Weighing the pros and cons of being a psychologist can help you decide if it is right for you.
There are manyadvantages of being a psychologist, but no career is 100% ideal all of the time.
As you evaluate your career options, think about your own personality, needs, and interests.
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Changes in billing laws and requirements can create new challenges for psychologists and mental health professionals.
Unfortunately, this can also create a daily strain of dealing with the difficult issues your clients face.
Simply put, it can be emotionally exhausting.
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To reduce the risk ofburnout, it is important to find ways to deal with stress.
Finding the rightwork-life balancecan be an essential part of combatting burnout.
Practicing goodstress managementtechniques can also be very helpful.
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Because of this, flexibility is an important skill for any psychologist to develop.
Hosting free support group sessions and advertising in the local media are other promotional options.
While there are various forms of financial aid available, graduate school can also be costly.
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For many, this represents a significant downside and a barrier to entering the field.
Getting a master’s in psychology can take two to three years of post-bachelors degree study.
A doctorate can take five to seven, depending on the individual program.
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What This Means For You
Like any career, being a psychologist has both advantages and disadvantages.
Only you could determine if the good outweighs the possible downsides.
Spend some time researching your options to find the job that is the right fit for you.
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Stress, burnout, unpredictable scheduling, and billing concerns are just a few downsides you might face.
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Psychologists.Occupational Outlook Handbook.
