What types of psychologists are there by specialty - list of professions by area

The trend of our time is to turn to narrow specialists. Modern people are less and less inclined to serve their personal needs on their own, preferring to devote more time to professional activities and recreation. Therefore, the service sector is growing and will continue to grow. People prefer to hire specialists for cleaning and cooking, for personal training and putting their appearance in order. And mental discord is overcome with the help of psychologists.

What kinds of psychologists are there?

Psychologists surround us everywhere. All preschool and school educational institutions, as well as hospitals, have a psychologist on staff.

A psychologist can work as a speech therapist, coach, or business trainer. With additional training, you can become a psychotherapist.

You can choose scientific or teaching activity, stay in your home department, defend your dissertation and teach.

Psychologists often apply for the position of HR manager. In addition, companies sometimes hire psychologists as staff. In a large company, a psychologist deals with:

• personnel testing;
• trainings;
• psychological support for employees;
• development of management methods.

Important!

Considering the high demand for psychologists in many industries and the growing popularity of the profession, choosing a psychology department for training is a smart step.

Psychotherapists

Psychotherapists are those who are responsible for providing psychological support and teaching patients a range of techniques that will improve their lives. The problems treated by psychotherapists are usually not as serious as those treated by clinical psychology.

What does the therapist focus on? Daily problems, conflicts in interpersonal relationships, or emotional problems that complicate relationships. In addition, therapists know how to treat and manage stress and anxiety that can affect your relationships and daily life.

Top universities

There is a psychology department at any university; The specialty can also be mastered at a pedagogical institute. But the main universities in Russia that train psychological personnel are:

• Lomonosov Moscow State University,
• Russian State Social University,
• Peoples' Friendship University of Russia,
• Russian State Humanitarian University,
• Moscow City Pedagogical University,
• Moscow Pedagogical State University,
• Russian State Pedagogical University named after Herzen.

Important!

There are budget places available at psychology departments.

But all top universities are located in Moscow and St. Petersburg. To enter such a university, you need to pass the Unified State Exam with a high score.

Even after scoring high and passing the competition, not every student can afford to live in the most expensive cities in the country. The costs of accommodation, food, and materials necessary for study are quite significant, and the size of the scholarship in Russia is such that it cannot compensate for them.

Neuropsychologists

They are typically researchers, although neuropsychologists often develop their professional work in the areas of cognitive, behavioral and emotional rehabilitation of patients with brain damage. They are also specialists in the early diagnosis and treatment of dementia.

Thus, their specialty is clinical, and they work in the space that exists between neuroscience and psychology. Their main goal is to study possible changes that can affect the central nervous system and how they can affect a person's mental life.

These changes can be caused by a variety of factors, from injury to stroke or tumor. Their greatest allies are neuroimaging techniques, and their work is based on the relationship that exists between our brain and mind.

Specializations at the Faculty of Psychology

Psychology departments accept students for the following specialties:

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• general psychology,
• work psychology,
• psychophysiology,
• social Psychology,
• legal psychology,
• medical psychology,
• correctional psychology,
• pedagogical psychology,
• developmental psychology,
• political psychology.

Psychologists: experience of professional typology (classification of psychologists)

Psi-news » Interesting » Classification of psychologists
© S. Stepanov

A specialist is like gumboil: its completeness is one-sided. Kozma Prutkov

Fragment of the book by Stepanov S.S. Between us, psychologists. M.: Genesis, 2003. The author shares his own ideas about what kind of profession it is - a psychologist.

In one experiment, several groups of subjects were presented with a person who was then asked to characterize them. The essence of the experiment was that the same man of very ordinary appearance appeared before different groups, dressed, however, each time in a new way: now in a white robe, now in an army uniform, now in the attire of a priest... It is significant that psychological the characteristics given to him in different groups varied significantly. The “doctor” was perceived as intelligent and humane, although perhaps a little cynical, the “officer” as straightforward, perhaps even a little rude, but disciplined and serious, the “priest” as warm-hearted, sincere and selfless. Each time, the costume prompted subjects to attribute to a complete stranger those qualities that he did not demonstrate in any way, but which are associated with the corresponding role.

Psychologists define this phenomenon as the halo effect. Often it helps us quickly and fairly accurately assess a person. It is no secret that individual characteristics and inclinations encourage the choice of a certain profession, and professional activities, in turn, leave a strong imprint on the individual.

A psychologist in his civilian suit is indistinguishable from representatives of many other professions. But the very title of psychologist gives him a kind of aura, and it is largely justified. Becoming a professional is inevitably accompanied by changes in the structure of the personality, when, on the one hand, there is a strengthening and development of those qualities that the profession requires, and on the other, a change and suppression of structures that are not involved in the activity. If such changes violate the integrity of the individual, they are considered as professional deformations.

Of course, psychologists have different characters, temperaments, abilities and inclinations. However, most of them - with the exception, perhaps, of particularly bright creative personalities - can, with a certain degree of convention, be attributed to one or another professional type. This type is determined by a peculiar accentuation (or, if you like, deformation) of professional inclinations and attitudes. The main types noted by the author of these lines are described below. Of course, they were identified not by scientific methods, but purely intuitively. Moreover, one should not take their descriptions too seriously. This classification of psychologists (typology) is not the basis for fateful conclusions, but just a reason for reflection.

Self-actualizer.

He came to psychology driven by motives of self-knowledge and self-affirmation.
Like a hypochondriac who, after reading a medical encyclopedia, discovered that he had symptoms of all known diseases, in the course of psychological education and self-education he has so filled himself with ideas and concepts that he is ready to recognize the remnants of the Oedipus complex, identity crisis, cognitive dissonance and frustration of vital dispositions. And, of course, he shrewdly sees all this in those around him and is ready to provide them with almost selfless help. Almost, because he is content with the recognition of his authority and a very modest monetary allowance. Knows many unpronounceable names, and with poorly concealed aplomb calls Freud Freud. He almost unmistakably distinguishes between existentialism and exhibitionism, although he has not yet decided exactly which his soul lies more towards. He is not very suitable for the role of a “ faithful hussar”
(the highlighted concepts are described below), since he does not have the perseverance to master at least any concept thoroughly.
Forced mainly to perform the functions of an eclectic craftsman
, he willingly tries himself as a
pragmatic trainer
, but deep down he dreams of becoming
a guru
. Some people succeed.

"Psychologist for life"

- this is, first of all, just a good person who knows how to empathize and is capable of understanding. Moreover, he is very intelligent and observant. Based on rich life experience and natural insight, he understands people well. Awareness of these qualities and the desire to cultivate them sooner or later leads him to the need to receive a special education and engage in psychology professionally. He is often disappointed with the revelations of the masters of psychology, because he intuitively guessed many things himself, but considers others doubtful, controversial, and practically useless. As a theorist he is weak, but in real work with people he is at his best and this is not hindered even by gaps in education, because he intuitively discovers unknown techniques on his own. This path, unfortunately, is extensive, requires a lot of energy and does not exclude the replacement of scientific concepts with philistine generalizations. In addition, for a specialist of this type, the risk of professional burnout is especially high.

It is specialists of this type who more often agree with the common platitude: “A psychologist is not a profession, but a way of life.” (For fun, try replacing the psychologist in this formula with a surgeon, a waiter or, say, a plumber). At the same time, in a very unprofessional manner, the subtext of this phrase is overlooked, which actually indicates a lack of professionalism, which is compensated by everyday common sense. In general, making a lifestyle your profession is not very productive, but a thoughtfully mastered profession of a psychologist can probably, in some sense, become a way of life.

"Loyal Hussar"

The name for this type (without, of course, thinking about any typology) was invented by S. Freud, who so called his devoted follower Ernst Jones. And Jones fully justified his “title” - he made a lot of efforts to organize the psychoanalytic movement in Great Britain, published several works strictly in the spirit of Freudian teaching, and most importantly, published a three-volume scientific biography of Freud, which is considered canonical. At the same time, throughout his career, Jones never allowed himself “deviations from the general line,” any doubts or hesitations, much less criticism of the teaching, which, so to speak, is “omnipotent because it is true.” On the contrary, he, wittingly or unwittingly, sought to obscure the weak points of psychoanalysis, in every possible way extolled, even idealized the founding father. But he also became famous not as an independent scientific figure, but mainly as a biographer of Freud (despite the fact that, according to many unbiased assessments, the biography he wrote looks too polished).

Not only orthodox psychoanalysis, but almost any school in psychology has its “faithful hussars” who are ready to selflessly fight for its honor. As a rule, these are people with quite moderate personal ambitions who do not claim their own exclusive role in psychology. At the same time, they are very smart, because only a truly smart person is able to recognize someone's intellectual superiority. For the “hussar,” the head of a scientific school (perhaps long deceased) is an unconditional authority, a cult figure and untouchable. A person usually becomes a “hussar” after he has become familiar with the ideas of the master and has gained deep trust in them. The first acquaintance, which aroused such enthusiasm, encourages further in-depth study of the concept in all its details, which are a priori accepted on faith, almost like religious dogmas, even despite their vulnerability to criticism (“I believe, because it is absurd”). Thus, the “hussar” acquires deep knowledge in his chosen field and is recognized by his colleagues - representatives of the same school - as a highly qualified specialist. Representatives of other clans may not share this assessment, and in their own way they are right: carried away by the chosen doctrine, the “hussar” either completely ignores other ideas and concepts, or is familiar with them superficially (his attention to everything that goes beyond the interests of his preferred school, mainly aimed at searching for the weaknesses of “competitors”, having seen which, the “hussar” is ready to completely dismiss those who “understand nothing about real psychology”).

The strength of this type is serious training, which allows, from the standpoint of one’s school, to very effectively solve a certain range of psychological problems. After all, any psychological theory can prove its viability only if it contains a rational grain and has a certain way out into practice. The trouble is that practically no theory or school can provide comprehensive coverage of psychological problems. Although adherents of one direction or another like to proclaim that they are capable of solving many (if not all) practical issues, such statements are only true to some extent, and to a large extent they are pathetic and declarative. And this is the weakness of any “hussar”. He solves some problems successfully, but when he takes on others, he risks getting into trouble for the amusement of the “hussars” of other armies. Most often, he does not take on them, hiding behind statements that everything that is not related to the interests of his school does not relate to psychology at all.

The names of the “faithful hussars” rarely become widely known because they are lost in the shadow of the figures of the great commanders. Without risking shaking the foundations, the “hussars” rarely dare to say anything truly significant themselves and only interpret the doctrine in every possible way. What they themselves sometimes call “the creative development of NN ideas” can often be defined by the expression “pounding water in a mortar.” Having decided to cast his own voice, the psychologist automatically drops out of the hussar ranks, as happened in the psychoanalytic camp with Rank or Ferenczi, not to mention Adler, Jung or Perls.

Eclectic craftsman.

A conscientious performer with a moderate, often even underestimated, level of aspirations. He strives to solve everyday professional problems using any available means and often does this successfully, since he is fluent in many techniques and methods. From his student days, he maintained trust in authorities, “displacing” bewilderment about the inconsistency of their views (or simply not noticing it). Like an alchemist, he experiments with dissimilar materials, the properties of which he does not know enough, at the risk of blowing up the laboratory and injuring himself and those around him. Like an alchemist, he is constantly ridiculed for his inability to turn clay into gold, but selflessly continues endless tests. The most interesting thing is that a combination of seemingly incompatible things can unexpectedly turn out to be successful. In fact, this is how most innovative concepts are born - from a combination of something that no one has ever thought of mixing before. It is the eclectic artisan who has the greatest chance of being the creator of a new method or even the founder of an original scientific school. Let us at least remember how the ordinary psychoanalyst Perls intuitively used in his work some ideas of Gestalt psychology (and it is important to note that he was very superficially familiar with this direction) and as a result created Gestalt therapy. True, to achieve success on this path you need a creative streak, active motivation, a fresh and interested look at problems that seem banal. Otherwise, a specialist of this type will spend his whole life performing his craft with varying success, fitting the whole variety of life’s problems into a simple set of templates that he owns.

Pragmatic coach.

