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Diego
Student
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Could you describe in detail what a psychologist does on a typical day? What were some challenges you’ve had as a psychologist and how did you overcome them?
I am a high school student who is trying to figure out more about how to become a psychologist.
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4 answers
Gena Holmes
Clinical Psychologist
14
Answers
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Updated
Gena’s Answer
Thanks for this question. I enjoyed thinking about this.
The roles of a psychologist vary greatly.
One of the great things about being a psychologists is there are a wide range or differing roles, eg. Working on clinical trails and in research, work in a school doing cognitive assessments, work with the elderly doing functional assessment and assisting with emotional wellbeing, working in an inpatient unit doing diagnostic assessment and manualised treatments and or group work, as a grief counsellor for a community service organisation counselling people who are bereaved, in a hospital supporting patients who have had a head injury (neuropsychology)……. the list goes on.
You could have a look online for ‘psychologists jobs’ and see the positions advertised to get a sense of what is out there.
My preference for work is as a psychologist/psychotherapist ie assisting people process emotions and understand themselves better so they suffer less. The books I suggest and my descriptions will be helpful for this line of work but there are many other roles and ways of working so don’t be put off if my description of my day doesn’t appeal to you.
I work part time, online (video call) from home doing long term individual psychotherapy. I work for myself so start and finish times vary but typically I’d have my first client around 9 and then see between 3-6 clients per day, with the last around 5 pm.
Many psychologists I know see many more clients per day than this, up to 8 or 9.
Usually my day starts by dropping my children to day care and then returning home to work.
9am ‘Crystal’ a woman in her twenties logs on for her weekly video session. She has been coming weekly for 4 years. She begins to cry as soon as the session starts so I gently share my observations eg it’s obviously a hard time, I can see how distressed she is. Eventually the crying subsides and we are able to talk in depth about what she is experiencing. I ask some questions, I elaborate on what she has told me, I notice some themes so I share these, I recall similar events she has told me about before so I link these things together. Crystal has questions about ever being able to cope without therapy so we discuss this. I remind her the aim is she takes the work we do inside and then carries this with her, making it her own (internalising) and as this process solidifies she is likely to need therapy less and less.
After the session ends I immediately jot a few notes down (I don’t take notes in sessions as it helps me listen better, many psychologists will take notes in the session though). I then process the payment and Medicare rebate online. After this I write a session note in my online client records system. A brief summary with key points. I then meditate on the session, my own idiosyncratic process where I sit quietly with my eyes closed digesting the session, wondering about my client, just seeing what comes up.
My next client isn’t until 11:30 so I go to my kitchen and unpack the dishwasher and tidy up. I make a coffee and return to my office.
I have a letter to write to a GP to request more sessions under Medicare so I spend about 20 minutes writing and then faxing this (using my online fax service). I notice I have a voicemail message so I check this. It’s a someone I haven’t met asking about booking sessions. I note down their number and decide to call them after my next client. I then spend about 5 minutes ‘meditating’ or silently reflecting on the next client.
At 11:35 my next client logs on for their weekly session.
The content and ‘feel’ of this session is radically different to my first session.
After this session I follow the same process as for my first session, minus the 10 minute meditation, instead I spend just a few moments reflecting before I write the notes.
A similar pattern of the day would follow until I complete the paperwork for my last client.
Throughout the day at spontaneous times I reflect on my clients. Sometimes something external will trigger a memory or thought about my client that hopefully deepens my understanding of them. I welcome these reflections as they are often brief and I find them interesting. In this respect I could be ‘working’ at any moment I guess. I don’t find it intrusive or interrupting my life.
Sometimes I will search for articles and books about a particular issue or presentation related to a client. If I am honest, only occasionally I will read the full article (due to time and attention span!).
I have supervision where I discuss clients, fortnightly. I have group supervision fortnightly.
I occasionally attend training seminars.
