Careers in Psychology

1. Careers in Psychology This PowerPoint is based on a talk given in 2008 to a group of visiting Sixth Formers by Patricia Wright School of Psychology Cardiff University

2. Outline • Wide variety of CharteredPsychologist jobs with some examples of daily life • Other jobs psychologists do • Branching out after a psychology degree • How to find out more

3. n>9 Variety of jobs after BPS Chartered Status • Clinical Psychology • Educational Psychology • Occupational Psychology • Counselling Psychology • Forensic Psychology • Health Psychology • Sport & Exercise Psychology • Neuropsychology • Teaching and Research in Psychology

4. 1 year 3 years How to become Chartered 1. Take a degree that the BPS accredits. This gives you GBR Graduate Basis for Registration as Member of BPS A good degree (2.1) may be needed. Work experience may be necessary. 2. Take a further accredited course - e.g. D.Ed. Psy. or M.Sc.Occupational

5. Chartered Psychologists What do they do?

6. Help people who have • serious mental illness • depression • anxiety • child & family problems Clinical Psychology • Clinical • Educational • Occupational • Counselling • Forensic • Health • Sport & Exercise • Neuropsychology • Teaching and Research

7. Life as a Clinical Psychologist Where? Mostly in NHS: hospitals, health centres, community mental health teams - child & adolescent mental health, social services. How? Part of team with social workers, medics, other health professionals. Assess people’s mental health via psychometric tests, interviews . . . . Pay £25k - £80k+

8. • Help children and young people develop and learn • Assessing child’s special educational needs • Provide courts & local authorities with reports. Educational Psychology • Clinical • Educational • Occupational • Counselling • Forensic • Health • Sport & Exercise • Neuropsychology • Teaching and Research

9. Life as an Educational Psychologist Where? Mostly for Local Education Authorities, some private, in nurseries, schools, colleges, special units. How? Assess child’s learning problems and plan support. May work with child, parents or school. Write reports for SEN or courts. Involved in policy planning. Pay £25k - £60k

10. • Improve the effectiveness of organisations • satisfaction of employees Occupational Psychology • Clinical • Educational • Occupational • Counselling • Forensic • Health • Sport & Exercise • Neuropsychology • Teaching and Research

11. Life as an Occupational Psychologist Where? In large organisations, both private and public (e.g. Civil Service), or private consultancies (e.g. management training centres). How? Working alongside managers, trade union reps, etc to change working conditions. Involved in selection and training. Pay £35k - £70k

12. Help people deal with • personal and family problems • bereavement • stress, effects of trauma, etc. Counselling • Clinical • Educational • Occupational • Counselling • Forensic • Health • Sport & Exercise • Neuropsychology • Teaching and Research

13. • Offender profiling to aid detection • treatment programs for offenders • assessment for parole boards • training & selection of police & magistrates Forensic Psychology • Clinical • Educational • Occupational • Counselling • Forensic • Health • Sport & Exercise • Neuropsychology • Teaching & Research

14. • preventing ill health, both physical & mental • changing attitudes and behaviours • help patients in the self-management of their illness Health Psychology . . . • Clinical • Educational • Occupational • Counselling • Forensic • Health • Sport & Exercise • Neuropsychology • Teaching & Research

15. Variety of jobs n>9 Not needing chartership X • Psychotherapy • UK Council for Psychotherapy • British Confed. for Psychotherapists • • Hypnotherapy • Child Psychology • Organisational Psychology • Consumer Psychology • Aviation Psychology • Environmental Psychology • Gambling Psychology • Animal Psychology

16. Variety of jobs Usability professionalsdesign & evaluate products - making them more efficient, effective & enjoyable. >10 Where a psych degree is a good starting point • Human Computer Interaction • Advertising • Public Relations • Human Resources • Management • Teaching • Social work • Music/art therapy • Rehabilitation • Data analyst • etc

17. Professional overlaps in client support Chartered   Not chartered Other Professions Psychologists often work with multidisciplinary teams

18. Future prospects Opportunities for work in psychology are expanding in number and scope, especially for those with graduate degrees An undergraduate degree remains excellent preparation for graduate work in psychology or for another field, such as business, medicine, or computer science. APA

19. Further information Further Information BPS careers bookletcan be downloaded from School website and is also at www.bps.org.uk Teach Yourself Applied Psychology Nicky Hayes (2003). London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd. Psychology Student Employability Guide can be downloaded from School website Former students talk about their work experiences at www. psychology.heacademy.ac.uk/html/call_for_case_ studies.asp The American Psychological Association booklet on careers in psychology can be downloaded from www.apa.org