Careers in Psychology

Psychology careers focus on the relationships between individuals, others, and their environments. To assess and understand these relationships, psychologists rely on various combinations of behavioral, cognitive, social, and emotional study. Job opportunities include research, clinical practice, and collaborative care.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for careers in most psychology fields are projected to rise much faster than the national average. Jobs requiring doctoral degrees and/or experience in high-demand specializations offer the highest prospects.

Behavior Analyst

Behavior analysts are trained in applied behavior analysis (ABA) and seek to understand how human behavior is affected by internal (biological) and external (environmental) factors. These professionals are responsible for both assessing how individuals interact with their environments and devising plans for how to promote and reinforce positive behaviors.

Psychologist

There are many types of psychologists including clinical, counseling, developmental, educational, forensic, industrial-organizational (I/O), rehabilitation, and research. Each of these specializations carries with it a unique set of responsibilities, its own educational path, and its own set of licensing requirements. Choosing a career as a psychologist often comes down to deciding the particular clientele you are hoping to serve, the environment(s) where you wish to work, and the level of education (including required field work) you are willing to complete.

Marriage and Family Therapist

Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) use cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients manage and improve their relationships. MFTs often work both with individual clients and with small familial groups to help mend issues relating to life changes, social and emotional connections, and general mental health concerns.