5 answers
Belicia
Student
Round Rock, Texas
1
Question
Asked
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Finishing up my degree in psychology with an emphasis in school guidance. But I'm wondering what my job options are with that degree.
Looking for help as I am about to start looking for jobs after graduation. #psychology #degree #career #job
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5 answers
Janet Marcus
Retired Bilingual School Psychologist
28
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Janet’s Answer
Hi! I was a school psychologist for 25 years. This can be a great career. With a degree in Psychology, you will need a masters in school psychology to be one. If you want to be a school counselor, you will need a masters in school counseling. These are usually 2 year full-time programs. Depending on the state in which you will be working, you might then have to take an exam to get certified. Look at your state's board of education website.
These are good jobs which usually pay well. Some school districts will put you on the same scale as the teachers, others may hire you independently. You may also be able to work for an agency which pays you -- the school district pays them.
These jobs usually have excellent benefits, including health insurance and pension funds.
Depending on your placement, you may be fortunate to be placed in one or two schools. However, if you work for a large public school system, you may be in many schools over the course of a week or a month.
Counselors usually work in high schools. School psychologists may work with children aged anywhere from 3 years (preschool) to high school. Both may meet with parents and teachers as well. A psychologist's job is to find out why children are having difficulties in schools -- usually involve evaluating or testing a student, observing in the classroom, interviewing parents and teachers, writing reports and/or behavior intervention plans. You may also do individual or group counseling. A school counselor often works with students seeking education after high school (most likely college or technical training) or within high school (vocational training). Counselors may or may not do group or individual counseling.
See program and course descriptions at universities offering masters programs in these fields.
These are good jobs which usually pay well. Some school districts will put you on the same scale as the teachers, others may hire you independently. You may also be able to work for an agency which pays you -- the school district pays them.
These jobs usually have excellent benefits, including health insurance and pension funds.
Depending on your placement, you may be fortunate to be placed in one or two schools. However, if you work for a large public school system, you may be in many schools over the course of a week or a month.
Counselors usually work in high schools. School psychologists may work with children aged anywhere from 3 years (preschool) to high school. Both may meet with parents and teachers as well. A psychologist's job is to find out why children are having difficulties in schools -- usually involve evaluating or testing a student, observing in the classroom, interviewing parents and teachers, writing reports and/or behavior intervention plans. You may also do individual or group counseling. A school counselor often works with students seeking education after high school (most likely college or technical training) or within high school (vocational training). Counselors may or may not do group or individual counseling.
See program and course descriptions at universities offering masters programs in these fields.
Chasidy Starlin
1
Answer
Updated
Chasidy’s Answer
I recieved my Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education in 2006. I have worked with young children for 20 plus years now. I just recently enrolled in the Psychology program at Ivy Tech. I am hoping that once I graduate, with a second degree in Psychology that I will be able to become a child counselor or psychiatrist child psychiatrist. I would love to work one on one with children in need!
Ariel Lesh, MS
Behavior Specialist; School Psychology student; Sexual Assault Counselor
1
Answer
Lincoln, California
Updated
Ariel’s Answer
You could definitely go into school psychology, school counseling or being a school-based behaviorist depending on your interests. These are all Masters level careers that require additional credentialing. School psychologists give and analyze assessments to then present patterns of strengths and weaknesses to the IEP team. They also provide recommendations to the team to help bring the student up in any deficit areas. They also do counseling services if it is written into a student's IEP. School/guidance counseling is more 1:1 counseling based in a school system, while being a behaviorist has much to do with conducting functional behavioral assessments and assisting school teams with the development of behavior intervention plans and strategies. Hope this helps!
martina craven
Recruitment
2
Answers
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Updated
martina’s Answer
Hi, Psychology is such an exciting area! and so broad!...when I originally left school I wanted to go into career guidance but I went down HR/Recruitment route. I studied Psychology part time and it really helped. I thought I would go into clinical psychology then. There are so many avenues but you would probably need a Masters to go into clinical or other areas. My advise would be to work first in some areas to know what you're interested in , as it takes a lot of dedication, money and time to go through your studies and then find out its not for you...Best of Luck!
