Susie Marquez A psychologist’s job revolves around the mental and emotional needs of other people. They are the ones who study, help, experiment and give solutions to those in need. They deal with patients who are diagnosed with depression, mental health issues, disabilities and a range of other illnesses related to the brain.
The role of a psychologist is a demanding and tiring yet fulfilling and rewarding job. They are required to be constantly updating skills and new practices that can be taken up with different patients. While it is a job that requires a lot of studying and research there are also certain personality traits that a psychologist need. Here is a list of important skills a psychologist needs in order to be successful at their job.
Research is endless
Someone who does not enjoy reading and constantly studying will not be effective for the role of a psychologist. The job demands you to be updated with new theories, methods of research and skills that you could try using with the patients.
A psychologist needs to be well read and be motivated to find out new ways of conducting therapy. If you are someone who is passionate about the subject and all the new practices being introduced the hours spent studying new material will not be in waste.
Ability to write
You might think that a psychologist does a lot more talking that writing but while the job does entail talking it is a mandatory skill to be able to write reports, research and even thesis. Similar to the therapy sessions we see in movies and TV shows where the therapist always seems to be furiously writing things down on their notebooks this does happen in real life too. A role of a psychologist it to note down the progress of patients and actively check if there have been changes and the areas for improvement.
Maintain a healthy work – life balance
The job of a psychologist can be stressful and tiring, as it is demanding. Just like their patient’s psychologist too can experience periods of depression and burnouts due to long hours. It is a daunting job that requires a very high mental stamina. However, in order to help with this problem there are many programs set up for psychologists. You can discover a range of psychology professional development workshops that are catered to mentoring and providing guidance.
Being committed to the job
Initially the role of a psychologist can seem great because you are helping someone get through life, however over time the motivation to remain committed to your patients and the role can become difficult. This is ideally where true passion and commitment to the job is proven.
While it is possible to see positive response and growth from some patients, the journey can be slower or less effective with others. The strength, courage and motivation to constantly be willing to help patients are what separate a great psychologist from the good. It is a challenging yet noble job to take on.
