EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK & CAREER GUIDANCE FOR ENGINEERING PSYCHOLOGISTS

Using their training and knowledge to improve the way people interact with machines and other technology, engineering psychologists put their understanding of the human mind and behavior to good use to influence the engineering designs of various products and devices. The work they do plays an important role in the improvement of technology and consumer products, as well as job settings and residential environments. Most engineering psychologists find employment in the private sector, but as technology becomes a more significant part of everyday life, the need for these types of psychologists will continue to increase in other areas.

What Type of Positions Can an Engineering Psychologist Hold?

Professionals who enter this career field typically undergo a certain amount of training that combines both engineering and psychology, including coursework that concentrates on how to integrate the two disciplines. Because of this, engineering psychologists can find work related to nearly any engineering- and industrial-related profession that includes a wide range of fields, such as medical, aviation, the government, and even the computer software industry.

Learn more about how to become an engineering psychologist.

Jobs Settings That Provide Positions for Engineering Psychologists

Industry Setting: Wendy A. Rogers, Ph.D., who is a professor at the Human Factors and Aging Laboratory at the Georgia Institute of Technology's School of Psychology, says engineering psychologists work in industry settings where they concentrate on "formative and summative evaluations of new products and systems." She says they hold job titles, such as User Experience Researcher, Usability Testing Manager, and User Experience Architect.

Government Setting: Employed ingovernment settings (such as the Department of Defense), engineering psychologists may assume the role of a 'human factors specialist.' Job positions are found in various government offices, such as the Department of Transportation, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Association, NASA, and all branches of the military.

Business-Related Setting: Engineering psychologists are hired to consult with architects and designers regarding consumer products, such as GPS systems, telephones, cameras, and home appliances.

Medical-Related Setting: Working towards minimizing the risks of accidents and errors regarding medical technology, engineering psychologists help save lives by making medical products, medical equipment, and hospitals safer.

Aviation-Related Setting: Engineering psychologists complete research and projects that help improve aviation technology, such as air traffic control equipment and making a new piece of airplane equipment easier for a pilot to learn and use.

College and University Setting: In academia, those with a doctorate degree often assume the role of professor, and teach courses, including those that deal with "applied cognitive' or 'applied experimental psychology.' According to Rogers, some graduates also find work outside of psychology departments, and may teach courses in computer science, information systems, and industrial engineering. Some academia-related professionals may assume the role of researcher within an institution of higher education – conducting experiments and working towards advancing the overall understanding of the field.

"…jobs are available in all sectors including information/communication technology, education, health, transportation, etc."   

- Wendy A. Rogers, Ph.D.

Ways for Engineering Psychologists to Increase Desirability as a Job Candidate

According to Rogers, "developing the tools of the trade" helps mold a more desirable job candidate for an engineering psychologist position – one who is able to fulfill the attributes that an employer typically looks for in an employee, such as:

• demonstrating the ability to do task analysis and heuristic analysis
• developing function flow diagrams
• conducting strong research
• clear communication skills regarding statistical knowledge
• working on interdisciplinary teams
• communicating well with designers and programmers
• possessing excellent writing and presentation skills

A CAREER IN PSYCHOLOGY IS MORE THAN JUST A JOB

Those who dream of a career in psychology as a social worker,therapist, counselor or psychologist typically envision their future in terms of how they will help other people. While that premise is most certainly true, there is a less thought-of benefit which will also emerge:In the process of assisting others to uncover their “best selves” the practitioner will also evolve and grow in a myriad of positive ways. Here are some of the many ways a career in psychology is more than a job and will benefit the professional:

Patience

Each and every person seeking counseling or therapy will change and transform at their own pace. Correspondingly, family systems and group dynamics are also unique in their growth patterns. Upon embarking on their career, a professional in the field of psychology must come to terms with the fact that there are natural timelines set by the people and situations with whom they interact. They learn that they are not in charge of, nor responsible for “making things happen.” This is the job of others to embrace; clients must choose to change and grow. Over time, these hard-working psychology professionals relax. They accept. Leaving frustration behind, they focus on honing their professional skills and expanding their areas of expertise. They allow. They nurture and watch things bloom. They become patient.

Laura Reagan, LCSW-C, is in private practice in Severna Park, Maryland. She has spent over a decade helping people as a Trauma Specialist; assisting people to liberate themselves from overwhelming tragedy and loss. In 2014, Laura finished The Daring Way™ training and is on the road to becoming fully certified. Laura shared with CIP;

A career in psychology requires patience. When you are working with people, you encounter many personalities and behaviors which may differ from the ways of relating which feel familiar to you. Inevitably some situations will be uncomfortable for you, and you will find yourself wanting to respond in anger, to withdraw from the helping relationship if you feel hurt, or to lash out in frustration. However, as a professional, if you react in accordance with your own feelings you risk causing harm to the client/consumer you are there to help. You must learn to put aside your own feelings in such situations to address the client's needs in the moment and then seek consultation or supervision to sort out your reaction and decide on the best course of action in addressing the incident with the client, if that is appropriate in the setting. This takes immense patience!

Appreciation

Since the beginning of time, experts in a variety of disciplines have declared that an appreciative person is a happy person. The theory seems to be accurate and impenetrable--try holding powerful thoughts of appreciation and ones of unhappiness at the same time. Difficult if not impossible to do! Since an appreciative attitude begins where “poor me” thinking leaves off; it is inevitable that the pain encountered in the course of working with others would inspire a psychology professional to count their blessings. The fact that there is always a person dealing with something more challenging than you are is a relentless reality in psychology-based careers. Appreciation eventually becomes not something hard to strive for, but actually a go-to position. At the end of the day, one is left feeling fortunate, thankful and appreciative.