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
4338
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Dear Belicia,
Your psychology degree, particularly with a focus on school guidance, opens up a plethora of exciting career opportunities. Here are some of the most prevalent paths you could take:
1. School Counselor: This is a straightforward career choice for someone with your educational background. School counselors guide students from kindergarten to high school through academic, social, and emotional hurdles. They offer individual counseling, group therapy, and crisis intervention. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts an 8% job growth in this field from 2020 to 2030, aligning with the average growth rate for all occupations.
2. Clinical Psychologist: If you're drawn to providing more in-depth mental health services, consider a career as a clinical psychologist. They diagnose and treat mental disorders using various therapeutic techniques and may work in diverse settings such as private practices, hospitals, schools, or government agencies. The BLS anticipates a 3% job growth in this area from 2020 to 2030, which is slightly slower than average due to the rise of telehealth services and competition from other mental health professionals.
3. School Psychologist: As a school psychologist, you would work with educators and other professionals to tackle the academic, social-emotional, and behavioral challenges students face. You could offer individual counseling, conduct assessments to identify learning disabilities, and develop intervention plans for students needing extra support. The BLS forecasts a 7% job growth in this field from 2020 to 2030, above the average for all occupations due to the increasing demand for mental health services in schools.
4. Mental Health Counselor or Therapist: With additional education and training, you could become a mental health counselor or therapist. These professionals provide therapy to individuals and groups struggling with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and relationship problems. The BLS projects a 16% job growth in this field from 2020 to 2030, significantly higher than the average for all occupations due to the increasing demand for these services, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
5. Human Resources Specialist: While not directly linked to psychology, a career as a human resources specialist could be a great fit for you due to its focus on employee wellbeing and development. They manage employee relations, recruitment, employee benefits, training programs, workplace conflicts, and implement policies related to employee morale or performance improvement initiatives.
References Used:
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook: “School Counselors,” “Clinical Psychologists,” “School Psychologists,” “Mental Health Counselors,” “Marriage and Family Therapists,” “Human Resources Specialists” (accessed January 4th, 2023).
American Psychological Association (APA): Career Resources: “Careers Related To Psychology” (accessed January 4th, 2023).
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): “Fast Facts: School Counseling” (accessed January 4th, 2023).
May God bless you on your journey!
JC.
Your psychology degree, particularly with a focus on school guidance, opens up a plethora of exciting career opportunities. Here are some of the most prevalent paths you could take:
1. School Counselor: This is a straightforward career choice for someone with your educational background. School counselors guide students from kindergarten to high school through academic, social, and emotional hurdles. They offer individual counseling, group therapy, and crisis intervention. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts an 8% job growth in this field from 2020 to 2030, aligning with the average growth rate for all occupations.
2. Clinical Psychologist: If you're drawn to providing more in-depth mental health services, consider a career as a clinical psychologist. They diagnose and treat mental disorders using various therapeutic techniques and may work in diverse settings such as private practices, hospitals, schools, or government agencies. The BLS anticipates a 3% job growth in this area from 2020 to 2030, which is slightly slower than average due to the rise of telehealth services and competition from other mental health professionals.
3. School Psychologist: As a school psychologist, you would work with educators and other professionals to tackle the academic, social-emotional, and behavioral challenges students face. You could offer individual counseling, conduct assessments to identify learning disabilities, and develop intervention plans for students needing extra support. The BLS forecasts a 7% job growth in this field from 2020 to 2030, above the average for all occupations due to the increasing demand for mental health services in schools.
4. Mental Health Counselor or Therapist: With additional education and training, you could become a mental health counselor or therapist. These professionals provide therapy to individuals and groups struggling with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and relationship problems. The BLS projects a 16% job growth in this field from 2020 to 2030, significantly higher than the average for all occupations due to the increasing demand for these services, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
5. Human Resources Specialist: While not directly linked to psychology, a career as a human resources specialist could be a great fit for you due to its focus on employee wellbeing and development. They manage employee relations, recruitment, employee benefits, training programs, workplace conflicts, and implement policies related to employee morale or performance improvement initiatives.
References Used:
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook: “School Counselors,” “Clinical Psychologists,” “School Psychologists,” “Mental Health Counselors,” “Marriage and Family Therapists,” “Human Resources Specialists” (accessed January 4th, 2023).
American Psychological Association (APA): Career Resources: “Careers Related To Psychology” (accessed January 4th, 2023).
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): “Fast Facts: School Counseling” (accessed January 4th, 2023).
May God bless you on your journey!
JC.