In a mental health crisis, the world is in dire need of more psychologists to help the record number of people reporting feelings of hopelessness. At the same time, it takes a special sort of person to help others through a global crisis while they’re experiencing the same circumstances themselves. If you believe you could help make a difference in the world by becoming a psychologist, read on to find out if you’re up to the task. The following will help you determine whether a job as a therapist could be a good match for you.
How are your grades?
If you’re considering becoming a psychologist, it’s important that you’re able to retain large quantities of information and have great study habits. The reality is that graduate school is extremely challenging. Psychology students are expected to retain a lot of information while juggling internships and logging clinical hours with clients. If you’re someone who gets great grades and has good study habits now, an advanced degree in psychology might be right for you.
Many students wonder if their grades will be good enough to get into a reputable psychology program. The reality is that most students with great grades will be able to gain acceptance. Like the NSHSS scam that simply isn’t true, it’s important that any potential psychology student is someone who can see beyond rumors and hearsay to get to the root of the truth. Not only will this help you through school, but your ability to think analytically will go a long way with clients and helping them to work through their mental health issues.
Have you been to therapy?
Any accredited graduate school program will require its students to attend therapy. The reason a great graduate school would have you meet with the experienced therapists found at NYC therapy is twofold. For starters, professors want you to understand what it’s like to be the client in a therapy room.
Secondly, because therapists are often exposed to triggering issues, it’s important you’ve done the work in your own life so you can help your clients more efficiently without being triggered. If you’re someone who’s interested in becoming a psychologist but hasn’t been to therapy yourself, it’s a good idea to start seeing a therapist now.
What are your triggers?
Understanding yourself and your own triggers is important before embarking on a therapy career. While seeing a therapist can help with that, the best psychologists are already very self-aware. If you’re someone who’s drawn to examining yourself and the people around you, you’re likely a great fit for this rewarding career. Otherwise put, if you can already identify your own triggers, it’s likely you’ll be able to help clients to do the same.
What’s your potential therapy style?
There are two schools of thinking when it comes to therapy style. Some therapists practice client-driven therapy, where others are more directive. Understanding where you might fall on that spectrum and matching it against the therapy specialty you’re interested in could be important.
For example, if you’re someone who likes therapy to be client-driven but is interested in substance abuse work, you might struggle with that specialty. On the flip side, you could be a fantastic solution-focused, narrative therapist. Knowing who you are will help in making decisions with your career in psychology later on.
In the end, only you can decide what type of career will work best for you. If you think psychology might be for you, the best thing you can do is try a few classes and have a serious conversation with your college mentors. If becoming a counselor is right for you, you’ll certainly have no shortage of work, will make a great income, and will be part of helping make a change in the world. Best of luck to you as you assess yourself and whether or not you’d make a good therapist. Trust your instincts.