"Exploring careers in psychology" - Assignment

Psychology, the study of the human mind and the mental characteristics of a person or group. So many side points to that simple definition intrigued me enough to want to go to school and become a psychology major. Something I never thought about, though, was the different benefits my field held for my future. I chose the field I did because it interested me, and I enjoyed the thought as well as the -what I would say- benefit of the job in the knowledge that I would be helping others in their lives. Something that I didn't count on was having to find a field within my field. I figured psychology covered it all, I didn't think about the differences between a military therapist compared to a child therapist and the financial difference between them all as well. I feel like many people look into the financial benefit of going to school to major in their desired field, and there is some truth to this. Knowing the difference in the annual income can really help people decide what they are going to go to school for precisely rather than something generic - such as me thinking that getting a degree in psychology covered it all rather than thinking to specify and get my doctorate. According to Psychology Today “the median annual salary of bachelor's level psychology majors was $30,00” versus in 2010 where the starting salary was $36,400. (Whitebourne). With this number changing annually, the median pay for psychologist in 2015 was $34.89 an hour. That hourly wage compared to the $9.50 for minimum age in Oregon, would be a rather large benefit and motivation to earn a degree. I feel like a huge benefit is that there is on the job training. To finish with a degree in psychology, you do have to complete an internship or residency. I feel like this is a large benefit because students get to dip their toes in the water and see what it is like to be in the field but still have the help of a mentor a long the way. (Bureau of Labor Statistics) If a student feels overwhelmed in their internship, they might learn that the field they are working on isn't what they are meant to do. Something might look great on paper and the school work might seem easy, but until you are actually working in the field, I feel like there is no true way to know exactly what it is like to do the job. The largest benefit in majoring in psychology is the what the diploma says. To many people, that diploma means that they can trust you to do your job and as a psychologist, that trust in the client is important. It is a field based on trust, communication and respect. For someone to put the effort in going to school and getting educated in their field shows clients that they worked for their title and have an education to back what they are saying. For the two fields I keep vacillating between, that trust is important. I am interested in both the field of being a child psychologist and a family therapist. For a child psychologist, they are studying the social processes and behavior of a child. From that they are learning how the child reacts and relates to other people and their surrounding environment. Child psychologist do have the option of working independently in their own practice, or they can collaborate with different programs, including schools, other counselors or social workers. In this field, in 2015 the median pay was $34.89 per hour which totals $72,580 per year. To obtain a job in the field of a child psychologist, a doctoral degree is typically needed, though in a few areas a masters will suffice as well as obtaining a license. On the other hand, there's the option of family therapist. In this field the therapist is helping their clients overcome different problems that are affecting the family or other relationships in the client's life. From there, the therapist finds different things that can help the client improve their relationships and lives. It is more common to see family therapists in a mental health center or in their own private practice. Compared to the child psychologist job, a family therapists median pay in 2015 was $20.77 an hour and $43,190 per year. (Bureau of Labor Statistics) To find a job as a family therapist, all that is required in an internship, a masters and a license to have their practice. If I were to compare the two, you would see that there are a few similarities and many differences. Both positions main goal is to understand and be able to identify and explain the emotions and behaviors of their clients and how the behaviors are affecting their lives as well as the lives around them. With this, both positions have to do a few different studies of the behavior and functions of their clients to identify what the exact reason for the conflict is. As I said, though there are a few similarities, there seem to be many more differences. Psychologist are more about the observation, studies and collection of research and information to identify the patterns in their clients behavior and thought patterns. Psychologist are looking to understand the client's thoughts, behavior and feelings so that they can later use their research to support their theories about different disorders or the underlying problem in their client's life. Psychologist often only have one person per session and will focus primarily on that person. (Bureau of Labor Statistics (2) ) While family therapists are more focused on teaching their clients tools and techniques so that their client can use the tools in their lives to manage their disorders, or problems in their lives and relationships. Therapists are focused on anything that can be affecting their clients from low self esteem to mental and emotional disorders. The therapist help their clients take steps to cope with different situations and can help refer them to other support groups or tools in their community. Family therapists are more family centered versus being focused more on an individual as a psychologist would be. In the end, I chose psychology as my major because I enjoy helping people, all money and statistics aside. I chose to look more into specified degrees in a child or family setting because I feel like that is more a field I'd be the most help in. Now I just need to do my research and find exactly what field and degree I want and need to follow my dream. Citations Whitbourne, S. K. (2012, September 11). The Top 10 Reasons to Major in Psychology. Retrieved June 13, 2016, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201209/the-top-10-reasons-major-in-psychology Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists,  on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/mental-health-counselors-and-marriage-and-family-therapists.htm (visited June 13, 2016). Bureau of Labor Statistics (2), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Psychologists,  on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm (visited June 13, 2016).