Where will a career in psychology take you?
A psychiatrist's career combines medical training with mental health treatment, requiring an MD or DO degree, a four-year residency, and board certification. Psychiatrists diagnose mental disorders, prescribe medications, and provide therapy. The median annual salary is $226,880, with a projected 6% job growth through 2031.
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Most think of guidance counselors in the school setting and it is true, most guidance counselors work in schools. But on a more general level, guidance counselors are not just solely responsible with helping students make wise educational and career choices. They can also provide young adults with career advice and help students of all ages adjust socially to the school environment to fulfill their potential in the classroom. They can be found in primary and secondary schools and even in post-secondary institutions as well but many can also be found working career centers and job-placement organizations too.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that takes a practical and tangible approach to solving issues. CBT is designed to help people change the way they think and the way they behave in order to help ease or even solve someone's issues. It is used in a wide variety of cases including things like depression or relationship issues, but its effectiveness stems from its ability to help people think about how their attitudes and beliefs are affecting their behavior. Once that is understood, it can be used to help affect change in that behavior.
Psychotherapy careers include clinical psychologists (PhD/PsyD required, median $96,100), psychiatrists (MD required, median $249,760), marriage and family therapists (master's required, median $63,780), mental health counselors (master's required, median $59,190), and clinical social workers (MSW required, median $60,060). Most roles require 6-10 years of education, supervised training, and state licensure. Job growth ranges from 6% to 22% through 2034.
Transpersonal therapy is a holistic mental health approach that integrates psychological healing with spiritual growth and self-actualization. Transpersonal therapists typically need a master's degree in counseling or psychology, state licensure, and earn a median salary of $59,190 nationally, according to BLS data for mental health counselors. Employment for mental health counselors is projected to grow 22% through 2031, driven by increased interest in holistic mental health care.
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Cultural psychologists study how culture and human behavior influence each other. They typically need a master's or doctoral degree in psychology with cultural specialization and earn an average of $99,560 annually, according to the BLS category for "psychologists, all other." Career opportunities span research, counseling, education, and public policy development across universities, healthcare facilities, and government agencies.