Have you ever wondered why you should learn more about psychology? Whether you're taking an introductory course to fulfill a general education requirement or you're a psychology major thinking of a career in research or mental health, there are plenty of great reasons to develop your psychological understanding. Because psychology is both an applied and a theoretical subject, it can be utilized in a number of ways, from exploring academic questions to solving real-world problems. By learning more about psychology, you can gain a richer understanding of yourself and the people around you.

The results of experiments and studies can have important applications in daily life. Learn more by checking out this article on ten great ways to use psychology in everyday life.

Once you've made the decision to continue your education at the graduate level, selecting the program that is right for your needs and goals can be a daunting task. In addition to the basic considerations of cost and location, you also need find a school that offers the resources and tools to help you achieve your educational goals.

What happens if you are accepted to one or more graduate schools? According to About.com's Guide to Graduate School, Tara Kuther, Ph.D., it is important to look at the whole picture. "Most students overemphasize program rankings and forget about quality of life issues," she suggests. "These are essential issues, given that you'll spend between two and eight years in a graduate program."

Learn more about factors you should consider before you choose a graduate school in psychology.

Related Reading:

• Classes You Should Take Before Applying to a Psychology Graduate School
• Graduate School Options for Psychology Majors

Definition: A neuron is a nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system. Neurons are similar to other cells in the human body in a number of ways, but there is one key difference between neurons and other cells - neurons are specialized to transmit information throughout the body. Read more...

Related Reading:

• The Structure of a Neuron
• Brain Anatomy
• The Nervous and Endocrine Systems

_{Image courtesy Piotr Bizior}

Question: I'm looking for a therapist, but I really have no idea how to choose one! Do you have any tips for how I can find the best therapist in my area?

Great question! Your first step might be to contact a local hospital and ask if they have a mental health referral service. Getting a referral from a physician or health care professional that has experience working with a counselor or therapist is often the best way to find a qualified mental health professional.

Some counselors and therapists also offer free initial consultations, which is a really good place to start. Having a great therapy experience can really depend on finding a therapist who is a good match, so it’s important to talk to the therapist first in order to find out if you are comfortable talking to him or her.

In addition to looking at the basics (costs, location, professional qualifications), it’s really essential to make sure that therapist is someone that you can feel comfortable with. I’ve had the experience of working professionally with a few different therapists, and they each had dramatically different personalities and working styles. These factors had a major impact on how individual clients related and responded to each individual therapist. So I would ask for some referrals, get a few initial consultations and then go from there.

About.com's Guide to Panic Disorders, Sheryl Ankrom, has some more tips for choosing a therapist that you should also check out.

Looking for more information about psychotherapy?

• Types of Therapy
• Who Can Provide Psychotherapy?
• What Is Crisis Counseling?