Career Paper
Tearna Sankofa
San Jose State University My interests in Clinical Psychology are aimed toward abnormal psychology and counseling. Psychotherapy comes with the job title of becoming a Clinical Psychologist, which I find the most interesting sector of this profession. While attending San Jose State University I have learned a lot about other careers other than Clinical Psychology, for example – becoming a social worker, human resource management, child psychologist and a probation officer. These are careers I also would consider doing after graduating college.
Short-Term Goals
My short-term goals while attending school is obtaining a 3.4 or higher GPA to have a higher possibility on getting accepted into graduate school. Within my last year of attending San Jose State, I plan on doing volunteer and internships so I can gain hands on experience in the field I plan on getting my overall degree in. As an undergraduate I have already started looking into internships by working in women shelters with domestic violence, homeless shelters, probation offices, or health clinics. This gives me a chance to work with individuals or groups
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I am also looking towards earning a minor in child development or social work. After graduating San Jose State I would like to gain at least a year of experience working with my B.S. at an entry-level job. As of now, I am applying to a domestic abuse women’s shelter for volunteer work. After this semester with the hours obtained from volunteer work, I plan on then applying to become a resident advocate. While working at my job, I plan on taking that year off from school, then coming back to get my masters degree in counseling psychology. I know San Jose State offers a masters program in counseling psychology and in clinical psychology. I definitely am considering joining one of these programs to earn my masters
The Psychology career I chose is Counseling Psychologist. A Counseling Psychologist are professionals “ who help individuals strengthen their mental health and get through common life problems with their home, job or social lives” (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015, pg.1). Usually Counseling Psychologists find work at schools, businesses, hospitals or mental health clinics. They have to have an experience of a 1-2 year internship to qualify for a license but first they have to earn a Psy.D. The license these counselors obtain varies depending where they live and is needed to “ deliver mental health services and use the title ‘psychologist’” (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015, pg.1).Counseling Psychologists have to have good communication skills and analytical skills. Annually, Counseling Psychologist earn about
My entire life I have always been on the search of a career that would fit my persona, fit who I truly am, and to become someone who will constantly have the ability to help people through their difficult problems that they face. Throughout my life I have been deemed the type of person that people felt comfortable coming to with their problems. Maybe people feel this way because they sense that I have a sympathetic ear? Well, all I can say is that human behavior has always seemed interesting to me and that is probably why I made the decision to go down the psychology career pathway.
There are many professional pathways within psychology that an individual may apply themselves to for their career. These include: clinical, forensic, health, and educational psychology. The professional career pathway within applied psychology which will be discussed in this essay is the field of clinical psychology. Clinical psychology aims to reduce the amount of psychological distress an individual experiences and enhance the promotion of psychological well-being. Clinical psychologists attend to both mental and physical health problems including addiction, anxiety, depression, learning difficulties and relationship issues in order to help individuals resolve their problems. Clinical psychologists predominantly work within hospitals, mental health groups and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Clinical | Careers, 2016).
“Few fields of study offer more career opportunities than does psychology” (Sternburg 3). There are a wide selection of specialties a person could go into with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. In graduate school, which is a must to attend, there is the option to explore the different specialities or to go into the desired specialty without any research of the others. There are also many options within a specific specialty. There is the option to be a teacher, to work for various organizations, be a speaker, to have your own practice, and many others. In the psychology field these options can all be combined. In fact it is expected of psychologists to do more activities involving their specialty than solely sit in an office and listen to patients. There are two specialities that I am interested in however, over the years, these specialties have become very similar. Clinical and counseling psychology have evolved to become one in the same. Someone who specializes in clinical psychology are more
Clinical psychology is just one of the many subfields that psychology has to offer. Those who choose to enter clinical psychology aim to help people with addiction, emotional stress, mental illness, or any other type of mental problems. Knowing what a clinical psychologist does in their practice is important in understanding their profession. A clinical psychologist's education is the most prominent part of their career; without it, they cannot be considered a psychologist. The process and requirements of employment for psychologists are scattered, varying from state to state, as well as their salary and where they may be employed. The future and growth of clinical psychology can only be
Mental Health Counselors are some of highest interacting people in the career industry. Having the highest ability to communicate with peers, you are faced with new challenges every single day. Many different types of people bring many different problems to the table. They are not expected to close the door due to the fact of not knowing how to help one. You will need a very high comprehension of the world around you, to be able to achieve high success rates in this career.
