Over the past few decades, tremendous advancements and innovations have been made in the sphere of mental health, thanks to psychology. Psychology, which studies behavioral and mental processes, has now become a fascinating interest for individuals keen on understanding the human brain and behavior. For these ones, studying for a degree in psychology is a pathway necessary to achieve a career in a psychology-related field where the individual can have a more practical experience in behavioral study.
Psychology is generally classified as social science, and psychology careers are closely knitted with biology and science subjects. This article is an expository guide on what it takes to become a psychologist or pursue a psychology-related career in Canada.
What are the Different Types of Psychology Careers in Canada
When practicing psychology, psychology careers usually fall within any of the following types:
- Clinical Psychology: This type of psychology focuses on experimental procedures, scientific trials, and research on the human brain and behavior. Psychobiology and experimental psychology fall under this category.
- Counselling Psychology: This branch of psychology is concerned with evaluating and assessing human behavior through physical interactions and conversation in order to better a variety of personal, mental, interpersonal, social and marital challenges.
- Developmental Psychology: This branch of psychology focuses on the relationship between human developmental processes, formative years and experiences with human behaviour. Developmental psychologists attribute individual development to the root of human behaviors.
- Educational Psychology: Educational psychology is concerned with improving individual knowledge of mental health problems. Usually, as instructors, tutors or lecturers with institutions of learning, educational psychologists conduct research studies that contribute to the mental health community.
- Forensic Psychology: Forensic psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on criminal behaviour among individuals. Forensic psychologists usually work with government agencies, lawyers or as private investigators.
- Health Psychology: This branch of psychology is concerned with positing self-care measures and educating the public on best practices for optimal mental health conditions.
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology: Organizational and industrial psychology focuses on employee/staff behaviour in a corporate environment. This branch of psychology posits best practices for dealing with employees, including behaviour/rewards systems, teamwork, etc.
- Neuropsychology: This branch of psychology focuses on the interaction of neurons, neurotransmitters, body toxins and chemicals with the brain in behavior formation.
- School Psychology: This branch of psychology concerns student behaviour, predispositions and career selections. Typically, school psychologists work as counsellors aiming to improve student behaviour.
How to Get Started in Psychology for Canada?
If you have prospects of becoming a psychologist in Canada or you fancy a career in a psychology-related field, there are several foundational steps you must take before this can become a reality. The first step is to have a bachelor's degree in psychology.
For bachelor's degrees, most universities require the prospective student to have a high school diploma. This is very common for universities in Canada. With a high school diploma, the prospective student will be granted admission based on relevant subjects taken and passed in high school. So, if you want to have admission to the university to study psychology, it is important to ensure your major in high school is relevant to psychology, like biology, statistics, literature, etc.
An individual can also gain admission into the university to study for a psychology degree without a high school diploma or a diploma that is relevant to the intended course of study. For this method of admission to be possible, the prospective student needs to have a valid length of experience in the relevant field, typically 2-3 years, and/or academic readiness for the chosen field of study. Most universities that use this admission method do so on a trial basis.
Most universities in Canada also accept prospective students irrespective of their high school qualifications, life, or work experience. These universities believe that university education is necessary, and anyone who believes they are ready for it should not be hindered by procedural requirements.
By the end of a psychology degree program in a Canadian university, the graduate would have acquired relevant and practical knowledge that can be utilized in the real world. As such, it is not uncommon to see graduates land jobs with a bachelor of psychology. Although, it is almost impossible to get a license as a trained psychologist with a first degree in psychology.
Most graduates may decide to further their education and pursue a Master's degree in psychology or a related field. However, this is optional and depends on the individual’s career goals.
Salary Expectations for a Psychology Degree in Canada
The salary expectations for individuals with a psychology degree vary. This is because most experts with a degree in psychology venture into private practice as therapists, marriage counselors, etc., while others are employed by companies and corporate institutions. However, practicing psychologists in Canada have an average salary range between $97,000 and $131,000.
Skill Set Needed for Psychology in Canada
- Patience: It is no surprise that this skill is first on a psychologist's list of skill sets. The importance of a patient attitude in a therapist cannot be overemphasized. Hence that goes without saying, it is vital for a psychologist to be forbearing, especially when dealing with clients.
- Communication: The core role of a psychologist involves interacting with clients from various backgrounds, and one of the major ways the therapist does this is by conversing with them. As such, it is a prerequisite for a psychologist to have excellent communication skills to carry out their job properly.
- Problem Solving: Generally, people visit therapists or psychologists whenever they are experiencing anomalies in mental health, interpersonal relationships, etc. In these cases, a problem-solving attitude is vital and helpful in arriving at creative solutions for these challenges.
- Ethics: Ethics refers to professional principles guiding humanistic practices. Psychologists must adhere to the profession's ethics, ranging from client confidentiality to fair and equal treatment.
- Emotional Stability: It is common knowledge to "first help yourself before helping others". Since most clients experience mental and social problems due to their emotional health, being emotionally stable helps navigate these situations. Also, emotional stability guides against unethical emotional connections with clients.
- Research: Psychologists must be open to learning in a way that is only helpful to their craft. This means engaging in regular research for valid scientific principles and experiments to help clients with psychological challenges, as previous knowledge can quickly become obsolete.
- Listening: Listening skills are vital for a practicing psychologist because, as mentioned earlier, client interaction major employs conversations, of which listening is a part.
- Organization: During a psychology practice, it is important to keep a physical record and journal of interactions and sessions with each client for reference purposes. Hence, a psychologist needs to be able to organize these records in a manner that is easily accessible.
Learn more about the skills and qualities of a psychologist.
Trained psychologists are good listeners. Source: Pexels - Empathy and Compassion: Last but not least, psychologists need to be deeply compassionate people. The therapist-client relationship and communication will benefit greatly from this attribute.
Career Path for a Psychology Degree in Canada
Individuals with a psychology degree have the capabilities to function in a wide variety of niches ranging from education to human resources, media, medicine, and health. A rough list of these career paths is outlined below:
Psychology Career Paths in Medicine and Health
This is a major specialty for graduates with a psychology degree because numerous job roles exist within this field. Psychologists that choose this career path usually have the following options.
- Psychotherapists and counsellors
- Neuropsychologists
- Health psychologists
- Clinical psychologists
Psychology Career Paths in Education
Individuals with a psychology degree also have abundant career paths in education by functioning as:
- Psychology tutors and lecturers for universities and other institutions of learning
- Educational psychologists
- School counselors
- Research and study experts
Psychology Career Paths in Human Resources
Companies and corporate institutions also seek the expertise of individuals with psychology degrees in recruiting processes, improving employee output, identifying and rewarding high-value employees, etc.
Psychology Career Paths in Sports
Individuals with psychology degrees are also indispensable in the sporting niche. Sports teams require the help of psychologists in evaluating players, team building and bonding, and recommending useful reward systems for positive behavior in sports players.
Psychology Career Paths in Media
Psychologists have also proven relevance in the public media and relations industry. As copywriters, public relations officers, and psychologists can help in evaluating audience response and interactions with clients.
Final Thought
Getting a psychology degree in Canada is quite easy and, at the same time, worthwhile. Almost all universities and colleges offer this degree, so you already have many options on your plate. The aspect of getting a psychology degree that requires the most work is completing the program and achieving the degree. Most psychology bachelor's degrees in Canadian universities take four years until completion, while pursuing a Master's degree in psychology will take about two years to complete.
Since you know what it takes to succeed in your career pursuits, are you prepared to brace up for it? Don't forget to seek help from professional tutors on Superprof as you sojourn on this beautiful journey.
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