Psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, counselor, life coach--if you have a passion for helping people with their problems, there are plenty of career paths available to you. But before you set your sights on a particular profession in the mental health field and begin working towards that goal, it's important to have an in-depth understanding of the differences between these areas of practice and the education, training, and certification requirements that each entails.
Educational requirements, in particular, can vary a great deal for professions in the mental health field. While bachelor's degree holders can find entry-level positions in health centers, outpatient clinics, and halfway houses, a graduate degree is required to move into positions providing counseling or therapy.
The licensure requirements for practicing psychologists vary in different parts of the country, but generally speaking, psychologists must complete a doctoral program in the field, as well as an internship or residency, before being eligible for certification to treat clients.
Although there are many different approaches to psychology, the overarching premise that links practitioners in the field together is the use of basic psychotherapy and talk-therapy techniques to help clients' work through their problems, challenges, and destructive patterns.
Psychologists Practice in Diverse Settings
Psychologists enjoy the opportunity to work with a wide range of people, from small children to the elderly and from returning veterans to victims of trauma. Most counseling roles require at least a master's degree, while psychologists typically need a doctorate. In addition to your graduate degree, many therapists choose to get certification in their area of specialty. For example, family therapists can become certified as a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) while those working with war veterans may pursue specialized training in post-traumatic stress disorder.
Your particular area of expertise may be determined by your personal interests, your previous work experience, or your academic training. Volunteer positions or entry-level roles with less stringent requirements can be a good way to find out if a mental health career is right for you.
Not All Psychologists Work in Counseling
While clinical psychologists tend to focus on providing therapy and diagnosing and treating mental health problems, the field of psychology is a diverse field that includes topics ranging from child language development to animal behavior. Some psychologists with doctoral degrees work in university or research settings, exploring problems of human behavior and cognition. Other psychologists may work for institutions or other organizations in areas like human resources, research and development, or organizational management.
If you're still not sure about the best professional path to take to get your start in the mental health field, it may be beneficial to take an introductory course in psychology, counseling, or social work to find out whether your affinity for the field is real. Today, there are thousands of distance learning and online course options available that allow prospective mental health professionals an opportunity to explore the field on their own terms, timetable, and schedule.
Tally: Online Education Psychologist - June 2010
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Top Online Schools - June 2010
 University of Phoenix Whether you're seeking an associate's, bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, University of Phoenix can help you reach your goal much sooner than you might expect. |
 Walden University Online - United States Earn a respected bachelor's degree, master's degree, or Ph.D. online at Walden University. |
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Top 5 Psychologist Posts - June 2010
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The path to setting up shop as a private-practice child psychologist can be lengthy, but the sense of professional fulfillment may just be worth it if you're dedicated to helping children. Find out more about the steps you have to take to get from an undergraduate psychology degree to a PhD in this post.
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Dysfunctional families can be quirkily charming in books and movies, but in real life? Not so much. There are several professional paths you can take to become a family therapist.
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Conventional wisdom holds that you need a doctorate degree in psychology to succeed in the field, but that's not always necessarily the case. This post explores entry-level options open to those with bachelor's degrees in psychology or related fields.
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Recent studies have suggested that the prevalence of mental health problems among returning war veterans has skyrocketed in the last five years. However, even first-hand experience on the battlefield can't substitute for formal training in psychology for those seeking to counsel veterans.
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There are many fine points of distinction that separate different areas of practice in psychology. This post distinguishes between the fields of psychology and clinical psychology and sets forth the educational requirements for each.
