6 answers
Diego
Student
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What types of clients do you typically work with? Can you share any memorable experiences or stories from your career?
I am a high school student who is trying to figure out more about how to become a psychologist.
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6 answers
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1882
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Diego !
When I was a social service case manager my clients were of all backgrounds, ages and issues. They were the same patients you would see as a psychologist. I worked with everyone at one time or another. If you plan to become a psychologist, you should plan on that as well. I found that working with various populations helped me to be a better case manager than if I only had experience with one group or issue. Also, to be a case manager which I was means you have to be a sort of human services generalist and it did take a lot of training coupled with a natural tendency to develop rapports with all people. Life experience would be the best teacher for that.
I began working with youth on their first job, mostly teenagers from 13 - 17 were my particular clients. I then worked in transitional housing with 18 - 25 year olds who were homeless. After that, I was the social service case manager at two nursing homes and the populations were seniors although there was one non-senior - all with heavy care and needing assistance with many daily life activities and I also interacted heavily with their family members.
I also worked in a senior center that was a high percentage of immigrants from Eastern Europe. After that, I worked in a community action bureau which was a neighborhood Drop In center where we served anyone. Many clients were seniors, many of the general clientele were involved in addictions and many had chronic mental illness. I've had clients that were amputees, deaf, and stutterers.
My last position in social services was a supportive housing program for homeless people that have a disability. I had ex-prisoners that committed high level crime (which I won't mention here), addicted as well as rehabilitated clients, severe chronic mental illness, self-harm, alcoholics, eating disorders, transgender, blind, slight/high functioning mental retardation/developmentally disabled clients and all were homeless before coming to the program. Just name the issue and I most likely worked with it. You can expect the same if you become a psychologist because mostly all of the clients I had went for clinical therapy to a social worker and were periodically evaluated by a psychologist. I had worked with people who had AIDS, MS, other Autoimmune disorders and people who were prostituting but they didn't realize I knew.
I saw a lot of success stories in my clients when I worked in a major city, but when I worked in a small suburban/rural setting, I did not see much progress in the clients for their lives. It was very few and far between. I had an intensive involvement required and did home visits at some jobs and sometimes you will encounter emergency mental health situations and respond accordingly. I rather not tell of the situations, but you can expect just about anything. As a psychologist, you would not be as involved hands on like that, but you will be trained to know what to do in many situations if it happens in your office.
You will have a unique and individual experience in your own career as a psychologist, but it is always helpful to gain insight and it's beneficial for you to ask any questions that you have. It's not all stressful and your position as a psychologist will be time controlled and specific. The good thing with my path is that I appreciated having such a diverse clientele and every workday was different so it was never ever boring. I was in this career for a long time and it was a field of work transition career and I felt appreciated and that I was able to give back to the community in a special way.
When I was a social service case manager my clients were of all backgrounds, ages and issues. They were the same patients you would see as a psychologist. I worked with everyone at one time or another. If you plan to become a psychologist, you should plan on that as well. I found that working with various populations helped me to be a better case manager than if I only had experience with one group or issue. Also, to be a case manager which I was means you have to be a sort of human services generalist and it did take a lot of training coupled with a natural tendency to develop rapports with all people. Life experience would be the best teacher for that.
I began working with youth on their first job, mostly teenagers from 13 - 17 were my particular clients. I then worked in transitional housing with 18 - 25 year olds who were homeless. After that, I was the social service case manager at two nursing homes and the populations were seniors although there was one non-senior - all with heavy care and needing assistance with many daily life activities and I also interacted heavily with their family members.
I also worked in a senior center that was a high percentage of immigrants from Eastern Europe. After that, I worked in a community action bureau which was a neighborhood Drop In center where we served anyone. Many clients were seniors, many of the general clientele were involved in addictions and many had chronic mental illness. I've had clients that were amputees, deaf, and stutterers.
My last position in social services was a supportive housing program for homeless people that have a disability. I had ex-prisoners that committed high level crime (which I won't mention here), addicted as well as rehabilitated clients, severe chronic mental illness, self-harm, alcoholics, eating disorders, transgender, blind, slight/high functioning mental retardation/developmentally disabled clients and all were homeless before coming to the program. Just name the issue and I most likely worked with it. You can expect the same if you become a psychologist because mostly all of the clients I had went for clinical therapy to a social worker and were periodically evaluated by a psychologist. I had worked with people who had AIDS, MS, other Autoimmune disorders and people who were prostituting but they didn't realize I knew.
I saw a lot of success stories in my clients when I worked in a major city, but when I worked in a small suburban/rural setting, I did not see much progress in the clients for their lives. It was very few and far between. I had an intensive involvement required and did home visits at some jobs and sometimes you will encounter emergency mental health situations and respond accordingly. I rather not tell of the situations, but you can expect just about anything. As a psychologist, you would not be as involved hands on like that, but you will be trained to know what to do in many situations if it happens in your office.
