8 advantages and disadvantages of being a psychologist
The good and the bad of dedicating oneself to the profession of psychology interventions in consultation.
All professions have their advantages and disadvantages, and psychology is no exception. Dedicating oneself to this exciting discipline is a way of going through moments that make it all worthwhile thanks to the personal and professional satisfaction they produce. However, there are also specific moments that are frustrating or tedious.
It is important, before considering whether to embark on this training and career path, whether our preferences, motivations and goals fit well with what the profession offers us. That is why it is good to know the best and the worst, it is good to know the best and the worst of being a psychologist..
The advantages and disadvantages of dedicating oneself to psychology
Clearly, the advantages and disadvantages of engaging in psychology are something that depends on personal opinions and subjectivity. are something that depends on the personal opinions and subjectivity of each one, but in broad outline they are the following.
The advantages of being a psychologist
Among the good things about being a psychologist, there are several things that have to do both with what happens in real time in therapy and counseling or training sessions, as well as others that occur outside the as well as others that occur outside the sessions.
1. It allows one to see in the improvement of others the fruit of one's own work.
Psychologists very often have great reason to rejoice: the consequences of their work directly benefit someone else, and they directly benefit someone else, and translate into lasting happiness that one can see for oneself. that one can see for oneself. This is something that happens in very few professions.
2. Offer flexible working hours
If you don't work in a company, psychologists can have a freedom of schedule that is have a freedom of schedules that is of gratefulness. In addition, the possibility of doing therapy online means that sessions do not have to be cancelled if a patient or client goes out of town or is traveling.
3. It always gives excuses to keep on learning.
Psychology is a young field, so it develops very quickly. That is why whoever is dedicated to this field is always in touch with very interesting sources of knowledge about human behavior: seminars, conferences, books, scientific articles... All of them can be relevant to the profession dealing with such different topics as biology, philosophy, neurology, learning, etc.learning, etc.
4. Allows you to learn techniques to apply to yourself
Having a therapist to advise and direct us externally is never the same as not having one, but by knowing various principles, theories and techniques, psychologists have more ways to adapt to the circumstances that arise in their own lives, psychologists have more ways to adapt to the circumstances that arise in their own lives, on the one hand, and are less likely to fall into harmful beliefs.They are less likely to fall into harmful beliefs about mental processes, personal problems, and behavioral patterns that they themselves manifest from time to time.
The disadvantages of going into psychology
We have already seen several of the advantages that the profession of psychology offers. Let us now turn to that not-so-nice side of this work.
1. Doubts based on the criteria followed
The profession of psychologists usually goes hand in hand with significant and intense experiences, since in most cases one is constantly dealing with people of all kinds. In addition, the type of relationship that is established between the psychology professional and those with whom he or she interacts (whether patients, clients or subjects on whom psychological intervention is performed) can become emotionally charged, which is not usual in professional environments.
After all, psychologists never cease to empathize. That is why sometimes it is possible to doubt whether certain actions are carried out on the basis of professional criteria or from a personal one, based on emotion.
2. Finding time to look for clients
If the fact of offering the services of psychological intervention already consumes enough time, money and effort, to this we must add the task of finding clients.
This is compounded by the fact that it is often a task that is not foreseen by psychologists, who have been training for several years with the idea of having to invest all their skills in therapeutic intervention and education and awareness programs. Developing a marketing plan can be complicated and time-consuming.and you have to find the time to do it.
3. Labor intrusion
Unfortunately, both in Spain and in many other Spanish-speaking countries, the profession of the profession of psychology is not very well regulated by law.This means that there is a lot of labor intrusion. There are people who, having taken a weekend course in Coaching, believe that they can give psychotherapy.
This has disastrous results for everyone: clients are harmed by spending time and money on something that does not work and can even cause them to skip really effective treatments; psychologists are deprived of a part of their market, and false therapists end up being rained upon by complaints.
4. Prejudices about psychologists
Many people believe that psychologists are always practicing as psychologists.This means, on the one hand, that any friend, relative or friend of a friend can ask them for free therapy, and on the other hand, that they are always trying to "read people's minds". Obviously none of this is true, but sometimes it can be quite annoying that people in the close environment assume these erroneous beliefs.
(Updated at Apr 12 / 2024)