Proudly carries the banner of practical psychology in the firm belief that only practical psychology has the right to exist. He looks down on Ebbinghaus, Wertheimer, and Piaget, although he knows about them only by hearsay. She firmly believes that you can playfully comprehend the meaning of life, learn to live in harmony with yourself and the world. His activities primarily consist of these games, called trainings. Favorite words: personal growth, facilitation, assertiveness, self-sufficiency, etc. He considers the word “manipulator” to be the strongest insult, not realizing that in fact he himself belongs to their number. In his personal life he is often unsuccessful, because he tries to build it according to the principle of personal growth training, not wanting to notice that life works completely differently. Due to the similarity of interests and mental organization, he easily finds a common language with capricious, self-centered children and difficult teenagers. Successfully solves the problem of switching them from an unsafe idle pastime to a relatively safe one. Easily evolves into a guru.

Guru.

This is how in the East they call the Teacher, the bearer of the highest wisdom, who knows how to introduce the uninitiated to it. For many philosophizing intellectuals with a psychological education, great ambitions and high self-esteem, this role is very sweet. It's not difficult to master. After leafing through the collection of aphorisms, you can appropriate several of the most successful ones, and create a few more according to a template yourself, for example: “Life is hard, but fortunately it is short,” or “Love yourself and achieve reciprocity” (the more stupid at first glance, the more impressive) . The Chan koans* are especially good as examples of higher wisdom, which even their authors did not seem to understand. One way or another, any nonsense concerning the meaning of life and spiritual growth, if only uttered with a mysterious, detached look, will attract at least a dozen followers to you. It is necessary to come up with appropriate trainings or seminars for them - at least just to have something to do, otherwise soon the followers will switch to another guru offering meditative dances or spiritual massage. It is good to perform rituals using Sufi music, incense, and even better - psychedelics. It is better to breathe through your ears and think through your navel. If you manage to avoid getting into conflict with the law, you can make some good money. Actually, this is the main motive for the activity of any guru, not counting, of course, self-affirmation.

The healing of this accentuation is facilitated by healthy self-irony and exercises to normalize self-esteem. If it is absolutely impossible to live without someone looking into your mouth with devoted eyes, buy a puppy. By the way, it is ideal for training.

When meeting a guru, you should hold your pocket tightly with one hand, and with the other, pinch yourself harder so as not to succumb to obsession.

Mystic.

A psychologist of this type (who can generally be classified as a psychologist with a fair amount of convention) usually comes to science obsessed with curiosity and a desire to solve mysteries. He perceives psychology in a literal sense as the science of the soul, for the more obscure and illusory the subject of science, the more interesting it is to him. Psychology as such, in which, in his opinion, there is too much boring and banal, is much less interesting to him than all sorts of its “distant relatives” - astrology, numerology, physiognomy, palmistry, all areas of parapsychology. Favorite words: karma, biofield, energy-information exchange, reincarnation, astral, engram, etc., and the absolutely far-fetched nature of these constructs does not bother the mystic at all. Authorities are chosen from a motley circle: Nostradamus, Grof, Castaneda, Krishnamurti, Hubbard, Gurdjieff, Osho, Sviyash and several more odious figures who are far removed from psychology as a science. Freudianism and Jungianism are often included in the circle of interests - their frankly mythological content with a claim to unraveling deep mysteries easily captivates an impressionable mystic. He knows many examples that confirm his beliefs, and is absolutely insensitive to the opposite (“...so much the worse for the facts”). The worldview is often colored by naive religiosity, despite the obvious contradiction of the tenets of faith and occult problems.

In solving everyday professional problems, he easily mixes, say, intelligence testing according to Wexler with the interpretation of a name according to B. Higir, training in communication skills with cleaning karma, etc.

The attraction to this type, no matter how offensive it is to admit it, mainly arises as a result of the remnants of primitive pre-logical thinking, lack of education and simply general culture. A certain personal immaturity, mental infantilism, unconscious helplessness in front of the material world also takes its toll, when, having become confused on earth, you begin to look for a way in the astral plane.

With true personal growth and expansion of scientific erudition, the mystic has a chance to achieve sanity and become a psychologist without quotes. If he does not have enough mental strength and intelligence for this, he is doomed to “spoil” our science all his life and discredit it in the eyes of intelligent people. In especially severe cases (alas, not uncommon), things can end in paranoia.

In this regard, I would like to suggest asking a simple question during an interview when applying to the Faculty of Psychology: What is your Zodiac sign?

