Psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour. Psychologists work with clients who have psychological, emotional or behavioural issues that are impacting on their health and well being.
Psychologists are different from Psychiatrists. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who diagnose, treat and manage complex mental health conditions and where necessary prescribe medication. Psychologists also work with clients who may be experiencing emotional distress but they cannot prescribe medication. They work with clients whose difficulties can be helped effectively by “talk therapy”. This could include CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) which helps to challenge and change negative thinking patterns, assists clients to face their fears and teaches them relaxation techniques. These and other therapies have been shown to be very effective in treating a range of psychological difficulties such as anxiety and depression thus improving the client’s quality of life. With the increase in mental health difficulties, especially among young people, psychologists are in demand.
As a psychologist you will work with clients with different challenges from all backgrounds and walks of life. Depending on the area of psychology you specialise in, this may include helping clients with ADHD, anxiety, bereavement and grief, depression, eating problems, OCD and post traumatic stress. You might also be involved in family therapy or relationship counselling. If you work in industry you could gather data for job analysis or arrange personality assessments as part of the recruitment process. You may prefer to work with children in a school administering educational and behavioural assessments. Meeting your clients individually, in couples, families or in group settings, you will have a wide choice of working environments. This could include a school, university, industry, healthcare setting, a prison or in your own private practice. Some psychologists work mainly online with their clients.
As a psychologist you should be emotionally stable, empathetic and non judgemental. Good communication and interpersonal skills, especially active listening are essential to build a strong therapeutic relationship with your clients. You should have a genuine interest in helping others and the ability to build rapport and trust.
To practise as a psychologist you must have a degree accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland and a post-graduate qualification. Specialisms include working in Academia, Clinical, Counselling, Educational, Forensic, Health, Neuro, Occupational, and Sport, Exercise & Performance Psychology. If your degree is not in Psychology there are full and part-time conversion courses available to retrain. Psychology is also a valuable qualification to work in research, social sciences, youth work, community development, life coaching, guidance counselling, human resources and marketing.
There are many different branches of psychology. These include:
Academia Psychologists work in the areas of teaching and carry out academic research to understand human behaviour and the effectiveness of psychological treatments.
Clinical Psychologists work as part of a multidisciplinary team in healthcare settings, assessing and treating patients who are experiencing moderate or severe psychological difficulties.
Counselling Psychologists work in outpatient settings supporting clients with psychological difficulties and teach them coping skills to improve their overall health and well being.
Educational Psychologists work in schools with students with learning, behavioural or emotional difficulties and provide support in case of a Critical Incident.
Forensic Psychologists work in the criminal justice system at the intersection of law and psychology and act as expert witnesses in court cases. They carry out psychological evaluations in legal cases such as assessing a criminal’s mental competency and risk of reoffending.
Health Psychologists work to promote well being and understanding of the psychological and emotional aspects of illness. They help motivate people to make health conscious decisions in their lives.
Neuro Psychologists work on the treatment and rehabilitation of patients who have a brain injury or illness that has affected their behaviour.
Occupational Psychologists are involved in work and organisational issues in industry, business and recruitment such as job analysis, coaching, selection, talent management, training and leadership.
Sport, Exercise & Performance Psychologists work with teams and athletes on motivation strategies, goal setting, performance enhancement and coping techniques to recover from injuries.
CORU, which is responsible for regulating health and social care professions in Ireland, is working toward the regulation of the psychology profession and protecting the title of “psychologist”. It is expected that from 2025 the register for clinical, counselling and educational psychology will be open.
Further information is available here and from the Psychological Society of Ireland.