Most weeks there would be at least one cancellation. Charging fees, especially cancellation fees has been a challenge for me as I find it uncomfortable to charge for no service provided but it is important for deep trauma work that the client attends regularly and cancellation fees encourage this. It is also a business necessity (I reserve weekly spots for people and some weeks up to three new clients may have been turned away because spots were filled, only to have the session cancelled, meaning three potential clients missed out and I don’t get paid). What has helped with my discomfort with the fee is being very clear verbally and in writing about cancellation fees right from the first session. I also had to work at not criticising myself for my discomfort with fees. I also realised that’s it’s preferable to be flexible with the fee as opposed to waiving it completely eg if it’s a hard time financially for a client I could reduce the cancellation fee or have it paid off over 2 weeks. At least this way it is in the client’s mind vs if I simply waive it altogether which gives the impression it does’t really matter.
Another challenge has been pressure from external referers and sometimes clients to provide solutions and manualised treatments when I work very differently to this. Being very clear in my own mind about the purpose and nature of the type of therapy I offer has helped. I have found it is not necessary to put other methods down in order to feel ok with the way I work. All types of therapy are trying to achieve the same thing, the pathway to get there can be very different and that’s ok.
In this area I have also found articles by researcher and psychotherapist Jonathan Shedler very helpful. I would highly recommend reading his articles and listening podcasts where he is a guest, especially ‘the empirical wears no clothes’ on the ‘Between us’ podcast.
All the best with your decision. As I mentioned, I work as a psychologist/psychotherapist however there are many, many other ways of being a psychologist so if my descriptions don’t appeal, that may just tell you ‘psychotherapy’ isn’t the career for you. Another area of psychology may suit you better though.
Good luck!
Search for psychologist job vacancies and read the position descriptions
Read Schopenhauer's Porcupines by Deborah Anna Luepnitz
The Fear of Doing Nothing: Notes of a Young Therapist Valery Hazanov
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20141265/
The roles of a psychologist vary greatly.
One of the great things about being a psychologists is there are a wide range or differing roles, eg. Working on clinical trails and in research, work in a school doing cognitive assessments, work with the elderly doing functional assessment and assisting with emotional wellbeing, working in an inpatient unit doing diagnostic assessment and manualised treatments and or group work, as a grief counsellor for a community service organisation counselling people who are bereaved, in a hospital supporting patients who have had a head injury (neuropsychology)……. the list goes on.
You could have a look online for ‘psychologists jobs’ and see the positions advertised to get a sense of what is out there.
My preference for work is as a psychologist/psychotherapist ie assisting people process emotions and understand themselves better so they suffer less. The books I suggest and my descriptions will be helpful for this line of work but there are many other roles and ways of working so don’t be put off if my description of my day doesn’t appeal to you.
I work part time, online (video call) from home doing long term individual psychotherapy. I work for myself so start and finish times vary but typically I’d have my first client around 9 and then see between 3-6 clients per day, with the last around 5 pm.
Many psychologists I know see many more clients per day than this, up to 8 or 9.
Usually my day starts by dropping my children to day care and then returning home to work.
9am ‘Crystal’ a woman in her twenties logs on for her weekly video session. She has been coming weekly for 4 years. She begins to cry as soon as the session starts so I gently share my observations eg it’s obviously a hard time, I can see how distressed she is. Eventually the crying subsides and we are able to talk in depth about what she is experiencing. I ask some questions, I elaborate on what she has told me, I notice some themes so I share these, I recall similar events she has told me about before so I link these things together. Crystal has questions about ever being able to cope without therapy so we discuss this. I remind her the aim is she takes the work we do inside and then carries this with her, making it her own (internalising) and as this process solidifies she is likely to need therapy less and less.
After the session ends I immediately jot a few notes down (I don’t take notes in sessions as it helps me listen better, many psychologists will take notes in the session though). I then process the payment and Medicare rebate online. After this I write a session note in my online client records system. A brief summary with key points. I then meditate on the session, my own idiosyncratic process where I sit quietly with my eyes closed digesting the session, wondering about my client, just seeing what comes up.
My next client isn’t until 11:30 so I go to my kitchen and unpack the dishwasher and tidy up. I make a coffee and return to my office.
I have a letter to write to a GP to request more sessions under Medicare so I spend about 20 minutes writing and then faxing this (using my online fax service). I notice I have a voicemail message so I check this. It’s a someone I haven’t met asking about booking sessions. I note down their number and decide to call them after my next client. I then spend about 5 minutes ‘meditating’ or silently reflecting on the next client.
