "I am targeting a role as a School Psychologist." Specifying the exact job immediately stops people from giving generic advice.
- The Definitive Shut-Down Phrase: If they bring up money, say: "Child psychology is actually a high-demand specialty right now. Licensed specialists and private practitioners do very well, and protecting children's mental health is exactly where I want to build my career."
Next-Step Experiences
- Volunteer with Kids: Build your resume early by volunteering at youth shelters, after-school mentoring programs, or specialized summer camps for children with developmental needs.
- Identify the Target Degree: Research whether your goal requires a Master’s degree (for school counseling or behavior analysis) or a Doctoral degree (PhD/PsyD for clinical child psychology).
Updated
Kaitlyn’s Answer
Hi Maria!
I was in a similar spot as you. I always knew I wanted to work in psychology and quickly realized I wanted to focus on child psychology to help kids and families. I also heard comments like, "Are you sure?" or "Do you just want to be a social worker?" But remember, those aren't your only choices!
What others think about your career doesn't matter because it's your decision! If you're passionate and able to pursue it, go for it.
Working with children is incredibly rewarding, and you should go for it with all your heart! Just because your family or friends might choose something else doesn't mean your path is wrong. Follow your heart and find something that makes you happy every day.
While working in child psychology can be challenging, you can make a big difference in kids' lives and possibly help change them for the better.
I would suggest maybe interning at a family therapist so you can learn about the in's and out's of that practice and what the counselors deal with on a daily basis.
I was in a similar spot as you. I always knew I wanted to work in psychology and quickly realized I wanted to focus on child psychology to help kids and families. I also heard comments like, "Are you sure?" or "Do you just want to be a social worker?" But remember, those aren't your only choices!
What others think about your career doesn't matter because it's your decision! If you're passionate and able to pursue it, go for it.
Working with children is incredibly rewarding, and you should go for it with all your heart! Just because your family or friends might choose something else doesn't mean your path is wrong. Follow your heart and find something that makes you happy every day.
While working in child psychology can be challenging, you can make a big difference in kids' lives and possibly help change them for the better.
Kaitlyn recommends the following next steps: