If you have ever thought about becoming a psychologist, then this article is for you. You'll learn everything you ever wanted to know about becoming a psychologist, where psychologists work, how much they get paid, what kind of additional training they need, how you can become a psychologist, some of the dangers involved in the job, when you can expect to retire and how you can make a difference in the lives of the people you serve. I have always wanted to become a psychologist because I'm very motivated about helping others through their struggles in life. This is why I want to share what this job is all about with anyone who is as interested as me in this career.
Being a psychologist means you are an expert in mental health. You will let other people open up to you about their experiences and their struggles, so you can advise them in many areas in life. You will receive the gratification from helping others and improve their quality of life.
Psychologists perform examinations on their clients by evaluating their behaviour and their emotions. This can be done with the help of tests, surveys or interviews. They will then write reports, and can make a diagnosis based on what the client said or what the answers of the tests are. If the client needs it, the psychologist can recommend several types of treatments. Psychologists can also conduct scientific studies, research and evaluate services.
On a typical day, psychologists meet with their clients and listen to them talk about anything they need help with. Psychologists write reports about their client's needs, and can prepare some form of intervention or treatments to help their clients with their struggles. When they don't have clients, psychologists can work on research of mental health, human behaviour or the services needed in the social working field.
Some psychologists work in their own private practice or at home. They are also found in schools, hospitals, prisons, medical clinics, nursing homes, private businesses, or any facilities or industries they might be needed.
To become a psychologist in Quebec, you must first obtain an undergraduate degree in psychology. After, you must obtain a doctoral degree in psychology. Then, you can register as a psychologist to l'Ordre des psychologues du Québec, but before, you have to pass a course on professional ethics equivalent to at least 45 hours offered by the order.
In Quebec, the average salary of a psychologist is between $57 000 and $96 000 depending on the years of experiences you have. You can also earn more if you have your own private practice.
During the doctorate degree, students have 2300 hours of supervised practical experience. Since there are a ton of research on mental health every year, to keep up their knowledge, psychologists must earn several hours of continuing education annually.
The danger comes from having to often work with people who are in the worst times of their lives. They often hear traumatic stories, which can be emotionally draining even for them. Working with people in distress can also be extremely stressful for psychologists, that's why it is also important for them to take care of their own mental health, for example by seeing another psychologist.
The chances of psychologists being replaced by robots are very low. Robots cannot relate or empathize with humans like another human can. This career also requires interpersonal skills and open-mindedness, which robots do not have at the moment. Also, humans are used to open up and share their experiences with other people, so it is difficult to imagine that we will want to open up to a robot instead of a person who can relate to us.
Most psychologists retire between the ages of 65 and 67 years old.
So far, I have been studying Psychology and social intervention for the past 2 years at Ahuntsic College and I have only one session to complete to have my diploma. Next semester, I plan to go to the University of Montreal to complete my undergraduate in psychology which will take 3 years. After, I want to apply to a doctoral degree in psychology to be able to register to l'Ordre des psychologues du Québec, which will take four years to complete.
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