When I declared a psychology major during the second year of my undergraduate career, my objective was to attend medical school and eventually become a psychiatrist. I enjoyed the psychology classes in which I was enrolled and found them to compliment the premed curriculum I also wanted to study. I reasoned that a major in psychology would provide insight that could later be useful in my planned studies of psychiatry. Although I decided against going to medical school, psychology remained the primary area of focus of my studies with the ultimate career goal of becoming a clinical psychologist. While my long term professional plans include achieving a PhD and becoming a clinical psychologist. Pursuing a masters degree in
Psycology is the study of the mind and behavior. There are many careers in the psychology field. From working with children, social work and counselling. There is a wide field that you can work in going into psychology.
To be a mental health counselor a high level of education is needed. Therefore a typical entry level of education is a master’s degree (BLS.gov). Most mental health therapist go to school for 4 years and get a master’s degree. Getting a master degree is what is required, but getting a higher degree would help with your career a lot. Going to school and getting a higher degree of level of education will help you’re salary increase (Careerinpsychology.org). Getting a bachelor of a PhD is going to increase pay and going to help you with more business, if in private practice. While getting an education a license is needed to work as a mental health counselor (Mentalhealthcounselor.org). Getting a license is required. Having a license will help
Mental Health Counselor is the career I have decided to go for. It took me forever and a lot of thinking to decide exactly what I want to do with my life. I have dealt with depression, anxiety, self harming all within myself. I also dealt with watching my father abuse alcohol, and getting cancer and passing. My daughter is ADHD, ODD and suffers with anxiety. I also work in a group home taking care of mentally challenged people. Altogether I've dealt with a lot and I think experiencing everything I have, would make me understand and be a good mental health counselor.
"Clinical Child Psychology is a specialty of professional psychology, which brings together the basic tenets of clinical psychology with a thorough background in child, adolescent and family development and developmental psychopathology."(cospp.org) Clinical child psychology is a very rewarding profession to go into. It may take some time to actual obtain your degree and license but in the end it all seems to worth it to help the children. Researching this topic people will learn the basics of how to get a degree, to obtain a license, major organizations, and other major researches of the study.
By the end of my senior year, my main priority, like any other senior, is to wear my cap and gown, walk across the stage, and receive my high school diploma. To accomplish this goal, I must continue excelling in school with all A’s and maintaining my diligent study skills. I also need to take as many dual enrollment courses at Clayton State University as possible in order to shorten my time in college. After graduating, the next leading goal is to get accepted into either Emory University or University of Georgia, but preferably Emory. Should Emory accept me, then I definitely need to apply to and receive scholarships like Gates Millennium and Zell Miller, for example. In addition, I desire to preserve my current rank as the salutatorian. Perhaps if I persevere more, then I could possibly graduate as the valedictorian. To do this, I can always study harder and receive tutoring about topics I do not completely comprehend. Also, somewhere along the lines, I hope that can obtain a job as a
I first became interested in psychology a couple years ago. I feel like I need to try and help make a difference, and that's what I would like to spend the rest
I believe that the answers to the greatest questions and problems in life could be gained through a better understanding of the human mind. Psychology is a study of human behaviors and trying to understand why we do the things we do. Because of this I would be interested in a career in psychology though there are many different career fields within psychology. I would be most interested in a career in health psychology though there’s an extensive learning process. It is important to understand the education or training requirements,skills,and talents needed salary and benefits offered and duties for a particular career when making this decision.
Psychology is the study of the mind, its biology, and behavior if the individual. The father of psychology, Wilhelm Wundt, used objective measurement and controlled analyzing to find and emphasize separation between psychology and philosophy (McLeod). Wundt opened the Institute for Experimental Psychology at the University of Leipzig in Germany in 1879, using his background in physiology to study reactions and sensations (McLeod). There is no doubt that he, along with the later help of Sigmund Freud, launched what is now modern psychology. Psychology and its research helped the world understand the inner workings of the mind and how it affects everyone around us.