Clinical Psychology Essay

863 Words2 Pages

Clinical psychology is not just regular psychology. Psychology is typically just concerned with people that do not suffer from many mental illnesses while clinical psychology is a branch of psychology that is concerned with treatment of mental illnesses. Clinical psychologists can work in many different types of places and they are typically in indoor environments. This career also takes a lot of education to be successful in this field. There are many things to consider about clinical psychology. Some of these things include the actual job, education, and what you can do now to prepare. Clinical psychologists have to be very understanding and willing to help others. They need to be willing to help others. They also have to be patient …show more content…

This education can last from 8 to 12 years. First clinical psychologists must spend 4 years as an undergraduate. Then they need a bachelor's in education, psychology, or sociology. Clinical psychologists also need a masters degree in psychology, but many clinical psychologists earn a doctoral degree in addition to a masters degree. The doctoral degree can take 5 to 6 years alone. Depending on the state requirements they may need to have a one year internship as well. Even after completely all of this education, they also need to have enough experience. The requirements to be considered experienced include completing all education requirements, being in a good standing in an APA-approved program for counseling or clinical psychology, and having a completed internship if it is required. In the end, all of the work will be greatly rewarded by the compensation. Not only do you get the satisfaction of helping struggling individuals, but the median wage for clinical, school, and counseling psychologists is $68,900 a year. When it comes to general psychology it is $70,700, and with organizational psychologists it is $76,950. Most psychologists make an hourly wage between $35 and $46. The starting pay is around $35,000 but that grows through time depending on the level of education and hard work. Even though here are many qualifications that need to be met in order to become a clinical psychologist, it is well worth it in the …show more content…

This information can be gathered from teachers and counselors. The type of questions to ask include what the career is like, what education requirements are needed, what college to go to, and what to expect. You could also contact a professional association such as the American Psychological Association’s Office of Ethnic Minority Affairs, the National Association of Black Psychological, the National Hispanic Psychological Association, and many others. It is also important to reach out to others, and let them know your interests. It is a good idea to stay open minded through all of this. You could also participate in science competitions, work with others around you who support your interests, contact colleges in your area, attend lectures on human behavior, volunteer at mental institutes, and when possible try to take college preparatory and advanced placement classes. In my opinion, this is the career I would like to go into. I find it enjoyable, and it just seems right for me. I am already taking local college classes in high school and these include 2 different psychology classes. I would like to work in a psychiatric hospital with teens and young adults. All in all, I think I would really enjoy this as a lifetime

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