At 11:35 my next client logs on for their weekly session.
The content and ‘feel’ of this session is radically different to my first session.
After this session I follow the same process as for my first session, minus the 10 minute meditation, instead I spend just a few moments reflecting before I write the notes.
A similar pattern of the day would follow until I complete the paperwork for my last client.
Throughout the day at spontaneous times I reflect on my clients. Sometimes something external will trigger a memory or thought about my client that hopefully deepens my understanding of them. I welcome these reflections as they are often brief and I find them interesting. In this respect I could be ‘working’ at any moment I guess. I don’t find it intrusive or interrupting my life.
Sometimes I will search for articles and books about a particular issue or presentation related to a client. If I am honest, only occasionally I will read the full article (due to time and attention span!).
I have supervision where I discuss clients, fortnightly. I have group supervision fortnightly.
I occasionally attend training seminars.
Most weeks there would be at least one cancellation. Charging fees, especially cancellation fees has been a challenge for me as I find it uncomfortable to charge for no service provided but it is important for deep trauma work that the client attends regularly and cancellation fees encourage this. It is also a business necessity (I reserve weekly spots for people and some weeks up to three new clients may have been turned away because spots were filled, only to have the session cancelled, meaning three potential clients missed out and I don’t get paid). What has helped with my discomfort with the fee is being very clear verbally and in writing about cancellation fees right from the first session. I also had to work at not criticising myself for my discomfort with fees. I also realised that’s it’s preferable to be flexible with the fee as opposed to waiving it completely eg if it’s a hard time financially for a client I could reduce the cancellation fee or have it paid off over 2 weeks. At least this way it is in the client’s mind vs if I simply waive it altogether which gives the impression it does’t really matter.
Another challenge has been pressure from external referers and sometimes clients to provide solutions and manualised treatments when I work very differently to this. Being very clear in my own mind about the purpose and nature of the type of therapy I offer has helped. I have found it is not necessary to put other methods down in order to feel ok with the way I work. All types of therapy are trying to achieve the same thing, the pathway to get there can be very different and that’s ok.
In this area I have also found articles by researcher and psychotherapist Jonathan Shedler very helpful. I would highly recommend reading his articles and listening podcasts where he is a guest, especially ‘the empirical wears no clothes’ on the ‘Between us’ podcast.
All the best with your decision. As I mentioned, I work as a psychologist/psychotherapist however there are many, many other ways of being a psychologist so if my descriptions don’t appeal, that may just tell you ‘psychotherapy’ isn’t the career for you. Another area of psychology may suit you better though.
Good luck!
Gena recommends the following next steps:
Thank you for your response, Gena . I really appreciated what you had to say and thank you for answering my question in great detail.
Diego
Katherine Avery
Run a music studio and teach private music lessons; teach college-level religion classes
299
Answers
Spanish Fork, Utah
Updated
Katherine’s Answer
If you want to get familiar with what psychologists do, get familiar with the books and podcasts, YouTube channels and websites, from John Townsend, Henry Cloud, John Delony, Gary Chapman, Ross Campbell, Dr. Paul Jenkins, Thais Gibson, Anna Runkle, Melody Beattie, John Gray, Les and Leslie Parrott, Terence Real, and John and Julie Gottman. Their content can help you with your own opinions and interests.
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
535
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Diego,
Here's a detailed description of what a psychologist might do on a typical day, along with some common challenges they might face and how they overcome them:
Typical Day as a Psychologist:
Client Sessions: Psychologists typically begin their day by conducting therapy sessions with clients, addressing a wide range of mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or relationship problems. They create a supportive environment for clients to explore their thoughts and feelings while employing various therapeutic techniques.
Assessment and Diagnosis: Psychologists often conduct assessments to evaluate clients' cognitive and emotional functioning. This involves administering tests, conducting interviews, and analyzing information to make diagnoses and develop personalized treatment plans.
Consultations and Collaboration: Psychologists frequently collaborate with other professionals like psychiatrists, social workers, or educators to ensure comprehensive care for clients and to coordinate treatment or collaborating with colleagues on research projects.