Correct answers: I don't know

or
Why does it matter?
Any other answer should be followed by the only correct reaction: You have the wrong address.
© S.S. Stepanov. Between us, psychologists. M.: Genesis, 2003 © Published with the kind permission of the publisher Suggest interesting news, announcement, press release for publication »»»

Studying to become a psychologist abroad

You can also get a diploma in psychology at foreign universities.

Interesting!

Among foreign students around the world, 1.5% are Russian students (UNESCO data for 2015).

Popular destinations among Russian students:

• USA,
• Great Britain,
• Germany,
• France,
• Czech Republic,
• Finland,
• Sweden,
• Italy,
• China.

If studying in the USA and Great Britain costs a lot of money, many European countries on the continent offer more humane prices or special conditions, for example, in the Czech Republic you can study for free, but only in the Czech language.

Important!

Education for foreign students in Germany, Norway, Finland is free for all programs.

Among the countries offering free higher education to foreigners, Germany stands out:

• The largest number of universities per capita among European countries.
• The most ancient traditions of higher education.
• High level of safety and social protection.
• A flexible curriculum that allows you to master 2-3 specialties at the same time and combine study with part-time work.
• The opportunity to receive a stipend in an amount that allows you to compensate for household expenses.
• Dormitories.
• Free training in German or English - both languages ​​are extremely in demand in the modern world and large companies.

We advise you to study: Selection of training programs

How to apply to become a psychologist in Germany

In German universities, a graduate of a Russian school is in for a pleasant surprise: your Unified State Exam scores are of no interest to anyone. So, if you decided in advance that you will enroll in Germany, in your senior year you will not have to worry or worry about state exams. But you need to pay attention to the average score of the certificate - this is what will be used to select you for a German university.

To enter a German university after school, you need to pass a German language exam and study for one year at the Studienkolleg. This time will not be wasted: you will adapt to life in a new country and will certainly improve your German. And studying in the first year after Studienkolleg will be easier. Admission to the university is carried out taking into account grades from the Studienkolleg and grades from the school certificate, so high academic indicators will be very helpful!

Historical reference

Psychology is a relatively “young” profession, but references to attempts to work with the spiritual and emotional sides of human life were found in the works of such ancient philosophers as Plato and Aristotle. Technological progress in the 18th and 19th centuries gave impetus to the development of a number of humanities. In 1879, the first experimental laboratory in this field was opened in Leipzig, Germany. At the same time, professions closely related to psychology appeared. In our country, S.L. was actively involved in the study and promotion of this direction. Rubinstein, I.M. Sechenov, I.P. Pavlov.

Today there are a number of areas in which a psychologist can work. Basically, his actions are aimed at assessing the life of a particular person, looking at the situation taking into account his emotions and mental state. The specialist has special skills that allow him to identify the client’s leading character traits, his strengths or weaknesses, level of intelligence, and degree of social adaptation. Government institutions and companies need the services of psychologists. Individuals who are unable to resolve some personal issues or problems on their own are increasingly turning to professionals.

What qualities are important for a future psychologist?

The main thing for a psychologist is interest and love for people. A psychologist works with people, so there is nothing to do in the profession for those who are tired of communication.

The psychologist must be:

• tolerant and patient;
• able to listen;
• able to analyze information;
• possessing emotional intelligence;
• capable and loving to learn.

A psychologist constantly learns in the process of his work, since psychology is a living, developing field. Relying only on a diploma received years ago is a sure path to professional ruin.

How do you know if being a psychologist is right for you? Go through career orientation and everything will immediately become clear.

Areas of specialty psychology

Work in the field of psychology is conventionally divided into two broad areas - theoretical and practical. The first is more suitable for people who are focused on scientific activity, who are going to teach, write articles or scientific works. These professionals study science in general, develop new techniques and methods, and convey information to the public. Practical psychology is intended for those who want to work directly with people. Such an expert is aimed at solving problems of specific clients during personal communication.

What exactly psychology and its representative do depends on the specialization of the professional:

• basic specialist - assesses the characteristics of human behavior depending on environmental conditions and the specifics of the situation;
• clinical – to obtain a specialty you must have a medical education. Such a doctor is able to work with both healthy clients and people with certain disabilities;
• preschool – a specialized teacher who helps solve the problems of children with and without mental disabilities;
• consultant - advises people on a variety of personal issues in order to solve their internal problems;
• conflictologist - the work of a psychologist with this education is aimed at studying relationships between people and solving problems that arise against this background.

