Many people who choose to pursue psychology
as a career already have a pretty good idea of the population
they want to work with when they finish school. For some,
being able to make a difference in children’s lives would
be a dream come true. Here are four careers in psychology
that directly deal with children and their unique problems.
1. School Psychologist
School psychologists work in elementary, middle, and high
schools. They are primarily responsible for evaluating children
for things like learning disabilities and emotional impairment.
After evaluating students, they usually work with teachers,
administrators, and parents to come up with individualized
education plans according to the students’ unique needs.
In addition to evaluating students, school psychologist provide
onsite counseling services. They may also perform crisis intervention
with students who show visible signs of substance abuse.
2. Family Counselor
While family counselors often work as marriage counselors,
they may also provide therapy for the whole family. Parents
who are having trouble communicating with children or families
going through trauma often enlist the help of a family counselor.
Recently adopted children or children whose parents are in
the process of a divorce may also benefit from family counseling.
Family counselors may also provide court-mandated therapy
to juvenile offenders or kids in the foster care system. Some
even work for government agencies to supervise custody visits.
3. Educational Psychologist
While school psychologists are mainly concerned with individual
children, educational psychologists are concerned with groups.
For the aspiring psychologist interested in both research
and children, this career combines both to make a real impact
on schools.
Educational psychologists study different population groups
within schools to see how their needs are being met and whether
or not present programs are effective. They may be concerned
with minority groups, underprivileged kids, or students in
special education. Whatever they concentrate their research
on, they are the ones who design programs aimed at meeting
the educational and emotional needs of all children in schools.
4. Child or Adolescent Psychologist
Child psychologists may work in a number of settings to counsel
children, study learning disabilities, or even write books
about child development and parenting. The majority of child
or adolescent psychologists use their particular specialty
to provide a unique kind of therapy to kids.
Because children’s minds work differently than adults’ minds,
a child psychologist will use therapeutic techniques and treatments
designed specifically for kids. Child psychologists may get
kids to open up through role playing and play therapy, or
they may use music and movement as tools. They may also help
children deal with the side effects of medication they take
for mental health problems, or they may help kids develop
coping mechanisms to help them better live with disabilities.
Earning a Psychology Degree
To work as a psychologist in any of these fields that provide
services to children, you need at least a masters
degree in psychology. Further specializing and performing
in-depth research by earning a PhD
in psychology is a great way to have the meaningful
career you’ve always hoped for.
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