Documentation and Record-Keeping: Psychologists maintain detailed records of their interactions with clients, including session notes and treatment plans. They prioritize confidentiality and adhere to ethical standards while organizing and updating documentation.
Professional Development: Psychologists engage in ongoing professional development activities like attending conferences, reading research literature, and participating in supervision or peer consultation groups to stay informed about advancements in the field.
Challenges Faced by Psychologists and Solutions:
Psychologists like every other professional face some challenges from time to time. Below are some of these challenges.
Client Resistance or Lack of Progress: Psychologists address client resistance or lack of progress by building rapport, exploring barriers to engagement, and adjusting their therapeutic approach as needed.
Ethical Dilemmas: When confronted with ethical dilemmas, psychologists adhere to ethical guidelines and seek guidance from colleagues or supervisors to make informed decisions.
Work-Life Balance: Psychologists maintain work-life balance by setting boundaries, practicing self-care, and seeking support from personal and professional networks.
Professional Burnout: Psychologists prevent burnout by prioritizing self-care practices, seeking supervision or therapy, and engaging in activities outside of work that bring them fulfillment.
Overall, psychologists navigate challenges with resilience and dedication, making a positive impact on the lives of their clients while contributing to the field of mental health.
Best wishes.
Here's a detailed description of what a psychologist might do on a typical day, along with some common challenges they might face and how they overcome them:
Typical Day as a Psychologist:
Client Sessions: Psychologists typically begin their day by conducting therapy sessions with clients, addressing a wide range of mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or relationship problems. They create a supportive environment for clients to explore their thoughts and feelings while employing various therapeutic techniques.
Assessment and Diagnosis: Psychologists often conduct assessments to evaluate clients' cognitive and emotional functioning. This involves administering tests, conducting interviews, and analyzing information to make diagnoses and develop personalized treatment plans.
Consultations and Collaboration: Psychologists frequently collaborate with other professionals like psychiatrists, social workers, or educators to ensure comprehensive care for clients and to coordinate treatment or collaborating with colleagues on research projects.
Documentation and Record-Keeping: Psychologists maintain detailed records of their interactions with clients, including session notes and treatment plans. They prioritize confidentiality and adhere to ethical standards while organizing and updating documentation.
Professional Development: Psychologists engage in ongoing professional development activities like attending conferences, reading research literature, and participating in supervision or peer consultation groups to stay informed about advancements in the field.
Challenges Faced by Psychologists and Solutions:
Psychologists like every other professional face some challenges from time to time. Below are some of these challenges.
Client Resistance or Lack of Progress: Psychologists address client resistance or lack of progress by building rapport, exploring barriers to engagement, and adjusting their therapeutic approach as needed.
Ethical Dilemmas: When confronted with ethical dilemmas, psychologists adhere to ethical guidelines and seek guidance from colleagues or supervisors to make informed decisions.
Work-Life Balance: Psychologists maintain work-life balance by setting boundaries, practicing self-care, and seeking support from personal and professional networks.
Professional Burnout: Psychologists prevent burnout by prioritizing self-care practices, seeking supervision or therapy, and engaging in activities outside of work that bring them fulfillment.
Overall, psychologists navigate challenges with resilience and dedication, making a positive impact on the lives of their clients while contributing to the field of mental health.
Best wishes.
Thank you for your response, Chinyere . I really appreciated what you had to say and thank you for answering my question in great detail.
Diego
Violaine Gonzalez
Senior Associate
176
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Violaine’s Answer
Hi Diego, I am not one but know someone who is, hope this helps. a general description of what a psychologist typically does on a typical day and some common challenges they may face:
Client sessions: Psychologists spend a significant portion of their day conducting client sessions. These sessions involve providing therapy, counseling, or assessments to individuals, couples, families, or groups. Psychologists use various therapeutic techniques and interventions to help clients address their mental health concerns, improve coping skills, and enhance their overall well-being.
Assessments and evaluations: Psychologists also conduct assessments and evaluations to diagnose and understand clients' mental health conditions. This may involve administering psychological tests, gathering and analyzing information, and providing diagnostic impressions or treatment recommendations.
