How To Become A Professional In Psychology?

Psychology is one of the majors with the greatest diversity of professional opportunities and, at the same time, it is one of the most in-demand university majors. This combination makes what we decide to do after completing the Bachelor’s or Degree in Psychology key, since it will depend on whether we can position ourselves well in the labor market or not.

And studying to be a psychologist is not the same as becoming a professional in Psychology; The first only involves learning in general terms, and the second adds the fact of having a strategic vision of how we can make that profession a sustainable work project capable of allowing us to make a living from it.

In the same way that there is a difference between what is seen in a university classroom and what is seen on a day-to-day basis caring for patients and clients, we must learn both theory and practice, even in its small daily details. Therefore, in this article We will talk about the guidelines to take into account to become a professional in psychology

How to go from studying Psychology to working in it?

The fact that every day more companies and organizations of all types request the services of a psychologist, whether in the clinical field, Human Resources, Sports or specialized in personal development, makes psychology an attractive career for people. young people who want to dedicate their lives to this discipline and expand their professional horizon. Nowadays, the work of specialists with this profile is very varied, and as always, new research and scientific discoveries about human behavior and mind are appearing, The normal thing is to continue training once the Bachelor’s or Bachelor’s degree is completed

Due to the great diversity of paths that psychology students can take and the various specialization modalities that exist once they finish their degree, it is possible that some people who want to start their studies may feel overwhelmed or disoriented.

That is why in today’s article we will briefly review the steps we can follow to be psychologists, in addition to the advantages of studying the Degree in Psychology and post-university specialization

What should we take into account to study psychology?

Studying psychology allows us to learn more about human nature, the mind and also about emotions and psychopathologies in the field of mental health. In addition to that, it equips us with several useful tools to help anyone who may have alterations in their mental health or need any type of professional help in their daily life.

To start studying psychology, we must ask ourselves if that is what we really want for our professional life and if that is our true vocation. To do this, it is worth organizing our expectations and priorities on paper and, from that, carrying out a brief SWOT analysis. Besides that, also We must take into account the wide variety of specializations that we can pursue in the future something that will undoubtedly motivate us much more to take the definitive step.

The first step to becoming a psychotherapy professional is study the Degree or Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at the university of our choice. This training will allow us to acquire the essential knowledge of psychotherapy in general, through a scientific methodology and organized into theoretical-practical thematic blocks.

It is worth clarifying that although here we will focus on the training path to become psychotherapists, there are other outlets in addition to psychotherapy with which one can practice as an expert professional in mental health.

The keys to becoming a professional in Psychology

The world of psychology is so broad and covers so many areas of intervention that it is advisable to continue studying and specializing in Masters and/or Postgraduate degrees, since in this way we will have greater knowledge and greater chances of positioning ourselves in the job market.

In the laboral world A qualified professional specialized in his or her branch of intervention will always be more sought after than another psychology graduate who does not have specific studies or an optimal level of training after university.

That is why to become high-level psychologists we must choose a field of intervention, according to our preferences and vocation; in which to specialize to acquire all the tools and strategies that turn us into virtuous, reliable and methodical professionals.

There are many branches of specialization that we can opt for, among the most in demand we can find Clinical Psychology, Neuropsychology, Child Psychology, Organizational or Human Resources Psychology and Sports Psychology, in addition to the various internal specialties that are offered. included in each of these branches or modalities.

Regardless of the branch in which we want to specialize, It is important to carry out the specific practices of each specialization during post-university training since the degree/bachelor’s degree focuses rather on theory and Psychology in general, as an abstract discipline instead of giving details about the psychologist’s day-to-day life and his practical work.

With the practices that we find in Master’s or Postgraduate studies, we acquire all the skills and abilities of practical application necessary in the daily life of a psychology professional. In addition to that, learning is most often carried out in specialized centers alongside highly qualified professionals and in professional environments similar to those in the real life of a psychologist.

In summary, The practical knowledge acquired in post-university internships will be very useful to us when entering the current job market and will allow us to adapt more skillfully and easily to the real world of daily psychology.

Advantages of continuing studying after finishing your degree

In addition to facilitating access to more clients due to greater qualifications and knowledge, continuing to study after completing our degree and specializing in a specific area will allow us to update our knowledge and acquire the best therapies, techniques and strategies specific to our discipline and specialization.

Another advantage of specializing is finding new areas in which to delve deeper and learn within the psychological discipline, which we can use in our daily professional practice

On the contrary, the main drawback of continuing to study after finishing the degree is the financial expense that we incur in Masters and/or Postgraduate degrees, the time invested in post-university training and the effort that we must put into practice to successfully pass each one. of the training phases or objectives.

How to choose a Master’s or Postgraduate Degree

When choosing the best Master’s or Postgraduate Degree that suits our interests, we must take into account a series of aspects that are of great importance for our professional future.

To begin with, we must ensure that this training allows for internships in specialized centers and that the classes They are taught by professionals in the sector and not only by people who dedicate themselves almost 100% to teaching

In addition to that, it is important to consider the possibility of studying online or hybrid (in-person and online at the same time), to have updated study materials and to have easily accessible tutors to answer questions at any time and in a personalized way.

In general, it is recommended that at least 50% of the contents be oriented to the practice of work, and not only to its theoretical aspects; Ultimately, professionalization involves preparing ourselves in the best possible way to start working in a field, something complicated if we only have knowledge based on abstract ideas and not on everyday aspects of dealing with clients, patients, research teams, communities in which to intervene, etc.

Finally, it is important to take into account the price of the training and its duration, as well as the number of standardized credits offered by each subject. If you consider that you need a very complete training, choosing a Master’s degree is the best option; If, on the other hand, studying for a few months is enough, the postgraduate option may be the most appropriate.

Do you want to specialize in psychotherapy?

If you want to learn the theory and practice of patient care within the framework of psychotherapy, you may be interested the Master of Integrative Psychotherapy offered by the Mensalus Institute

This training program is developed by the team of psychologists from one of the main Psychology centers in Barcelona, ​​and allows you to work with real cases with patients, as well as learn the most used strategies and techniques in psychological assistance from an integrative theoretical framework. It is available in face-to-face, online or hybrid mode, and lasts one school year. To learn more, visit the Mensalus Institute page.