Become a Psychologist
Every person living throughout the globe was born with a purpose. And every single person in every nation throughout the world possesses a unique talent or a gift that sets that individual apart from the rest of the world population. Some of us grow up through our adolescent years dreaming to become a doctor, a lawyer, a fireman, or even an astronaut. As the years pass on, some of these dreams may change, yet others will hold firm. The years throughout high school and the early years of college can be a confusing and fickle time period for any teenager or young adult. The dreams that seemed so concrete and certain during adolescent years may have been altered or may even have completely faded throughout the years of development and puberty. A majority of freshmen who are just entering college have no idea about what to major in, or what future careers may be in store for them after graduation. Of course, there is always an exception. The students who always knew exactly where they were heading and managed to strictly follow that path usually declare a major as soon as that dream acceptance letter to the choice university arrives in the mail. They then go on to follow a meticulously planned out curriculum to take only the necessary courses throughout the semesters, hardly skipping a beat and wasting no time, going on to graduate school and carrying on with their lives. But what happens to those students who feel doubtful and hesitant about the future? It is completely normal for a college freshman to feel somewhat intimidated by the countless amounts of majors that any given college or university offers, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with a little bit of doubt and hesitation. Many students in this situation opt to use the first few semesters to take a variety of classes to see what really piques their interest.
One of the most common courses that any college or university requires all students to take is general psychology. Because psychology is such a broad subject field that branches off into many different subcategories, it is not surprising to see many students go in the direction of a psychology major and go on to become psychologists after graduation. Psychology is an ever expanding field of study, and the different types of psychology that can be studied, researched, or practiced are virtually endless. There are several different types of psychologists, and there is bound to be a particular specialty of a psychologist that can really turn into a rewarding and fulfilling career. Psychologists can be classified as social scientists, and due to the extensive and intricate nature of human beings and different behaviors within a certain culture, society, and even subcultures, there are truly a vast number of different specialties that a psychologist can study, research, and practice. For example, the knowledge, training, and experience of a child psychologist will differ greatly from a clinical psychologist, forensic psychologist, health psychologist, or an educational psychologist, and vice versa. Though all psychologists share the common major and passion of psychology, each psychologist, or prospective psychologist, is free to choose the specialty that seems the most interesting and appealing to him or her. Most, if not all, universities and colleges offer a major or minor in psychology, and within the psychologist’s department, various courses are offered to give a taste of what each specialty entails and offers a chance to the future psychologists to really decide in which direction he or she really wants to take his (or her) career to.
Future psychologists will usually major in psychology while choosing a minor that is somewhat related to the specialty field of psychology they want to go into. A bachelor’s degree in psychology from an undergraduate program is just the beginning of the journey of becoming a professional psychologist. Ultimately, the true study and mastery of the psychologist’s career comes during graduate school and the ensuing years while gaining clinical experience. Those psychologists who want to take their education and experience a step further usually go for the revered status of Doctor of Philosophy, or better known as Ph.D. A Ph.D. is actually a necessary degree to teach at a college level as well as a obtaining the status of a professional researcher, and is usually the highest level of achievement and accomplishment for a variety of majors recognized by a graduate school. This, of course, is for those psychologists truly passionate to really master the field of psychology. The majority of psychologists working and studying through graduate school however, graduate with a Doctor of Psychology degree, or a Psy. D. A Doctor of Psychology degree may not be as a prestigious status as a Ph.D., but the hard work and effort needed to graduate with a Psy. D. are just as intensive as any other graduate school major. Psychologists with a Psy. D. are indeed considered professionals, and can legally obtain a license to practice psychology either independently or with a clinic. In essence, a psychologist with a Psy. D. can do everything a psychologist with a Ph. D. can except for teach a course at a university level or publish data from research. It is important to note that neither a psychologist with a Psy. D. or a psychologist with a Ph. D. can prescribe medicine to patients, as this is predominantly the task of a psychiatrist, who possesses a Medical Doctor degree (M.D.). It is not uncommon to see certain psychologists working closely with psychiatrists in order to ensure that the proper treatment and medication are being given to patients. Many people often confuse a psychologist with a psychiatrist, and although the differences between the two fields of expertise may seem minor and irrelevant, there are key points that distinguish a psychologist from a psychiatrist.
The major difference between psychologists and psychiatrists is the fact that psychologists are not allowed to prescribe medicines due to the lack of the Medical Doctor degree title. Fundamentally however, psychologists and psychiatrists learn about the same curriculum pertaining to the field of psychology such as behaviors, conditions, disorders, diseases, and etc. The difference lies in how a psychologist or psychiatrist would go about fixing the problem that a client or patient presents. Both psychologists and psychiatrists are allowed to practice independently or within a clinic, but the methods a psychiatrist may use to diagnose and treat a patient will most likely differ from the methods a psychologist would use to consult with the very same patient.
Clinical experience is an essential part of becoming a professional psychologist, especially for those who want to start their own practice of psychology. Though education is a crucial aspect of becoming a professional for any field of study, there are just certain things that cannot be learned from a textbook. Experience is something that education will never be able to replace, and it is only through hands-on, real life experience that psychologists can truly learn and grow and develop to really master the study of psychology. A smart client will immediately be able to recognize the difference between the aptitude of a psychologist with adequate field experience and a psychologist who has learned everything he (or she) knows from reading and studying a textbook. Regardless of Ph. D. or Psy. D. or M.D., experience is the best teacher and the knowledge gained from hands-on encounters and real life occurrences is unparalleled to any other.
An effective and successful psychologist should be a people-person by nature. Psychology is a very social and interactive field of study, and many people who become psychologists are usually great listeners and conversers. Be aware however, the career of being a psychologist can take quite a toll as well. Dealing with patients with a variety of psychological conditions and disorders on a daily basis can prove to be a daunting task. Psychologists, especially those working in mental hospitals or psychological clinics, must be ready to deal with anything that can happen throughout the day, as many of the psychological disorders that a psychologist comes into contact with can bring about erratic and unpredictable, and sometimes dangerous, behavior. A common agenda of a psychologist’s duties for just one day can consist of dealing with people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression, anxiety attacks, or attention deficit disorder. Patients diagnosed with any of the aforementioned diseases and conditions often display behaviors that require a tremendous amount of patience and understanding on a psychologist’s behalf to not lose his (or her) cool and knowing what the right thing to do in any given situation is. The upside to being a clinical psychologist however, is the incomparable feeling of triumph and pride upon witnessing a change or improvement in a patient’s status. Knowing that you have truly impacted another human being in such a way that it improves their quality of life and brings genuine happiness is an infinitely grateful sensation. People become psychologists usually with the intent to help others. Any career that can bring joy to another human being is definitely a career worth pursuing.
