Most people, when thinking of psychologists, conjure up a caring therapist in a comfortable office. These specialists of the mind appear wise, with endless wells of patience. They're the perfect canvas upon which to paint our mountains of woes. At least, in our imaginations, they are.
Those assumptions are presumptuous on many levels. For one, not every psychologist helps patients work through their issues. For two, this field offers more than one career path. Indeed, many who train as psychologists don't work with patients at all.
That's what makes psychology such an exciting career field. The Psychologist title offers so many opportunities to enrich your life and the lives of others! To say nothing of adding to our collective knowledge of how the human mind works.
As you select your A-Level study topics, you might be curious what a psychology degree can offer you. Or, maybe you're revising with psychology past papers and are wondering which line of work you should pursue. Regardless of your position, this article helps you understand:
- the personal qualities psychologists embody
- the broad scope of work in the field of psychology
- the type of education future psychologists need and how to attain it
- how to gain relevant work experience
Key Qualities of a Psychologist
This guide's introduction painted psychologists as caring; that's not far off the mark. Still, 'caring' is a vague term. We need to define the personal traits and skills psychologists need to do their jobs well.
Furthermore, we must make clear that psychologists don't always do clinical work. Indeed, many spend their working lives conducting research. Some might help the government develop educational policies, while others work with clients to maximise their performances.
In the next segment, you will read a sampling of the different professional settings psychologists work in. The qualities we list now apply to all psychologists, not just the ones who work with the public.
Excellent Communicators
Psychologists must be good communicators. Psychologists must practise active listening, especially In clinical settings. This skill requires the listener to focus solely on the speaker and understand what they say. Psychologists must also have the vocabulary and skills to use language effectively.
Empathetic
Empathy goes hand in hand with strong communication skills. An active listener will note changes in tone and body language, and adjust their body and voice accordingly. They will position themselves to appear receptive and engaging. They will express the proper degree of emotion, so that their patients will feel included and validated.
Professional & Ethical
Clinical psychologists, in particular, run the risk of empathetic overload. To protect themselves and their patients, these professionals must set appropriate boundaries. The film version of calling at all hours or barging into the office is a myth. Psychologists cultivate professional distance to keep everyone safe.
They also operate under a strong ethical code. No ethical psychologist would tell a patient what to do, nor would they build anything but a professional relationship. Psychologists who work with vulnerable populations must prove their spotless record. Typically, that involves a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) report.
Trustworthy
Along with a strong sense of ethics, psychologists must be trustworthy. Whether from a client or a patient, psychologists often entertain others' deepest concerns. Anyone needing psychological services must be sure that their secrets won't make the rounds on social media. Or anywhere else.
Great Problem-Solvers
Whether working as a clinician or a consultant, psychologists must be problem-solvers. As noted above, a quality psychologist won't tell their patients what to do. Their job is to guide patients to find solutions for themselves. To provide that guidance, the professional must be able to solve problems.
Critical Thinkers
They must also be able to think critically. Often, a client or patient cannot fully express their aims, intentions, or feelings. Thus, the psychologist must apply critical thinking to arrive at the problem's root cause. Only then, can they help their patients/clients find their answers.
Patient
Patience is an obvious quality that psychologists must cultivate. Far less noticeable is their need to love learning. Clinical psychologists must engage in continuing education to stay relevant in their field. Research psychologists must study novel theories and devise ways to test them.
Passionate about the human condition
At its core, psychology is the study of the human mind and condition. This field extends across the whole of the human experience, from industry to our deepest fears and traumas. It's not hard to be - or to become a psychologist, especially if you already possess these qualities. Now, you only need to learn the educational requirements.
Education - Psychology Studies
The type of jobs you have as a psychologist depends on your area(s) of interest. However, you won't get to develop that knowledge until you've mastered basic concepts of psychological study.
Psychology A-Level courses lay the groundwork for your university learning stage. Your undergraduate psychology degree will prepare you for graduate-level specialisation in your chosen field. This is the point at which students begin to wonder which speciality to pursue.
Most people, when considering a career in psychology, picture themselves as some type of counsellor. They might like to have their own practice, or work in a school. They may keep hours at a hospital mental health clinic or make rounds in a senior care facility. Some consider social work, perhaps as a community counsellor.
