Psychologist Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a psychologist. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a psychologist.
Who is a Psychologist?
Whenever the word psychology or psychologist is mentioned, a very common misconception among many people is that psychology is the art of mind-reading, meaning that psychologists are people who read minds. For instance, you might hear questions like ‘what’s on my mind?’ or ‘what am I thinking about, right now?’ whenever you or someone near you is introduced as a psychologist or a psychology student.
This misconception which will be addressed shortly is miles away from what Psychologists are and what they do.
Before you learn who psychologists are, you will need to have at least a little understanding of what psychology is.
The word psychology has its roots in two Greek words: Psyche(mind, soul, or spirit) and logos (knowledge, discourse, or study). To put it in simple terms, psychology is the study of the mind’. The emergence of psychology as a separate discipline is generally dated to 1879 when Wilhelm Wundt opened the first psychological laboratory at the University of Leipzig in Germany.
Psychology is a branch of study concerned with gaining a better understanding of human (and even animal) behaviour and mental processes and applying that knowledge to improve human welfare.
A psychologist is a professional who focuses on human behaviour and the treatment of mental illnesses using scientific processes.
Psychologists examine people’s actions, motivations, ideas, and feelings to assist them in overcoming or controlling their issues.
Psychologists have received extensive training in psychology’s methodology, facts, and ideas.
They are experts who treat, observe, analyze, and document relationships and environmental factors that may affect an individual’s cognitive, emotional, and social behaviour. They look at a person’s thoughts, feelings, reactions, and behaviours to try to figure out what patterns are affecting their ability to operate. Some psychologists specialize in diagnosing and treating patients, but they are unable to prescribe medications. Instead, they help their patients through talk therapy.
Psychologist Job Description
Below are the psychologist job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a job description for your employee. Employers can use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
Psychologists have a wide range of job descriptions since they work in almost every field of human endeavour. Generally, some functions psychologists perform include:
- Conduct research into behaviour and brain function.
- Investigate and recognize behavioural or emotional patterns.
- Diagnose and treat a wide range of mental, emotional, and behavioural issues.
- Assess the situation and make therapy recommendations.
- Examine patterns that will aid in their understanding and prediction of behaviour.
- As needed, do case management and other administrative activities.
As a psychologist, your day-to-day responsibilities will be determined by your specialization.
If you are working as an educational psychologist, for example, you would :
- Assist youngsters in overcoming difficulties.
- Conduct interviews with young people and examine their emotional states.
- Build therapy programs to aid in the psychological well-being of clients.
You will do the following as an occupational psychologist:
- Evaluate a company’s productivity and how its employees work.
- Develop systems to assess employee potential and growth, and meet with employees one-on-one to support their well-being.
In the field of counselling psychology, you might:
- Work with children and adults using psychotherapy approaches to learn about and improve their social, economic, cultural, and spiritual well-being..
- Assess patients and recommend treatments
- Use psychotherapeutic methods, like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), to treat patients.
If you’re a neuropsychologist, you might be able to do the following:
- Look into how an accident or sickness affects a patient’s behaviour.
- Give recommendations for rehabilitation and treatment
- Work towards improving the health and quality of life of patients.
Qualifications
Having Just a bachelor’s degree in psychology does not make you a qualified psychologist.
A psychologist must earn an advanced degree e.g., a doctorate such as a Ph.D. or a Psy.D. A Psy.D. is a clinical degree that includes both practical work and exams. Those pursuing a Psy.D. must spend at least one year in a clinical setting, such as a health service, counselling, or school setting. A Ph.D. in psychology, on the other hand, is more research-based and includes a comprehensive exam as well as a dissertation based on original research. These are typically more theoretical than practical.
More specific degrees and prerequisites may exist depending on the field of specialization. School psychologists, industrial-organizational psychologists, and educational psychologists are some of the disciplines available. A license or certification is required to practice for all types of psychologists and certain disciplines require specific criteria to fully practise.
For example, a degree in psychology, an internship, and supervised professional experience is usually required for most clinical and counselling psychologists. In addition, they need to pass a national exam.
Essential Skills
Human beings are arguably the most dynamic beings on earth and since psychologists deal with human behaviour, there are many important skills needed to effectively find solutions to the plethora of behavioural problems that they encounter in the course of discharging their duties.
Some essential skills that psychologists need to possess to effectively discharge their duties include:
- Critical thinking skill
- Excellent verbal and communication skills.
- Empathy
- Sensitivity and attention to detail.
- Patience and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
- Observation Skills
- An inquisitive mature
- The ability to understand peoples reactions
How to become a psychologist
If you have ever considered pursuing a career as a psychologist then the following steps can help you achieve your goal:
- Get a bachelor’s degree in psychology
An undergraduate program in general (or applied) psychology, accredited by The Nigerian Psychological Association (NPA), British Psychological Society (BPS), American Psychological Association (APA) or the topmost Psychology association in your country is usually the first step for you especially if you Just left secondary school. This will provide a solid foundation for launching into areas of specialization in the future.
- Do a postgraduate diploma in psychology
If you have a degree in a different subject but want to switch careers, you may be able to complete an approved psychology conversion course (this could come in the form of a postgraduate diploma in Psychology) before proceeding for a master’s and possibly a Ph.D. However, this could depend on the closeness of your previous discipline to psychology and the regulations of your chosen institution.
- Get an accredited postgraduate qualification in your chosen field
You can specialize in a particular area of psychology after earning a psychology degree, such as developmental or industrial/organisational psychology.
Where does a psychologist work?
Since psychology deals with human behaviour, it means that Psychologists can be found anywhere humans are gathered.
Psychologists can work in hospitals or private practice. They can work in the private sector, prisons, or the military. Additionally, they can work in teaching and research positions.
