Welcome to Psychologists Guide
Child Psychologist Article
Career Profile for People Interested In Becoming a Child Psychologist
from:In today’s stressful, complex world, the strain and abnormalities of daily life affect both children and adults alike. Approximately twelve million adolescents and children suffer from some form of mental illness. A child psychologist treats the psychological disorders in children using the most up-to-date scientific discoveries and research. They provide psychological services to adolescents, children, toddlers, and even infants along with conducting scientific research. A child psychologist concentrates on preventing, understanding, treating and diagnosing children’s problems such as behavioral problems, emotional problems, family problems, cognitive problems, developmental, and psychological problems. Students perusing a career as a child psychologist learn the newest child psychology practices and how to use data collected in a clinical setting in the evaluation of children. They are uniquely equipped experts in dealing with specific childhood issues such as family problems, substance abuse, and emotional development issues.
Some of the specific skills required to succeed in becoming a child psychologist include:
• Excellent oral and written communication skills are paramount for dealing with other professionals, patients and their families, and for successful research purposes.
• In this field, being able to inspire others, compassion, and sensitivity are very important qualities.
• Perseverance and patience are necessary due to the length of time it takes to do the research and obtain the desired results when treating children.
• Other necessary, positive skills include being an excellent listener, emotional stability, dealing with stress in a positive way, excellent time management and organizational skills, and dedication.
Careers as a licensed child psychologist, counseling psychologist, or clinical psychologists all require a doctoral degree. The child psychology training for students includes psychology basics pertaining to children’s development and academic study of psychology. This includes studies on Piaget, Freud and other traditional theorists. There is usually a written doctorial thesis to demonstrate students research skills.
They project the employment outlook for child psychologists to continue to grow at a faster than average rate over the next eight years because of the increased demand from schools, social service agencies, government agencies, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities due in part to increased mental health concerns and awareness for children. Social dynamics have rapidly changed and now put a special emphasis on prevention through psychology of family problems, substance abuse and emotional disorders. There will also be new job openings resulting from child psychologists reaching retirement age over the next seven or eight years. Many companies and organizations use the expertise of a child psychologist in research, analysis, and survey design to provide statistical analysis and marketing evaluation.