The listed areas are closely related to each other, but still each has its own nuances. You can enroll as a general psychologist and then choose a specialization. If the specifics of the field initially influence admission to the chosen university, career guidance will help you make the right decision.

Specialist working methods

To get a more detailed description of the profession, it is necessary to study the practical techniques of specialists. The list is long and its content depends on the specifics of the situation. There are three main methods of work that every psychologist should know about. Testing is aimed at diagnosing a person’s personality traits, determining his emotional background, and intellectual abilities. Consulting is an opportunity to obtain maximum information about a person during direct contact in order to tell him what to do about his problem. The trainings are intended for people who cannot decide on their own where to go to study or work, what to do in life, and do not know how to get rid of character weaknesses or obsessive fears.

What knowledge and skills do future psychologists acquire?

Psychologists do not treat mental illness. They help people understand their feelings, solve problems, and optimally organize their lives.

Interesting!

New interdisciplinary directions are emerging in psychology. One of them is behavioral economics.

Future psychologists study:

• anatomy,
• physiology,
• sociology,
• logic,
• philosophy,
• anthropology,
• mathematical methods in psychology.

Students will have to read a lot during their studies. The training includes a practical block.

Sexologists

Sexologists are also psychologists, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of everything related to intimate relationships. Their contribution is aimed at improving the sexual health of people with problems in this area, whether couples or individual patients.

We can classify the problems these professionals encounter in their offices into three broad categories: problems related to sexual desire, problems related to arousal, and problems related to orgasms.

Finally, if we do not refer to the couple and reject an organic cause, sexual problems are often related to other aspects of the interaction with the partner, so it is best to carry out the intervention in conjunction with a marriage counselor, who can work in conjunction with a sex therapist.

Where to work after graduating from the Faculty of Psychology

Well-known and experienced psychologists have private offices; there are not so many of them. But with a quality education and good achievements, you can become one of them. The bulk of graduates of the Faculty of Psychology are employed in various organizations:

• kindergartens;
• schools;
• educational institutions;
• hospitals;
• psychological assistance centers,
• as well as in large commercial companies.

Sports teams have their own psychologists, and a correctional psychologist can work with speech disorders in children.

Important personal qualities

As already noted, excellent empathy abilities are the most important quality for a psychologist. But this does not mean that he immerses himself in empathy for each client and gives him advice. The task of a psychologist is to help a person find answers to his questions himself, and not to impose his own point of view. Therefore, emotional stability, impartiality, the ability to think without value judgments, observation, tact, and responsibility are also extremely important for him. Without these qualities, it will be too difficult to occupy a position as a psychologist and fulfill your duties with dignity.

Income of specialists in Russia and Germany

The range of salaries for psychologists is very large.

Depending on the type of activity of a psychologist, salaries in Russia are offered in the amount of 15-20 thousand rubles in the provinces or 50-70 thousand rubles in Moscow.

Psychologists, speech therapists, and coaches working privately set the price for their services themselves. The cost of an hour-long session with a private psychologist can be 2.5-4 thousand rubles and more. But private specialists have their own risks: they must pay rent, invest in advertising without guarantees that the investment will pay off.

Important!

In European countries, almost 100% of the population regularly visits psychologists. In Russia, the number of people visiting psychologists is smaller, since we have not yet developed a culture of this phenomenon, and the financial capabilities of the majority of the population are much lower than in European countries.

In Germany, at the beginning of a career, a psychologist earns 3-4 thousand euros per month

.
The income of experienced psychologists is 4-6 thousand euros per month
.
Many work in government organizations at a government rate, which provides a large number of additional financial and social benefits both during work and (looking to the future) in retirement. The income of highly qualified, highly specialized psychologists on staff at a company or in private practice can reach 7-10 thousand euros per month or more.
Important!

In Germany, after graduating from a university, the student visa is extended for 1.5 years, giving the graduate the opportunity to get a job. Having a diploma from a German university in hand, there is every chance of finding a job in Germany.

Pros and cons of communicating with a psychologist

Many people strive to solve problems on their own and do not seek professional help, which does not always lead to positive results.

When should you contact a psychologist?