You will have a unique and individual experience in your own career as a psychologist, but it is always helpful to gain insight and it's beneficial for you to ask any questions that you have. It's not all stressful and your position as a psychologist will be time controlled and specific. The good thing with my path is that I appreciated having such a diverse clientele and every workday was different so it was never ever boring. I was in this career for a long time and it was a field of work transition career and I felt appreciated and that I was able to give back to the community in a special way.
Thank you for the advice, Michelle. I really appreciated what you had to say and thank you for answering my question in grate detail.
Diego
You're welcome, Diego !
Michelle M.
Melissa M.
Organizational Development Specialist
20
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Melissa’s Answer
Hello Diego,
Just a heads up, this might be a little off the beaten path from what you were expecting. But, I'd love to introduce you to a fascinating area of psychology that's often overlooked. It's called Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and it's all about understanding the inner workings of businesses.
In this intriguing field, psychologists delve into aspects like performance, morale, satisfaction, and engagement within an organization. They gather and analyze data to provide insightful recommendations. You'll typically find this kind of work in the Human Resources department if it's within a company, or at an external consulting firm if it's outside the organization.
I thought you might find this interesting as you continue exploring the vast world of psychology. It's definitely something worth considering!
Just a heads up, this might be a little off the beaten path from what you were expecting. But, I'd love to introduce you to a fascinating area of psychology that's often overlooked. It's called Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and it's all about understanding the inner workings of businesses.
In this intriguing field, psychologists delve into aspects like performance, morale, satisfaction, and engagement within an organization. They gather and analyze data to provide insightful recommendations. You'll typically find this kind of work in the Human Resources department if it's within a company, or at an external consulting firm if it's outside the organization.
I thought you might find this interesting as you continue exploring the vast world of psychology. It's definitely something worth considering!
Thank you for the advice, Melissa. I really appreciated what you had to say and thank you for your time.
Diego
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
560
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Diego,
Psychologists work with a diverse range of clients across various age groups, backgrounds, and presenting issues. Some common client populations. Children and adolescents dealing with issues such as academic difficulties, behavioural problems, peer relationships, family conflicts, and mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Psychologists also deal with adults dealing with stress, relationship issues, work-related challenges, substance abuse etc.
My memorable experience in my career was working with some youth in my local church as their counselor. One time I collaborated with some stakeholders in the church to organise a workshop on "questions young people ask". Hearing them talk about their fears and worries about life was an eye-opener to me. At that point, it dawned on me that the adolescents of 21st century(Genzs) are quite different. The workshop helped to keep me in the loop on what goes on in the mind of some adolescents.
Psychologists work with a diverse range of clients across various age groups, backgrounds, and presenting issues. Some common client populations. Children and adolescents dealing with issues such as academic difficulties, behavioural problems, peer relationships, family conflicts, and mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Psychologists also deal with adults dealing with stress, relationship issues, work-related challenges, substance abuse etc.
My memorable experience in my career was working with some youth in my local church as their counselor. One time I collaborated with some stakeholders in the church to organise a workshop on "questions young people ask". Hearing them talk about their fears and worries about life was an eye-opener to me. At that point, it dawned on me that the adolescents of 21st century(Genzs) are quite different. The workshop helped to keep me in the loop on what goes on in the mind of some adolescents.
Thank you for the advice, Chinyere. I really appreciated what you had to say and thank you for your response.
Diego
Glad I could help.
Chinyere Okafor
Annah Edmonds
Licensed Clinical Counselor and Art Therapist
105
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Annah’s Answer
Diego,
I am not a psychologist, but I am a licensed mental health counselor. If you choose this route, you will learn a lot about yourself and your interests. You will have plenty of opportunities to learn what type of clients or patients you prefer (and if you have preferences). You will likely be able to work with many different groups to gain experience. You can choose to generalize and work with the developmental spectrum. You can find a niche, such as pediatrics or geriatrics. It truly depends on your own interests and course of study. This is something you can consider as you go through your education. You may already lean towards working with children for example. You may have no idea. I spent 15 years working with young children and families before getting my MA in clinical counseling and art therapy. Since then, I have mainly worked with adults. Throughout my graduate training I gained experience at a family shelter, Junior High School, Cancer support center, and retirement and rehabilitation community. Post-grad I have worked with adults in crisis community health, supportive housing, the probation (county and federal) system, and at a major urban trauma hospital. I do suggest if you plan to get a doctorate to apply directly to a PhD or PsyD program from undergrad. It will save you time and money (vs first getting an MA then the doctorate). As an undergrad take the opportunity to volunteer in different social service settings, work at a group or private therapy practice, or find a mentor (or two) in your area. This is important and useful work! It is also crucial to take care of yourself along the way. Your own mental health will allow you to help others with their own. Often (graduate) schools require students to have a certain amount of their own personal therapy. Being the client will also give you incredible insight and perspective about the process of therapy (and also the many different ways it can be done). Good luck!
