Career aspirationCareer aspiration

The path to becoming a The path to becoming a psychologist psychologist

Time line to SuccessTime line to Success2006-20102006-2010 Take Take basic high school science courses: chemistry, basic high school science courses: chemistry,

biology, and physics.biology, and physics. These courses help you learn to think logicallyThese courses help you learn to think logically Take math courses: algebra, geometry, and statistics.Take math courses: algebra, geometry, and statistics. Math courses teach you analytical thinking and help Math courses teach you analytical thinking and help

prepare you for the statistics courses that help you prepare you for the statistics courses that help you understand all of the research related to psychologyunderstand all of the research related to psychology

History, art, sociology, and literature help teach you History, art, sociology, and literature help teach you the basics on what motivates peoplethe basics on what motivates people

Language courses will help you develop good Language courses will help you develop good grammar, spelling, and punctuationgrammar, spelling, and punctuation

Develop keen analytical thought.Develop keen analytical thought. Interview local psychologist to gain further insight on Interview local psychologist to gain further insight on

life as a psychologistlife as a psychologist Keep your grades up because of competitive universities.Keep your grades up because of competitive universities.

CollegeCollege2010-20142010-2014 Your college track should have a heavy load in Your college track should have a heavy load in

psychology courses because many graduate psychology courses because many graduate programs in psychology require an undergraduate programs in psychology require an undergraduate major in psychologymajor in psychology

Begin to look into graduate programs you may be Begin to look into graduate programs you may be interested ininterested in

Look into required courses for graduate programsLook into required courses for graduate programs Ask about any other information specific to youAsk about any other information specific to you Get to know a professor who does psychological Get to know a professor who does psychological

research. Ask about becoming their assistant or research. Ask about becoming their assistant or intern.intern.

PREPARE FOR ENTRANCE EXAMS!!!PREPARE FOR ENTRANCE EXAMS!!!

Graduate DegreeGraduate Degree2014-20192014-2019 Ph.D. or Psy.D what is the difference in each Ph.D. or Psy.D what is the difference in each

degree?degree? A Ph.D. is your doctorate in philosophy. It is the A Ph.D. is your doctorate in philosophy. It is the

classic degree necessary to become a classic degree necessary to become a psychologist. It places equal emphasis on research psychologist. It places equal emphasis on research and clinical training. A core element of the Ph.D. is and clinical training. A core element of the Ph.D. is dissertation (a style of research) dissertation (a style of research)

A Psy.D. is a doctor of psychology it’s a newer A Psy.D. is a doctor of psychology it’s a newer professional degree that emphasizes clinical professional degree that emphasizes clinical practice with only a minimum of research training. practice with only a minimum of research training. Requires a dissertation that is practical, but can be Requires a dissertation that is practical, but can be theoreticaltheoretical

In general, in the academic world, the Ph.D. is In general, in the academic world, the Ph.D. is preferred to the Psy.D.; in the world of clinical preferred to the Psy.D.; in the world of clinical practice, both degrees have about the same status practice, both degrees have about the same status and functionality.and functionality.

What Kind of Psychology,What Kind of Psychology,Clinical or counselingClinical or counseling Decide whether you want to practice Decide whether you want to practice

clinical psychology or counseling. This is clinical psychology or counseling. This is strictly based on personal preference and strictly based on personal preference and what you want to do as a career. Also in what you want to do as a career. Also in this process decide if you want to attend a this process decide if you want to attend a university for graduate school or attend a university for graduate school or attend a professional school which is less professional school which is less competitive but a lot more expensive.competitive but a lot more expensive.

From this point on everything is based off From this point on everything is based off of what you want to do. This being my of what you want to do. This being my career path, intend on practicing for about career path, intend on practicing for about seven years and branch off on my own or seven years and branch off on my own or become a partner at a practice.become a partner at a practice.

