Are you confused about your career after graduation? In this article we’ll be talking about Psychology – as the new blooming career in India as well as abroad. Psychology has become a prominent field of study over the past few years, for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
But, what is psychology?
It is the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behaviour in a given context.
Most people misunderstand what the subject is, and more importantly, why it is important. If you have chosen a career in psychology, you may have or will encounter many questions, doubts, etc.
If you study psychology, can you read my mind?
Psychology? Will you work at a mental hospital?
Does India have a scope in this field?
No. No. And, most definitely, yes.
There is immense scope for a career in psychology. However, it may be confusing to pinpoint courses, colleges, and a specific career in the field.
But, where there is confusion, there is always career counselling.
Nonetheless, psychology as a subject has many fields and specializations. You can always choose what you are most interested in, and aim for a career in that field. Now let’s look at some of the most prominent options that will be available to you if you pick psychology as your UG or PG subject.
Top 7 Psychology Careers In India
1. Psychologist
One of the most popular careers in psychology is that of a psychologist. As you complete your graduation and post-graduation in the field, you can qualify as a psychologist. This is a highly specialised job role that allows you to work with people of all backgrounds.
From clients to patients, as a psychologist, you will be responsible for analysing behaviour, thoughts, and emotions. Based on this, you will be required to advise your clients on certain issues and actions.
There are various fields that you can opt for if you aim to be a psychologist. Some of these are occupational psychology, educational psychology, sports psychology, etc. You should know that a doctoral degree isn’t required for a career in practising psychology. A Master’s degree is a must to be eligible for a license to practice psychology.
2. Psychotherapist
Another popular career in psychology is Psychotherapy. In this field, you as a psychotherapist will be working with various individuals, groups, families, couples, etc. to overcome different issues. Some of these include emotion-related issues, relationships, addiction, etc.
To pursue a career in psychotherapy, you will need to choose a specialisation in your degree depending on your interests. You will learn about different types of cognitive behavioural methods and psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapies. Apart from this, you will also learn more about the implementation of:
- Art therapy
- Music therapy
- Drama therapy
- Hypnotherapy
- Experiential therapy
Psychotherapy as a career in psychology has become highly prominent in many countries all over the world. The importance of mental health is rising. Psychotherapy and its approaches play an important role in helping people overcome different issues.
3. Social Psychologist
Those around us highly influence our behaviour. Social psychology is a branch of psychology that studies the behaviour of an individual or a group of people. Social psychologists have made a career in psychology studying how influenced you are by the behaviour or presence of others.
Studying and analysing the behaviour of individuals based on group dynamics. How group dynamics influence choices and actions made by you, and understanding how others influence changes in perception.
As a social psychologist, you will be studying interpersonal and group dynamics. This will include social challenges, such as prejudice, implicit bias, bullying, criminal activity and substance abuse. You will research social interactions and the factors that influence them like group behaviour, attitudes, public perceptions and leadership.
4. Behavioural Counsellor
Among the many careers in psychology, counselling remains the most popular profession today. As a counsellor, you will be primarily involved in helping people come to better terms with their lives. By exploring, and understanding their emotions, and feelings, a counsellor can guide you to come to terms with your life.
A counsellor works with clients in a confidential setting and your primary job would be to listen to your clients. However, just listening is not enough. As a counsellor, you will be expected to empathise, offer respect and be patient, all while analysing the issues he or she projects. This is all to help them cope with their situation and guide them in making choices.
Counselling is often a form of psychotherapy where talking and discussions encompass the session between you and your client. Some of the aspects that a counsellor guides you with are family, health, abuse, rehabilitation, education, grief, mental health, career, etc.
5. Career Counsellor
To continue from the previous paragraph, career counselling has been picking up the pace to become a top career in psychology. In 2019, reports stated that 93% of Indians are aware of only 7 career options.
However, that is not the case today. Students and parents are being exposed to different careers in psychology, and that includes career counselling. You, as a career counsellor essentially guide students to understand their strengths and weaknesses. Through a series of tests, you can help students identify the right career path according to their strengths.
Not only so, but you will also be able to assist them in offering them choices in the course, college, and country. A career counsellor, in a session, offers a detailed road map to students as to what they can take up in 10th grade, and after 12th grade. Career counsellors also offer guidance to working professionals and postgraduate students.
6. Corporate Counsellor
Corporate counselling is another psychology career that has picked up over the past few years. Psychology is all about understanding human behaviour, and all companies have a human resource department.
Private sectors and public sector companies prominently feature corporate counselling or human resource-oriented roles. Counselling in corporations encompasses various areas such as employee satisfaction, professional development, recruitment, training, payroll, and international communication.
7. Sports Psychologist
Sports is a field that requires constant stress management along with steady performance guidance, and as the craze for sports is increasing day by day so is the demand for a high-paying job which is none other than sports psychologist.
Being a sports psychologist your role would include teaching cognitive and behavioral strategies to athletes to improve their performance and experience in sports. They work with athletes on goal setting, visualization, self-talk, relaxation techniques, and performance analysis to enhance confidence, resilience, and the ability to handle pressure and setbacks.
Editor’s Note: Do you want to know more about how your school alumni chose to study psychology & made successful career options out of it? Click here to know more.
Conclusion:
In this article, we have talked about the top 7 career options in psychology in India. Not just that, we have made this article beginner-friendly by talking about “What is psychology?” and the “Importance of psychology” as well.
Sayantika Mitra
Sayantika is a psychology student who likes poetry, music, and movies. Her writing style is engaging, informative, and tailored to the specific needs of each subject. Whether it's blog posts or product descriptions, Sayantika knows how to create content that resonates with search engines and human readers.
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Sayantika Mitra#molongui-disabled-link
