Well, maybe not a shrink but you want a career in psychology. Traditionally, the term "psychologist" evokes images of therapists who provide mental health treatment in settings such as a private practice or mental health clinic. Though therapy is one possibility, it is by no means the only type of livelihood in the field of psychology. Other areas of psychology, such as Social or Developmental, present a myriad of opportunities for psychological careers. Non-clinical and non-academic careers can span the spectrum of research for public or government agencies such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to field research for activist or non-profit organizations as well as research for private corporations. Even careers in clinical psychology and therapy have changed to include new directions and venues. So let's consider these plentiful possibilities for psychology careers.
Current applications of Clinical Psychology move traditional therapeutic techniques into non-traditional settings and circumstances. Trauma psychology uses various therapies to help people recover from the emotional distress associated with traumatic experiences such as violent personal assaults, terrorist attacks, automobile accidents, physical and sexual abuse or military combat. This field has recognized the unique nature and experience of trauma as requiring psychological interventions that effectively address the issues of survivors. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) continues to be an area of interest as to personal vulnerability to the disorder as well as others' resilience in traumatic situations. Another direction is Health Psychology which investigates how psychological, social and biological issues may influence physical health or illness. For example, some health psychologists study resilience or how positive or negative attitudes may affect health outcomes. Within this field, areas of concern include children's health, HIV/AIDS, stress, women's health, and health disparities. In another application, Forensic Psychology explores the intersections of psychology and the law. Psychological theory, techniques and insights are applied to improve understanding of the functioning and structure of the legal, law enforcement and criminal justice systems. These are just some examples of the evolution of clinical psychology into nontraditional areas.
Career opportunities in non-clinical areas of psychology extend along the various disciplines including Social, Cognitive and Developmental Psychologies. These subjects take psychological occupations into realms that are some of the most challenging and urgent issues of our world. A division of Social Psychology known as Peace Psychology applies psychological methods and theory to the better understanding of the societal, cultural or personal factors or influences on peace, destructive conflict and resolution. This research may take psychologists into regions of conflict such as Sudan, Rwanda or Lebanon. These territories also can be of research interest to cognitive psychologists who study internal mental processes such as memory, information processing and language development. Locales of conflict or traumatic events can provide data for the study of factors around traumatic memory.
Hopefully, these examples have demonstrated just some of the vast possibilities for psychological careers. Over the course of this blog, it is my objective to provide more information as to the possibilities, challenges and rewards that come in the journey to a career in psychology.