Treatment planning and documentation: Psychologists create treatment plans based on their clients' needs and goals. They document their assessments, treatment progress, and interventions to maintain accurate and confidential client records.
Consultations and collaborations: Psychologists often consult with other professionals, such as psychiatrists, social workers, or educators, to provide comprehensive care for their clients. They may participate in case conferences, multidisciplinary team meetings, or collaborate with other professionals to coordinate treatment approaches.
Continuing education and research: Psychologists engage in ongoing professional development to stay updated on the latest research, therapeutic techniques, and ethical guidelines. They may attend conferences, workshops, or seminars, and read academic literature to enhance their knowledge and skills.
Challenges faced by psychologists can vary, but some common ones include:
Emotional demands: Working with clients who may be experiencing emotional distress can be emotionally demanding for psychologists. They may need to manage their own emotions and establish self-care practices to prevent burnout.
Ethical dilemmas: Psychologists often encounter ethical dilemmas related to confidentiality, boundaries, and dual relationships. They must navigate these situations while upholding professional ethics and ensuring the best interests of their clients.
Complexity of client issues: Clients may present with complex mental health issues that require specialized knowledge and skills. Psychologists must continuously update their training and seek consultation when faced with challenging cases.
Balancing caseload and administrative tasks: Psychologists need to balance their clinical caseload with administrative tasks such as documentation, treatment planning, and scheduling. Managing time effectively and seeking support when needed can help mitigate these challenges.
To overcome these challenges, psychologists may engage in self-care practices, seek supervision or consultation, engage in peer support networks, and participate in professional development activities. It's important for psychologists to maintain their own well-being while providing quality care to their clients.
Please note that the specific experiences and challenges can vary depending on the setting, specialization, and individual circumstances of a psychologist.
Client sessions: Psychologists spend a significant portion of their day conducting client sessions. These sessions involve providing therapy, counseling, or assessments to individuals, couples, families, or groups. Psychologists use various therapeutic techniques and interventions to help clients address their mental health concerns, improve coping skills, and enhance their overall well-being.
Assessments and evaluations: Psychologists also conduct assessments and evaluations to diagnose and understand clients' mental health conditions. This may involve administering psychological tests, gathering and analyzing information, and providing diagnostic impressions or treatment recommendations.
Treatment planning and documentation: Psychologists create treatment plans based on their clients' needs and goals. They document their assessments, treatment progress, and interventions to maintain accurate and confidential client records.
Consultations and collaborations: Psychologists often consult with other professionals, such as psychiatrists, social workers, or educators, to provide comprehensive care for their clients. They may participate in case conferences, multidisciplinary team meetings, or collaborate with other professionals to coordinate treatment approaches.
Continuing education and research: Psychologists engage in ongoing professional development to stay updated on the latest research, therapeutic techniques, and ethical guidelines. They may attend conferences, workshops, or seminars, and read academic literature to enhance their knowledge and skills.
Challenges faced by psychologists can vary, but some common ones include:
Emotional demands: Working with clients who may be experiencing emotional distress can be emotionally demanding for psychologists. They may need to manage their own emotions and establish self-care practices to prevent burnout.
Ethical dilemmas: Psychologists often encounter ethical dilemmas related to confidentiality, boundaries, and dual relationships. They must navigate these situations while upholding professional ethics and ensuring the best interests of their clients.
Complexity of client issues: Clients may present with complex mental health issues that require specialized knowledge and skills. Psychologists must continuously update their training and seek consultation when faced with challenging cases.
Balancing caseload and administrative tasks: Psychologists need to balance their clinical caseload with administrative tasks such as documentation, treatment planning, and scheduling. Managing time effectively and seeking support when needed can help mitigate these challenges.
To overcome these challenges, psychologists may engage in self-care practices, seek supervision or consultation, engage in peer support networks, and participate in professional development activities. It's important for psychologists to maintain their own well-being while providing quality care to their clients.
Please note that the specific experiences and challenges can vary depending on the setting, specialization, and individual circumstances of a psychologist.
Thank you for your response, violaine. I really appreciated what you had to say and thank you for answering my question in great detail.
Diego