More than Just Lines on a Map: Best Practices for U.S Bike Routes
How to Become a Counseling Psychologist
1. How to Become a Counseling Psychologist
The stigma around emotional wellness has plagued us for decades so
much, that many young educated people decide it was time to start
tackling the problem in a multi-million-dollar way and get
depressed so easily for even small things in life.
According to reports, India ranks in the top three on suicide figures
accounting for about 30% of suicide deaths globally. The highest rates
of suicide, though, occur among those aged 15 to 29.
The National Mental Health Survey of India found that nearly 20
percent of the population was affected by common mental disorders,
including depression, anxiety disorders, and substance use disorders.
The fast-paced and stressful world has led our people to struggle
with work-related stress and personal issues. Mental health
challenges can affect an individual’s performance. They are in a bad
need for Counseling psychologists.
2. Counseling psychology is a much in demand specialization across the
globe as mental-health-related ailment has increased in many- folds.
Psychology Counseling courses in India are the most sought after by
the medical courses. It is because people today have become more
conscious and watchful about their health, especially when it comes
to handling stress.
People are vulnerable to many mental health diseases owing to
sedentary, hectic work hours, and many more factors. According to
recent statistics, on average, only one in 10 of those suffering from
mental health issues in India receives help.
It shows that the need for Counseling psychologists has grown! Let’s
have more in-depth insights into Counseling Psychology.
What is Counseling Psychology?
Counseling psychology focuses on teaching patients of all ages how to
cope with emotional, physical, and mental health issues.
What Does a Counseling
Psychologist Do?
Counseling psychologists will focus on the daily life stressors of their
patients, teaching patients to find a balanced approach to overcome
stress. On the other end, Counseling psychologists can intervene and
assist people in times of crisis or extreme stress. They also provide
assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of more complicated and
advanced psychological symptoms.
3. The various skills & competencies
required becoming a successful
Counseling Psychologist
To be a competent Counseling psychologist, you will need a mix of
personal skills and personality traits. Here are the essential skills and
abilities to become a successful Counseling psychologist:
Excellent listening and communication skills
In all forms of therapy, you will need to keenly listen to people, reflect
their thoughts, and should remember important events and feelings
that they convey to you.
The ability to develop a non-judgmental approach
A counselor’s job is not just to pass judgment or give advice on a
client’s actions or feelings; instead, through talking therapy, they aim
4. to help clients see things clearly, from a different, more optimistic
viewpoint.
An understanding of confidentiality and professional boundaries
As a Counseling psychologist, you should be able to communicate with
patients about the nature and limits of the therapeutic relationship.
Typically, it starts during the initial consultation with the patient
while they fill out your disclosure forms.
Resilience, patience, and humility
Developing sufficient emotional robustness and also a high degree of
self-reflexivity is a fundamental value of any counselor. You will also
need a capability for self-care and a willingness to distinguish your
limitations.
Real interest in people
For a more gratifying career, it is more important to be curious in
this field and dedicated to improving the emotional wellbeing of the
patients. Being able to reveal real interest in client’s situations will
encourage a very positive and trusting relationship between the
client and the counselor.
Scope of a Counseling Psychologist
Psychology in India is gaining importance; eventually, the demand
for it is on the rise. So, you will get ample opportunities to work in
different areas.
Counselors play a vital role in NGOs, Old age homes,
Rehabilitation Centers, etc. A counselor understands the situation
undergone by their patients, and help them come out of their
miseries. The problems are like traumatic events in a person’s life
or some personal difficulty in relationships.
In nursing homes, counselors’ take up responsibility and ensure
that old people do not feel lonely or worthless. Counselors working
in rehabilitation centers (E.g., Drug addicts) help the patients to
5. reduce the intake of drugs.
They try to figure out the reasons and help them come out of their
miserable life. They don’t deal with severe cases. The average pay
of a counselor as a fresher is 20–30K per month.
Education Sector: Psychologists act as school counselors, trainers,
career counselors, etc. They help children during their educational
years. They also deal with students who have learning difficulties
or some behavioral issues. Career counselors also help students to
understand their potential, and in making them choose the right
career for their better future. This industry absorbs the highest
number of psychologists. The average pay in this area for the
fresher is 20-35K per month approximately.
Clinical psychology: Clinical Psychologists are in high demand in
today’s world. You should first complete M.Phil. or Ph.D. in
Counseling phycology before you start independent practice. They
deal with persons who require clinical attention. They apply
various therapies and work parallel to a psychiatrist.
There is a common confusion among people between a clinical
psychologist and a Psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are required to
complete their MBBS and MD in Psychiatry. They can even
prescribe medicines, whereas clinical psychologists do only apply
therapies with the clients. It is significant for any psychiatrist and
a clinical psychologist to work together as a team. Clinical
Psychologists earn 30–35K per month approximately.
Organizational Psychology: Organizational psychologists work for
MNCs and organizations in HR departments. They handle the
problems of the employees and make them work together
effectively as a team. The average pay for them is approximately
30K per month.
Research: If you have a passion for research in this field, both
qualitative and quantitative research are promising areas.
Researchers are paid 25K per month approximately.
6. How to do a PhD in Guidance &
Counseling Psychology
The work of a counselor can be very intense and demanding. Earning
a degree in India from a top-notch university could be the right
choice to up-skill your career in this field and serve the community
better and being the game-changer in someone’s life.
Counseling psychologists have the choice of obtaining a Doctor of
Philosophy (Ph.D.). Now it is easy for anyone to pursue their higher
education without compromising your current work in today’s
innovative digital world. Online course on Ph.D. in Guidance and
Counseling Psychology by Texila American University in academic
partnership with the University of Central Nicaragua helps you reach
the very top in your career as a Counseling Psychologist.
Texila’s blended and distance learning helps in molding you as a
better Counseling psychologist. They use a unique learning
methodology BBRRIICCSS (BRICS), which allows any student
enrolled to study at their own pace at their comfortable location. The
structure of this learning methodology covers all the current inputs
for the students, who pursue the study, to make them stay updated.
Get enrolled now and join the community of successful people who
have passed out from Texila.