6 Psychology Careers You Should Consider

If you've ever thought about a career in a psychology-related field, then you've probably realized that there are a LOT of different career options within psychology. Of course, each area of employment has unique educational and training requirements, which means that it is important to start thinking about your future today. A good place to start is to spend some time exploring a few of the many career specialty areas within psychology. Check out the following psychology career profiles to learn more about some of the most popular career options.

1. Clinical Psychology

Do you like helping people? Then a career in clinical psychology might be something to consider. Clinical psychologists work in numerous settings to assess, diagnose, treat and prevent mental disorders. As the largest subfield within psychology, this career also offers a number of sub-specialty areas including substance abuse treatment, child mental health and health psychology.

2. Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychology involves applying psychology to the field of criminal investigation and the law. Forensic psychologists typically have a Ph.D. in clinical or counseling psychology and may work in various settings, including family courts, drug courts, criminal courts and private consulting. Learn more about training, typical salaries, benefits and downsides in this profile of careers in forensic psychology.

3. School Psychology

If you have an interest in child development and education, you might want to consider a career in school psychology. School psychologists work within the educational system to help children with emotional, social and academic issues. The goal of school psychology is to collaborate with parents, teachers and students to promote a healthy learning environment that focuses on the needs of children.

4. Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Industrial-organizational psychology focuses on workplace behavior and is one of the fastest growing specialty areas in psychology. I-O psychologists perform a variety of functions, including hiring qualified employees, conducting tests, designing products, creating training courses and performing research on different aspects of the workplace.

5. Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychologists study internal mental processes such as attention, memory and problem solving. While many cognitive psychologists work at colleges and universities as teachers and researchers, many others find employment in a number of different areas. Cognitive psychologists often work as human factors consultants, industrial organizational managers, and other related positions.

6. Sports Psychology

According to Division 47 of the American Psychological Association, sports psychology is "the scientific study of the psychological factors that are associated with participation and performance in sport, exercise, and other types of physical activity." Learn more about the job duties, earnings and training of sports psychologists in this profile.

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