Questionnaire Questionnaire 1)1) What degree should I seek to obtain? I.e. Bachelors, What degree should I seek to obtain? I.e. Bachelors, 2)2) masters, PhD, etc. masters, PhD, etc. 3)3) What are the different fields that require an What are the different fields that require an 4)4) undergraduate degree? undergraduate degree? 5)5) What can I do with a degree in psychology?What can I do with a degree in psychology?6)6) How difficult is it to find a job?How difficult is it to find a job?7)7) How can I find job openings?How can I find job openings?8)8) What is the difference between a PhD and PsyD?What is the difference between a PhD and PsyD?9)9) Should I apply for a master’s degree before a PhD?Should I apply for a master’s degree before a PhD?10)10) What is the difference between a psychologist and a What is the difference between a psychologist and a 11)11) psychiatrist?psychiatrist?12)12) Are psychologist licensed by the government?Are psychologist licensed by the government?13)13) What is positive psychology?What is positive psychology?14)14) What is evolutionary psychology?What is evolutionary psychology?15)15) What is the difference between attending a specialist What is the difference between attending a specialist

versus a doctoral?versus a doctoral?16)16) training program?training program?17)17) Where do psychologists typically work?Where do psychologists typically work?18)18) What are working conditions like?What are working conditions like?19)19) What is the best part about being a psychologist? What is the best part about being a psychologist?

Response to Questionnaire Response to Questionnaire Seek all of the degreesSeek all of the degrees Most of the psychology, mental health, or substance abuse fields require undergrad Most of the psychology, mental health, or substance abuse fields require undergrad

degrees. Also, child welfare.degrees. Also, child welfare. With a degree in psych you can counsel, do research, teach, open your own practice, With a degree in psych you can counsel, do research, teach, open your own practice,

and work with adults, kids, families. Work in child welfare, substance abuse, mental and work with adults, kids, families. Work in child welfare, substance abuse, mental health, health, and more.health, health, and more.

It is not difficult to find a job; there are always openings in health and human services, It is not difficult to find a job; there are always openings in health and human services, teaching, more.teaching, more.

You find job openings by looking in the paper, sending resumes, completing You find job openings by looking in the paper, sending resumes, completing internships, doing volunteer work, getting your foot in the door by doing other work at internships, doing volunteer work, getting your foot in the door by doing other work at the agency you want to work at.the agency you want to work at.

A PhD is doctor of philosophy and PsyD is doctor of psychology. I do clinical psych A PhD is doctor of philosophy and PsyD is doctor of psychology. I do clinical psych and PhD.and PhD.

I do masters first then PhDI do masters first then PhD Psychologist does counseling, testing, coaching, and teaching. Psychiatrist is a Psychologist does counseling, testing, coaching, and teaching. Psychiatrist is a

medical doctor with extra training in pscyh. Psychiatrist can prescribe medicine, medical doctor with extra training in pscyh. Psychiatrist can prescribe medicine, psychologist can't.psychologist can't.

I have a state license.I have a state license. I am not really familiar with the term positive psychology, but I am familiar with I am not really familiar with the term positive psychology, but I am familiar with

unconditional positive regard and Humanistic Psychology that hold positive regard for unconditional positive regard and Humanistic Psychology that hold positive regard for all clients and is client focused believing all humans are innately good. Evolutionary all clients and is client focused believing all humans are innately good. Evolutionary psychology looks at how people have adapted and changed generation after psychology looks at how people have adapted and changed generation after generation. generation.

Specialist might be along the lines of mental health specialty or school psychology. Specialist might be along the lines of mental health specialty or school psychology. Where doctoral training takes you to the highest level of psychology in the particular Where doctoral training takes you to the highest level of psychology in the particular field of your choice, like clinical or sports psychology for example. It is much more field of your choice, like clinical or sports psychology for example. It is much more comprehensive and involves a deeper level of commitment.comprehensive and involves a deeper level of commitment.

Psychologists work in clinics, hospitals, high schools, grade schools, middle schools, Psychologists work in clinics, hospitals, high schools, grade schools, middle schools, colleges, private practice, mental health programs, and about every human service colleges, private practice, mental health programs, and about every human service entity.entity.

Working conditions are usually good. Good hours, good people, interesting work, not Working conditions are usually good. Good hours, good people, interesting work, not boring, good pay, and you can work for yourself if you choose.boring, good pay, and you can work for yourself if you choose.The best part of being a psychologist is getting to work with people and help them The best part of being a psychologist is getting to work with people and help them solve their puzzles and getting paid for it.solve their puzzles and getting paid for it.