Those are all noble choices but they are not the extent of career choices in the psychological field. This table presents just ten of the most engaging possibilities.
| Type of specialisation | Scope of work | Public-facing |
|---|---|---|
| Forensic psychologist | Studies crime scenes Determines motives Assists police Evaluates child custody cases Delivers testimony in court | No |
| Educational psychologist | Studies how people learn Helps develop teaching strategies Helps design learning materials | No |
| Consumer psychologist | Studies consumer behaviour Helps develop marketing strategies Help develop products | No |
| Industrial-organisational psychologist | Studies workplace behaviour Helps in the hiring process Helps develop training programs Helps set up workplaces | Yes |
| School psychologist | Helps students cope with personal and school matters Works with parents and staff to improve the educational environment | Yes |
| Military psychologist | Helps military personnel with various psychological conditions Helps build recruiting and training programs Researches military life | Yes (typically) |
| Health psychologist (also sports psychologist) | Studies social, behavioural, and biological indicators influence health. Works to maximise clients' wellbeing | Yes |
| Environmental psychologist | Studies the relationship between people and their environment Helps with conservation projects Helps shape environmental policies | No |
| Developmental psychologist | Studies human development Conducts ageing studies Studies cognitive development | No |
| Comparative psychologist | Studies behavioural differences between humans and other animal species | No |
If you came to your interest in psychology during your undergraduate studies, you may change your major. That privilege depends on whether that degree program has a slot open for you. Beware, though, that you may only exercise this option during your first year of study.
If you don't earn your Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, you may still transfer into a graduate course for psychology studies. You only need to take a psychology conversion course. Such a course must meet the British Psychological Society (BPS) standards. You can find qualifying courses on their website.
All this gives you time to settle on the speciality you'll study at the graduate level. However, earning your place doesn't simply rely on earning top marks during your Bachelor studies. You must also demonstrate high-level research capabilities, and present relevant work experience.
Do You Need Psychology A-Level?
Completing an A level in psychology with high grades is the surest way to secure your place in your chosen undergraduate psychology studies course.
Starting your psychology studies as early as Sixth form makes it easier to claim your spot in a graduate study program. However, you may also choose to take a different route to achieve the same result.
If you sat other Maths- or Science-related A-Levels, you may qualify for graduate-level psychology studies. Remember that you will have to pass a conversion course before your application will be considered. Other favourable A-Level courses include Economics, Statistics, Computing, and Geography.
Many universities count maths and/or science A-Levels as prerequisites to entry into their psychology study programs. General studies subjects typically do not qualify for entry. That includes subjects which foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
As noted above, those two skills are essential in any psychologist's toolkit. It seems ironic that applying for graduate-level psychology studies with those talents already mastered could be a strike against you. This distinction has little to do with your thinking skills and everything to do with what you know.
So, it's best to maximise your chances for entry into your choice of psychology graduate courses. A maths or science A-Level, coupled with a critical-thinking type course, is the happy medium. This combination gives you the greatest chance of acceptance in higher-level psychology study.
Work Experience
In the previous section, you read about presenting relevant work experience. That requirement might raise many questions. How are students supposed to work while they're in school? What counts as relevant?
Volunteering: Many charitable organizations and NGOs offer opportunities such as working with individuals with mental health issues, disabilities, or those in need of counselling.
Placements are offered in settings such as hospitals, clinics and research institutions.
Assistant Roles: Positions such as Research Assistant or Healthcare Assistant can provide exposure to psychological practices and research environments.
Shadowing: Observing professionals in clinical or counselling psychology settings can offer insights into daily practices and patient interactions.
According to the BPS, volunteering is an acceptable substitute for paid work. However, your stint as a volunteer must tie in with the field of psychology. You might volunteer at a healthcare centre or hospital, for instance. Or, if you intend to work with children, volunteering as a youth activities coordinator would satisfy that requirement.
When searching for volunteer opportunities, you should target the field(s) you intend to specialise in. A future marketing psychologist might spend their weekends taking surveys and handing out leaflets. A prospective environmental psychologist would find relevant work with a conservation group.
You may also seek paid positions, as long as they mesh with your future study ambitions. A sports psychologist might take a summer job as a coach, for example. If you've mastered all the key psychology topics you learned during your foundational studies, you may apply to work in a research lab.
You may also wish to further cultivate your knowledge of psychology through personal study by reading psychology journals and books. Check out our article on the best psychology resources and books to help you develop your knowledge and discover which topics most appeal to you.
As you plan your trajectory through psychology studies, don't forget to sign up for BPS membership. Once signed up, you can find volunteer and paid positions to help you gain work experience. This is also a great way to network with other professionals; you may even find a mentor among them.
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