I am not a psychologist, but I am a licensed mental health counselor. If you choose this route, you will learn a lot about yourself and your interests. You will have plenty of opportunities to learn what type of clients or patients you prefer (and if you have preferences). You will likely be able to work with many different groups to gain experience. You can choose to generalize and work with the developmental spectrum. You can find a niche, such as pediatrics or geriatrics. It truly depends on your own interests and course of study. This is something you can consider as you go through your education. You may already lean towards working with children for example. You may have no idea. I spent 15 years working with young children and families before getting my MA in clinical counseling and art therapy. Since then, I have mainly worked with adults. Throughout my graduate training I gained experience at a family shelter, Junior High School, Cancer support center, and retirement and rehabilitation community. Post-grad I have worked with adults in crisis community health, supportive housing, the probation (county and federal) system, and at a major urban trauma hospital. I do suggest if you plan to get a doctorate to apply directly to a PhD or PsyD program from undergrad. It will save you time and money (vs first getting an MA then the doctorate). As an undergrad take the opportunity to volunteer in different social service settings, work at a group or private therapy practice, or find a mentor (or two) in your area. This is important and useful work! It is also crucial to take care of yourself along the way. Your own mental health will allow you to help others with their own. Often (graduate) schools require students to have a certain amount of their own personal therapy. Being the client will also give you incredible insight and perspective about the process of therapy (and also the many different ways it can be done). Good luck!
Thank you for the advice, Annah. I really appreciated what you had to say.
Diego
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
560
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Diego,
Psychologists work with a diverse range of clients across various age groups, backgrounds, and presenting issues. Some common client populations. Children and adolescents dealing with issues such as academic difficulties, behavioural problems, peer relationships, family conflicts, and mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Psychologists also deal with adults dealing with stress, relationship issues, work-related challenges, substance abuse etc.
My memorable experience in my career was working with some youth in my local church as their counselor. One time I collaborated with some stakeholders in the church to organise a workshop on "questions young people ask". Hearing them talk about their fears and worries about life was an eye-opener to me. At that point, it dawned on me that the adolescents of 21st century(Genzs) are quite different. The workshop helped to keep me in the loop on what goes on in the mind of some adolescents.
Psychologists work with a diverse range of clients across various age groups, backgrounds, and presenting issues. Some common client populations. Children and adolescents dealing with issues such as academic difficulties, behavioural problems, peer relationships, family conflicts, and mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Psychologists also deal with adults dealing with stress, relationship issues, work-related challenges, substance abuse etc.
My memorable experience in my career was working with some youth in my local church as their counselor. One time I collaborated with some stakeholders in the church to organise a workshop on "questions young people ask". Hearing them talk about their fears and worries about life was an eye-opener to me. At that point, it dawned on me that the adolescents of 21st century(Genzs) are quite different. The workshop helped to keep me in the loop on what goes on in the mind of some adolescents.
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
560
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Diego,
Psychologists work with a diverse range of clients across various age groups, backgrounds, and presenting issues. Some common client populations. Children and adolescents dealing with issues such as academic difficulties, behavioural problems, peer relationships, family conflicts, and mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Psychologists also deal with adults dealing with stress, relationship issues, work-related challenges, substance abuse etc.
My memorable experience in my career was working with some youth in my local church as their counselor. One time I collaborated with some stakeholders in the church to organise a workshop on "questions young people ask". Hearing them talk about their fears and worries about life was an eye-opener to me. At that point, it dawned on me that the adolescents of 21st century(Genzs) are quite different. The workshop helped to keep me in the loop on what goes on in the mind of some adolescents.
Psychologists work with a diverse range of clients across various age groups, backgrounds, and presenting issues. Some common client populations. Children and adolescents dealing with issues such as academic difficulties, behavioural problems, peer relationships, family conflicts, and mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Psychologists also deal with adults dealing with stress, relationship issues, work-related challenges, substance abuse etc.
My memorable experience in my career was working with some youth in my local church as their counselor. One time I collaborated with some stakeholders in the church to organise a workshop on "questions young people ask". Hearing them talk about their fears and worries about life was an eye-opener to me. At that point, it dawned on me that the adolescents of 21st century(Genzs) are quite different. The workshop helped to keep me in the loop on what goes on in the mind of some adolescents.