Congratulations! After years of schooling and training, you’re finally a licensed psychologist.
Now comes the hard part, deciding which path you’d like to follow. Where do your passions and interests lie and what type of involvement would you like to have with prospective patients.
We’ve got a few suggestions laid out for you, but you have thousands of possible career paths to choose from. Of course, some of them will likely require different levels of further education, but this is an excellent place to start so you can begin working toward your goal.
Forensic psychologist
As a forensic psychologist, you will be working in the criminal justice system, as well as practicing psychology. You will be responsible for discovering and understanding why certain behaviors are present in a subject, whether it be the witness or the suspect. As a forensic psychologist, you will determine whether a person is mentally stable enough to withstand the grueling trial process, or if they may be able to use insanity as their defense.
Marriage or family therapist
A marriage or family therapist will work with couples or families struggling through a variety of challenges. Most often, you’ll be helping a family cope with a mental illness or disorder exhibited by one of the family members. Your job is to help them effectively operate as a cohesive family unit, and to gain a better understanding of what the other person(s) are experiencing.
As either a marriage or family therapist, you will need to complete both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree program. As with most fields, the world of therapy is continuously evolving and changing, and you must keep up with those changes to provide your clients with the best possible care.
Prison psychologist
Similar to that of a forensic psychologist, you will be working closely with criminals and convicts. In some cases, you will be helping violent criminals cope and rehabilitate. It can be exciting, and it may even be tempting, but for you to remain unbiased and provide them with the proper help, refrain from trying to find inmate online, let them tell you their story when and how they want to.
Psychiatric technician
If you’re still trying to decide exactly where you like to end up ultimately, maybe it’s time to consider a position as a psychiatric technician. This is typically an entry-level position where you will monitor the general well-being of the patients around you. You will be the main line of communication between your patients and their doctors or nurses. As a psychiatric technician, you will provide the necessary information to the patient’s medical staff to help them adjust the care provided.
Substance abuse counselor
Substance abuse counselors typically have a wider variety of patients than most psychologists, so you will need to be well-versed in a smattering of cultural and social issues and demographics. Your primary responsibility will be to help your clients determine the root of their addictions, as well as develop a plan to help them cope in a healthy manner. A substance abuse counselor may meet with clients in less traditional settings, such as meetings or group sessions, so it’s vital to be comfortable working in front of and with larger groups.
The educational requirements for the few career ideas we’ve presented vary depending on their demands. What we’ve discussed above is just the very basics of what may be expected of, and in some cases, you may even be able to obtain an online psychology degree.
