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what do i need to do as an high schooler to succeed in becoming a pediatric psychologist.?

I AM IN THE 10TH GRADE BUT I AM 16. I really WANT TO BECOME A CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST , I know it will take time so i also want to be a mental health technician for a while I am just a little lost and need guidance.

career highschool child-psychology
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Vilash’s Answer

You might want to consult with your school counselor about this. There are various levels at which you can practice therapy, ranging from being a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), a licensed professional counselor (LPC), to obtaining a PHD or PSYD. School counselors are typically LCSWs, but if you're considering advancing your career, you might want to consider becoming a PHD or PsyD, which are doctorate degrees in psychology.

I'm personally passionate about psychology and have a deep understanding of the human mind. From my perspective, there are certain limitations to the LCSW and LPC programs, which are typically 2-year courses, as compared to the 4-year programs for PHD/Psyd.

However, your decision should be based on your financial capacity and your level of interest in the field. I must admit, I have a strong inclination towards psychology, having gained extensive knowledge in this area as a psychiatrist, and being familiar with six different types of therapy.
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Noah’s Answer

There are a few avenues to becoming a child psychologist. Both require a graduate degree (either Master's or PhD/PsyD). Any Master's program accredited by CACREP should allow you to get licensed as a therapist in the U.S. That means you'll be able to be hired as a child psychologist or even open your own clinical practice if you choose. Doctoral programs are similar to the master's in that you'll still be able to become a child psychologist but they take longer to complete (4+ years compared to 2-3). They are also usually more expensive. That said, if you are planning to work for someone else's practice, a company or a school, usually those with doctoral degrees are able to demand a higher salary. With private practice a Master's can sometimes be better since you have full control over pricing and have virtually the same legal abilities that a doctoral program would grant you. Another benefit with a PhD program would be if you want to do research. There are very few clinical mental health counseling programs that involve research. Most of them focus heavily on the clinical side which could actually be good for you since you're passionate specifically about child psychology.

The final piece of advice I would give would be not worrying too much about the child/adolescents specialisation. Any Clinical Counseling/Psychology, Social Work or Marriage & Family Therapy graduate program will prepare you to specialize in child or adolescent psych.
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Cindy’s Answer

The most important thing you can do right now is make sure you are doing your best in your high school classes. That will give you the best options as far as colleges go. If your high school offers a psychology course I would sign up for that. It's possible it may not be available to you until 11th or 12th grade but I would check it out.
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