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Psychology is the science of the mind. It involves the study of thoughts, emotions and the mysterious subconscious. It includes individuals, groups and humanity as a whole, and is a hugely expansive subject which can lead to a wide variety of career pathways. The work of a psychologist requires reading a lot of case studies and research, so if you love to delve into large topics then it might be a good choice.
What does a psychologist do?
There are many specialisms within psychology, however the fundamental role is clinical psychologist. A clinical psychologist is a chartered professional who works to address conditions through assessments and regular treatment sessions. Commonly treated conditions include depression, anxiety, addiction, relationship or family issues, neurological disorders, learning disabilities and eating disorders.
Clinical psychologists assess the needs of their clients using a variety of techniques which include interviews, discussions, observation and, in some cases, psychometric testing. A diagnosis follows along with a treatment plan designed around individuals, which can include counselling or therapy.
Additionally, in the UK, psychologists are able to prescribe medication and recommend other types of treatment.
Regular tasks which clinical psychologists perform include:
- Consultation sessions with new clients
- Performing assessment tests, interviews and behavioural observation
- Designing treatment plans
- Giving counselling and therapy sessions
- Evaluating client progress and adapting treatment schedules
- Timetabling clients
- Performing psychological research
- Training and supervising junior psychologists and related professional colleagues
- Peer reviewing the work of other psychology professionals
What’s it like to work as a psychologist?
One thing to note is there are loads of options for progression and specialisation in different areas of psychology. It’s difficult to know exactly where you’ll end up when you start an undergraduate degree course so, in addition to the clinical psychologist role which we’re mainly focusing on, here are a few examples:
Sports psychologist: Specialises in using their understanding of motivation and the mind to help sports professionals maintain and improve their mental well-being.
Consumer psychologist: Studies the behaviour of individuals in relation to large groups of people, to inform businesses on how to influence consumer engagement and purchasing decisions.
Forensic psychologist: Works within the criminal justice system to help legal professionals understand the psychological mindset of criminals.
Cognitive psychologist: Studies mental processes such as memory, perception, language, problem solving and reasoning.
Experimental psychologist: Conducts experimental methods to expand the field of psychological study and its underlying processes.
School psychologist: Trained in both education and psychology, and works with young people to improve their social, behavioural and emotional well-being.
Animal psychologist: Studies the psychological health and behaviour of non-human species, encompassing both practical and theoretical research.
The day-to-day life of a clinical psychologist will depend on where you work and your role within the company. You may work in a hospital or health care clinic, or you might work in a private office.
You’ll operate within a framework of multi-disciplinary healthcare professionals and likely will exchange research, referrals and organisational work. You will be supervised by senior psychologists and, in time, will supervise others. The job involves a lot of reading and research, and you may be expected to peer-review the work of other psychologists within your field.
What skills do you need to be a psychologist?
Psychologists need to develop a broad range of skills to work effectively. Some of these include:
- Superb communication and interpersonal skills
- Impartiality and the ability to treat people without bias
- Critical thinking and analysis skills
- Empathetic awareness
- Excellent verbal and written skills
- The ability to quickly comprehend large amounts of information
- The ability to reflect and evaluate your work
- Time-management skills
- The ability to collaborate with colleagues
- Administrative and organisational aptitude
How much does a psychologist earn?
Within the NHS, the entry level salary for a trainee clinical psychologist starts at £32,000 per year. Once qualified, this amount increases to £40,000, and with a few years this can be expected to increase again to between £47,000 and £64,000.
Once you reach the level of consultant clinical psychologist you’ll begin to receive much higher compensation for your work and can earn a salary of up to £90,000 per year.
Salaries in private clinics can vary, and it is important to note that you can apply your skills as a psychologist to a multitude of professions. For example, a consumer psychologist working within an advertising agency might expect a salary which is in line with the pay framework of their employer company.
How to become a psychologist
Psychology is a complex and expansive field of applied science, regulated by chartered institutions and with a rigid code of professional conduct. There are no shortcuts here – you’ll need to start with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Your degree will introduce you to the fundamentals and provide preparation for postgraduate study. Fortunately, in the UK, psychology is one of the most popular and widespread undergraduate courses and wherever you live, you won’t be too far from an accredited university course.
Your next step is a master’s degree, in which you’ll build on your prior education and read further into the subject, beginning to guide yourself into an area of interest which can form the basis for a later specialism. After this, a doctorate degree, where you’ll choose a specific area of expertise and earn a Doctorate of Psychology.
Lastly, you’ll need to pass a professional exam to receive your license to practice as a psychologist. It’s a long road, but one which offers a fascinating window into the human mind, and the opportunity to provide a worthwhile service to society as a whole.