- Psychologists in the hospital/healthcare setting.
Psychologists can assist patients in coping with unpleasant life events or treat patients with eating disorders, drug or alcohol addiction, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, or stress.
Clinical psychologists hold a master’s degree (or above) in psychology and specialize in diagnosing and treating persons with mental illnesses. Depression, anxiety, and substance misuse are among the issues, as are marriage conflicts, decision-making difficulties, etc. Clinical psychologists attempt to understand why a person is having difficulties in some way and then assist that person in overcoming those difficulties. Although some clinical psychologists work as college professors and researchers, the majority work as full-time clinicians.
- Psychologists in the school/educational setting
Traditionally, school psychologists have focused on intelligence testing, diagnosing learning difficulties and other academic issues, and developing programs to increase students’ academic progress and satisfaction.
They are now, however, active in the early detection of mental health problems in adolescents as well as crisis intervention in the aftermath of school violence.
Psychologists can provide tests such as personality assessments, aptitude assessments, vocational assessments, and intelligence assessments. Students who see a psychologist to get tested may find it extremely beneficial, especially if they are unsure of what type of profession they are most suited for.
Psychologists are frequently employed by educational institutions in roles other than teaching. These roles include counselling, assessment, research, curriculum design, and administration. For example, school psychologists work in elementary and secondary schools to assist students with social, behavioural, emotional, and academic difficulties.
Many psychologists, particularly those who are not clinical psychologists, hold teaching and research jobs at colleges and universities. Diverse types of psychologists investigate different themes to some extent.
A developmental psychologist, for example, might study children’s attempts to control their emotions, whereas biological psychologists might investigate the effects of brain injury. Various types of psychologists, on the other hand, may investigate the same questions in different ways.
- Psychologists in the law enforcement setting
Forensic psychologists provide advice and consultation to police, lawyers, and courts. Forensic psychologists are, in nearly all cases, trained as clinical or counselling psychologists with additional training in legal issues. They help with such decisions as to whether a defendant is mentally competent to stand trial or whether someone eligible for parole is dangerous. Psychologists can also help to rehabilitate offenders in prisons.
- Psychologists in the sports setting
Sports psychologists help to increase efficiency by assisting professional and amateur athletes in achieving mental success. This often includes anything from social interaction support to locating players’ “zones,” as well as focus, goal-setting, and mental exercises. A sports psychologist can also motivate an athlete into a better mental condition. Parents and coaches can also seek advice from such a psychologist if they have questions or want to learn more about working with athletes.
Sports psychologists don’t just focus on game preparation, they also help athletes cope with the mental strain of recovering from injuries and not being able to play while they recover. Furthermore, sports psychologists are frequently involved in the creation of exercise routines to help patients achieve their objectives.
A sports psychologist can assist those who need assistance adhering to physical therapy as well as loved ones who are experiencing difficulty adjusting. If a player is unable to begin or maintain recovery routines, the psychologist will intervene and advise everyone involved on how to proceed.
- Psychologists in the government/organizational setting
Industrial/Organizational psychologists work on issues like hiring the right person for the job, training people for jobs, developing work teams, determining salaries and bonuses, providing performance feedback to employees, planning an organizational structure, and organizing the workplace so that employees are productive and satisfied. Individual and organizational behaviour, as well as the impact of economic situations and political regulations, are studied by I/O psychologists.
Human factors engineers (also known as human factors specialists or ergonomists) try to make it easier for regular people to operate machinery efficiently and safely. So, as a human
Some psychologists, mainly those with doctoral degrees, can go into private practice or start their research or consulting firms after a few years of experience.
Even though psychologists specialize in distinct areas of psychology, their functions frequently overlap. For example, developmental psychologists collaborate with colleagues in cognitive and social psychology to examine the development of children’s thinking skills and friendships. When looking at how chemicals in the brain increase the likelihood of depression, biological psychologists have one foot in clinical psychology. When social psychologists use cooperative research to facilitate group learning activities in the classroom, they are collaborating with educational psychologists.
Even if psychologists specialize in a single topic, they are likely to draw on and contribute knowledge from other fields.
Despite being a psychologist, having an awareness that your working environment could be emotionally tasking can make you more prepared for work, thereby increasing your overall productivity at work.
As a psychologist, whether you want to work in an organization, private practice, a hospital, in education, or in research, you will be continually researching human thought processes, perceptions, and social cognition.
Psychologist Salary
Salary structure is one of the most important factors people consider before choosing a career path. This is not different in the case of Psychology. When it comes to the amount of money earned by psychologists in a month or a year, certain factors such as rank, level of experience, area of specialization, and even location of practice can play a key role.
In Nigeria, for example, academic psychologists get a base salary of ₦900,000- ₦6,000,000 (approximately $1600 – $10,000) each year. Generally, psychologists in Nigeria can earn an average of ₦12,500,000 ($22,000) in a year.
In the United Kingdom, psychologists earn an average of £31,365 – £87,754 in a year.
In the United States, some people in the field of psychology make roughly $40,000 per year, while others make six figures. Psychologists who work in schools or the government typically work full-time Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Evening and weekend hours are possible for those who work in hospitals or other healthcare facilities. In addition, psychologists in private practice often have the flexibility to choose their hours.
The following are some of the median annual incomes for several psychology jobs, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2020 (and PayScale data from 2021 when government data isn’t available):
- Career and School Counselor: $58,1201
- Clinical Psychologist: $81,650
- Developmental Psychologist: $67,990
- Experimental Psychologist: $81,350
- Forensic Psychologist: $72,370
- Health Psychologist: $81,630
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist: $96,270
A job as a psychologist could be incredibly fulfilling if you are fascinated by human behaviour and the various ways people think about challenges.
