How To Start a Psychology Career

Psychology is an excellent career field for people that are intrigued by the workings of the human mind and wish to help people. The first step to starting a career in psychology is to determine what you want to do in psychology. Substance abuse counselors, professional therapists, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists all play important roles in the field of psychology. However, they each have very different job functions and educational requirements. Spend some time thinking about what you want to do in the world of psychology and what it is that you are looking for from a career in psychology.

• Substance abuse counselors frequently practice with an undergraduate degree and work in recovery centers under the direction of professional therapists and physicians. If this is a field that you would like to study, it is suggested that you contact your local community college for information about programs that they offer for substance abuse counselors.
• Professional therapists and social workers have Masters degrees. If you are wanting to become a professional therapist you will have to complete a Masters degree in clinical counseling. Many universities offer this type of program. If you are wishing to become a social worker you will need to complete a Masters degree in social work. Checking with your local university for this program is a good first step. However, both of these degrees require that you first complete an undergraduate degree. Psychology is a good choice of major for an undergraduate program, though can have an undergraduate degree in anything and pursue counseling.
• Psychologists have Doctorate degrees in psychology. If this is what you are wishing to pursue, a trip down to your local university is a good first step after completing your undergraduate degree.
• Psychiatrists are medical doctors that specialize in the field of psychiatry. The first step to pursuing this field is to complete an undergraduate degree. After that, you will need to go to medical school and become a licensed medical doctor. After that you can choose to specialize in the field of psychiatry. Be aware, however, that even though this position requires the most formal education of all careers in the field of psychology, it is the career that provides the least patient interaction. Psychiatrists are generally used for medication management for people suffering from mental illnesses.

Regardless of which career in the field of psychology you choose to pursue, they are all a lot of hard work and very rewarding.