I am considering a career in community psychology because I believe this profession combines my passion for psychology and my love for community service. I learned a great deal about community service from my mother, who has inspired me to pursue the field of community psychology. My mother has worked and volunteered for many years as a community advocate for those who are marginalized in our society. Working along with her sparked my fascination in understanding what type of behavior and mindset supports a state of perpetual poverty and what types of interventions could be used to impede these thoughts and behaviors. As a result, I became strongly interested in the field of community psychology.
The concept of Community Psychology materialized during the 1960s when a group of disillusioned psychologists gathered at a Swampscott Conference in Massachusetts to discuss their frustration over traditional psychological perspectives. At this meeting the new field of Community Psychology was birthed. Community Psychology is considered a growing branch of applied psychology, and can be defined as the “understanding people in the context of their communities, using a variety of interventions (including prevention, health promotion and social action), to facilitate changes and improved mental health and social conditions for individuals, groups, organizations, and communities.” People working in this field are called community psychologists. The American Psychological Association defines a community psychologists one who “work[s] to strengthen the abilities of communities, settings, organizations and broader social systems to meet people’s needs”. The APA also states that “community psychologists blend research and practice, partn...
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The career outlook for community psychologists is very promising. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median income for psychologists is $69,280 annually. Additionally, “overall employment of psychologists is projected to grow 12 percent from 2012 to 2022, about as fast as the average for all occupations.” However, not only am I look forward to a lucrative career, but I am looking forward to reaping the intangible benefits as well. As a youth, I was the only teen in my neighbor with a teen phone line. All my neighborhood friends would conference call me for solutions to their problems. From solving childhood disputes in the neighborhood to working in the soup kitchen with my mother, I have always dreamed of making a difference in the lives of others. For this reason, I believe community psychology is my niche in the universe.
Kuther, T. L., & Morgan, R. D. (2013). Careers in psychology: opportunities in a changing world. (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning/Wadsworth. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning/Wadsworth.
I knew I loved to help others but it was not until I was an emerging adult that I knew what my calling was. My devotion to improve the quality of life for those who are disadvantaged is one of the reasons I have chosen to pursue a Master’s in Social Work. After obtaining my masters, I plan on diversifying my masters by getting licensed and becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I would like to study social work because I feel it will lead me directly to one of the most emotionally fulfilling careers available, as well as giving me the chance to combine helping people 's mental well being with their physical
The practice of researching human behavior, which dates back to most ancient civilizations, has become better understood and more effective over time. This research led to modern psychology and has become increasingly broad since the first notion that one person could observe and measure the reasoning behind another person’s actions. Researchers in the field can study psychology as a whole or one of the various sub-disciplines that psychology breaks down into. These sub-disciplines range from the psychology of learning to fringe theoretical psychology. The men and women who conduct studies in the psychological field, referred to as psychologists, continue research in their sub-disciplines to add to the knowledge of the community. Psychologists focus on the study of the mind while clinicians treat individuals that suffer from psychological disorders. Now that I have covered psychology’s growth, I will move on to the ways that psychology currently impacts the world.
I had the opportunity to interview with the school psychologists on our campus. She currently holds a master’s level degree in psychology and has worked for the district for 10 years now with 3 of those years at this location. Discussing what she does on a regular bases she explained how she reaches out to contacts within the community to help parents and children with unresolved issues to help them find answers. She creates activities that help to nurture a better lifestyle for these families. I discussed with her in length about these events and she described them as a social environment conducive to a higher quality in learning, social interaction and family lifestyle. The reason for planning these events in our campus is because of the lower demographics and the campus considered a special class of schools which are known as Title 1 which receives more aid than other campuses.
Maton, K. I. (2008). Empowering community settings: Agents of individual development, community betterment, and positive social change. American Journal of Community Psychology, 41(1-2), 4-21.
Your Vision as a Psychology Practitioner-Scholar Introduction One of my visions as a psychology practitioner scholar is becoming a clinical counselor. My purpose in psychology is to help people understand their life in a clear distinct way. I specifically want to target children and, help them grow and be more than they have the potential to be. I want to focus on the child development of children based on their environment. I want to be able understand children react the way they do in certain situations.
Currently I am studying for my psychology degree and planning on finishing with my bachelors’ degree in 2014, I have faced few challenges with my plans so far because I feel as though I have prepared myself well for the future. I am a in the psychology club and I participate in psychology experiments at school. I want to utilize all that I can while I am in school to become the best at what I do. Where I work I call alumni of my college and ask them for donations, before I ask them I have to gain their trust and that is also the basis for any counselor patient relationship.
Our society is in need of more individuals who wish to make a difference in their communities. Therefore, the obtaining of my degree in Mental Health Counseling, is my first step on my path of being able to give back to my community.
Perkins, R. Repper, J. (1998) Dilemmas in Community Mental Health. Oxon: Radcliff Medical Press Ltd.
A career in clinical psychology is one that will be promising for anyone seeking to pursue this career. A clinical psychologists’ educational training is a dead-ringer for success, if completed with a doctorate. A doctorate for a clinical psychologist is the best way to get ahead and have the upper hand in this field. A clinical psychologist’s salary is one that will be growing steadily along with the number of growing demands for psychologists. Anyone who chooses to pursue clinical psychology, that fits the profile for the job, will be set and secure. Clinical psychology is a bright career that I hope to someday enter into, following the pathway that my research has yielded; with that, I may begin my journey.
As an undergraduate, at Western Michigan University, my studies were in psychology. Having previously worked with both children in schools and elders in nursing homes, I wanted to expand my resume when I chose my field work. I was able to complete my hours at Gryphon Place in Kalamazoo. This is a conflict and crisis center where I specialized in crisis intervention and suicide prevention. This experience gave me a feeling of accomplishment and pride in knowing that I was not only helping others but also saving lives. After working at Gryphon Place my career outlook changed drastically. Originally I just wanted to work with kids and I
Volunteering made me find my career plan in sociology / Social Worker. With a college degree in one of these areas, I hope to impact my community in ways. First, with the knowledge from college, I hope to counsel with young people& adults. In today's society, there are so many negative things that influence adults & young people. I want to help them understand the importance of setting goals and striving to become great citizens. I also want to give them a sense of hope that with perseverance, they can become great role models for other adults &young people by
My first semester in college, I took a Psychology 101 course and immediately knew I wanted to work in this field. I was drawn into different theories and how individual’s minds work. I always believed I was born to help others and guide them to success in life. I desire to help others because of my own personal struggles with mental illness. My unique perspective on mental illness allows me to empathize on a different level with individuals. I desire to give back and support to the community the way it was there for me during my dark times. I was lucky to have known from the start that psychology was my interest. I am excited to continue my education in the counseling field and become a future Clinical Mental Health Counselor.
Layne, Elizabeth. "What Are the Working Conditions for Psychologists?" Everyday Life. Global Post, 13 Feb. 2014. Web. 13 Feb. 2014.
I was able to assist my dad while he was going through a rough time with my mom. My dad knows who psychologists are, but being able to explain the significance of psychology and encouraging him to see one made me happy. It not only helped him recover with his personal issues, but also helped him understand what my mom is going through. In addition, this topic has impacted me for future use, not only for myself, but for others I can share this knowledge with. The importance of psychology, coping with stress, or knowing what the different types of psychologists can all be applied to my career towards junior personnel, through educating them, or the application of my everyday life, and benefiting my outlook.