Psychologist and writer Mikhail Labkovsky recommends contacting a psychologist when a person is trying to solve a long-lasting problem, but cannot. Consultation is necessary if you have stopped enjoying life.

Psychotherapist, trainer in the field of sexuality, writer Nina Verbitskaya in the book “Psychological assistance. How to figure it out and where to turn?” recommends contacting a psychologist if:

• There was a feeling of inferiority in life, that something was wrong.
• A person wants to change something, but does not know how.
• There is no support in a difficult life situation.
• There is a problem, but the person does not understand how to formulate it.
• Difficulties have arisen in relationships at work, in the family or in society.

Pros and cons of sessions with a psychologist: Pixabay
Professor, teacher, management consultant, writer John Kotter in his book “Psychotherapeutic Consulting” explains that people can turn to a psychologist in any life crisis when they cannot find a way out of the situation on their own.

What are the benefits of visiting a psychologist?

An appointment with a psychologist allows a person to:

• realize your emotions, objectively highlight and evaluate life’s difficulties;
• remove the emotional burden, speak out, see the situation from different sides and begin to act;
• trust your own experiences without fear of judgment;
• understand the causes of problems and failures;
• find out the objective view of an outside observer;
• dispel worries, strengthen relationships, increase self-esteem, find inner strength to improve life;
• understand the origins of the problem and get out of the emotional trap;
• analyze the type of relationship, the difficulties that can be expected in them, and choose which way to develop them is the best;
• get professional help that is based on knowledge of the human psyche;
• independently, without the intervention of a specialist in the client’s life, find a way out of the situation;
• openly talk about anxiety, fear, difficulties without the danger of being misunderstood.

The disadvantage of visiting a psychologist may be the incompetence of the specialist, so it is extremely important to take a responsible approach to choosing a psychologist.

What kind of psychologists are there in Germany?

Psychology in Germany is also divided into different focus areas. In German universities they teach these types of psychology:

• Psychologist (general psychology) – Psychologe
• Business Psychologist (corporate psychologist) – Wirtschaftspsychologe
• Transport Psychologist – Verkehrspsychologe
• Sports Psychologist – Sportpsychologe
• Social Psychologist – Psychosoziale/r Prozessbegleiter
• Psychoanalyst – Psychoanalytiker
• Educational Psychologist – Pädagogische/r Psychologe
• Communication Psychologist – Kommunikationspsychologe
• Clinical Psychologist – Klinische/r Psychologe
• Psychotherapist – Psychologische/r Psychotherapeut
• Child and Youth Psychotherapist - Kinder- und Jugendlichenpsychotherapeut
• Health and Rehabilitation Psychologist – Gesundheits- und Rehabilitationspsychologe
• Doctor, psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy – Facharzt – Psychosom. Medizin u. Psychotherapy
• Doctor, psychiatry and psychotherapy – Facharzt – Psychiatrie und Psychotherapy

Where to look for work

A certified specialist is in demand in many fields. Medical clinics, psychological assistance services, private and municipal educational institutions - this is the main field of activity of a psychologist. In addition, many large companies today have psychologists on staff. They organize and conduct business trainings to raise corporate spirit, unite the team, and motivate employees. Such specialists work in HR departments and act as personal coaches for entrepreneurs. Due to their ability to predict people’s behavior, they are also in demand in marketing, as they can direct the company’s activities to generate greater profits.

What awaits the specialty in the near future?

The work of thinking, psychological qualities, and the reasons for their manifestation are key objects of study by psychologists. Certified specialists will always be in demand in the labor market. Only they can provide professional assistance to those in critical situations. The specialist helps people use their own internal resources for both personal and career growth. In the coming years, the need for psychologists will only grow. First of all, specialists with diplomas from top universities will be in demand.

Source:
Center for Humanitarian Technologies
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.

Career prospects of a specialist

The career growth of a psychologist depends on the improvement and expansion of his skills, the methods he uses, and the demand for his services. At an enterprise, such a specialist can grow from an ordinary employee to the head of the HR service, deputy head of personnel matters. A successful psychologist can eventually open his own commercial office providing psychological assistance. But to be in demand, a specialist does not need a higher education diploma. It is necessary to constantly study, improve your skills through courses and trainings, learn new methods of psychodiagnostics and assistance, and express yourself.