Psychology, the study of behavior and the mind, is a broad field that explores the conscious and unconscious mind, brain functioning, cognition, emotion, intelligence, personality, interpersonal relationships, perception, sensation, and more. This field consists of many specialized sub-areas, including but not limited to, human development, cognitive psychology, clinical psychology, applied behavior analysis, health psychology, social psychology, and experimental psychology.
Having a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in psychology enables degree holders to study further and work in specialized fields. Individuals who desire a psychology career working as a psychologist, psychiatrist, counselor, psychotherapist, or other position most likely need more than a four-year degree.
Public and private universities in the United States offer online bachelor’s and master’s degrees in addition to traditional face-to-face programs. Faulkner University, for example, is a private university that makes obtaining a degree convenient for all students with its innovative online undergraduate and graduate degrees.
An educational background in psychology allows people to apply for and succeed at various career options, with five roles listed below.
Counselor
Being a counselor is an ideal career option for those with a psychology degree. Counseling professionals tend to work in specialized roles, such as school counselors or substance abuse, behavior disorder, and mental health counselors.
Psychology students interested in being a counselor should consider entering the sub-field of rehabilitation and health psychology. Enrolling in Faulkner University’s online rehabilitation psychology degree gives people an education focused on the mind-body relationship and physical education, and the tools necessary to become a rehabilitation counselor. Rehabilitation counselors typically work with people who have mental, physical, emotional, and developmental disabilities. They help people manage stress and anxiety and create solutions to issues with care, employment, pain, and more.
Psychologist
Becoming a psychologist requires someone to hold a Ph.D. or a Psy.D. and a state license. Psychologists work in various settings, evaluating their clients’ social, emotional, and cognitive processes. These professionals conduct research, interview clients, identify disorders, and develop psychological tests. Specialized psychologist roles include clinical psychologists, counseling psychologists, educational psychologists, forensic psychologists, child psychologists, and more.
Parents of children impacted by mental and emotional disorders should seek professional help and support from child psychologists. Child psychologists and skilled clinicians, such as those at The Ross Center, teach children practical ways to handle anxiety and mental health issues such as panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, insomnia, and more.
The Ross Center is a mental health center staffed with renowned psychologists and psychiatrists who provide client-centered services and treatment to children, adolescents, and teenagers affected by anxiety and mood disorders. Consulting child psychiatrists equips parents with knowledge and tools that enable them to support their children in crises and respond to their fears and behaviors.
Marriage and Family Therapist
Psych majors should consider a career in marriage and family therapy. Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) address non-clinical crises, marital woes, and clinical issues that impact families, such as anxiety and depression. MFTs have a responsibility to create safe environments for clients to disclose personal information and guide them in making plans and decisions. These professionals develop coping strategies to help married couples and families endure difficult circumstances.
Human Resources Manager
Psychology majors make great human resources (HR) staff members, because of the communication skills and interpersonal skills they possess. Learning about human personality and how to resolve interpersonal conflicts gives psychology degree holders insight into workplace dynamics. Such knowledge enables them to counsel employees, mediate workplace issues, and interview and train workers.
Social Worker
Studying psychology sets a strong foundation in social relations and human behavior for social workers. Social workers use analytical and problem-solving skills to identify people in need, research solutions to problems, and formulate solutions and plans for clients dealing with issues. These professionals examine clients’ progress and offer psychotherapy assistance.
Once psychology majors earn their degrees, they’ll be able to pursue many career options, psychological and non-psychological, that offer good salaries and career satisfaction.