Dr. Colleen Mullen, Psy.D., LMFT, is an expert in Motivation, Achievement and Recovery Coaching. She founded the “Coaching Through Chaos” center in San Diego, California. She has appeared on ESPN 1700AM Radio and was recently featured in a Forbes.com article, "Where Do CEOs With Addictions Go When They Hit Bottom?" Her insights into how appreciation is a natural by-product of a psychology career are as follows:

Helping another make changes in their lives through the process of their own therapy certainly has benefits for my own life outside of my role as a therapist. Even though we all have struggles, I think that being a part of the “working through” of other peoples’ struggles gives me such an appreciation for the good in my life that I may just take for granted otherwise. That would be probably the benefit I feel deepest and most often.

Additionally, I’ve become much savvier about my own communication in my personal relationships – I have a deep understanding of the pain/love that good/bad communication can facilitate. Lastly, I believe that I am much more cognizant of staying present in my daily life – really engaging in activities in my down time that bring me joy and help me develop and grow myself as a person.

Compassion

Compassion is not a quality handed out at graduation or when a degree or license to practice in the field of psychology is granted; even though it is essential to being in the field. Truly gifted professionals see their clients not as cases or appointments, but as unique individuals who benefit greatly from their compassionate responses and demeanor.

Megan Bearce, MFT, author of Super Commuter Couples: Staying Together When A Job Keeps You Apart, is an expert in the field of support and therapy for couples under pressure due to one or both partners commuting. She is also a specialist in the field of gifted girls as well as assisting “supermoms.” Megan is acutely aware of how her job as an MFT requires differing qualities than other professions; she can readily contrast it with her former career as an auditor and CPA at 20th Century Fox.

Our job is to sit and listen and witness people face and ideally overcome obstacles and suffering whether that is from trauma, divorce, loss, or struggles with anxiety or depression and that has made me a more compassionate person, less quick to judge others when I'm out of my office and in the world. The stories we hear also can put our own struggles into perspective and serve as inspiration. I'm always learning from my clients. I also feel like what I learn in working with clients and by attending various Continuing Education Units (CEU) training makes me a better parent and partner in my own relationships.

Listening

Some of the questions a counselor, therapist, social worker or psychologist must eventually ask themselves are:

• “Am I a good listener?”
• “When I listen do I hear?”
• “Does my attention wander?”
• “Do I constantly strive for healthy communication skills?”
• “Am I just a person who can listen; or am I truly a listener?”

Lanada Williams, MA, LPC, NCC; the solution-focused counselor and star of “The Lanada Williams Show” has garnered her insight into the vital role of proper listening as CEO of a private practice—“Alliance Family Solutions, LLC” in Washington, D.C.; as well as having worn multiple hats at the Department of Behavioral Health Office of Programs and Policy Child and Youth. She shares her wisdom:

Communication is the key to any successful relationship, business, personal, or social. The art of listening has been the root of understanding and displays that a level of attention is being given to the person talking. I know this career in psychology has increased my ability to actively listen and show empathy. Simply paying attention makes me a better mother, friend and colleague.

Optimism

According to Webster’s Dictionary, optimism is:

A feeling or belief that good things will happen in the future: a feeling or belief that what you hope for will happen.

Without optimism, professionals in psychologically-based careers would no doubt feel ineffective and helpless. After all, you can’tmake people change. But you can learn to trust the healing process and once you have a few “miracles” under your belt, you can behave optimistically under any client-based circumstance.

Profiled Expert Elizabeth Sullivan, MFT, co-founded the therapy center; Psyched in San Francisco, as well as worked as Editor of Psyched Magazine. She is a graduate of the cutting-edge institution--the California Institute of Integral Studies and actively works for social change in a variety of areas. She shared her feelings with us:

A career in psychology helps you be a better person by making an optimist out of you as you witness people with terrible struggles grow and change. It also gives you the chance to have intimate relationships with people, and that practice is useful for improving relationships with your family and friends. And each client is fascinating, engrossing, surprising and unique--so you can always grow in your work and you don't burn out.

Conclusion

To summarize, the following qualities are those you can look forward to experiencing in your psychology-based career:

• A patient person will emerge from within you.
• Appreciation will be a go-to mindset.
• Compassion and empathy will become your wingmen.
• Your listening skills will heighten, as will your communication skills.
• In the words of Johnny Mercer you’ll learn to, “Accentuate the positive; eliminate the negative and latch on to the affirmative”. In other words, you will become an optimist.

As our experts shared, a career in psychology will not only develop your professional life—it will actually help you to become a more fulfilled and actualized human being. And all of these exemplary benefits just happen to come with one more thing; a paycheck!

EXPERTS REVEAL THE KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL STUDY HABITS

We all have habits; some are good habits, others are not. One way to increase the likelihood of success in your educational pursuits is to consciously maintain productive and intentional learning habits. While it is debatable how long it takes to break a bad habit or instill a healthy one; one thing is for certain--cultivating positive study habits is essential to pursuing a degree in counseling, therapy, social work and psychology.  See our piece on obtaining better grades. We asked various psychology experts to share the secret to their learning habits; the ones which helped them to succeed scholastically. Here is what they said:

Dr. Allison A. Buskirk-Cohen, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Counseling Psychology Department of Liberal Arts at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, PA. She advises,

The best way to approach learning is to realize it’s an active process. You need to ask questions, make personal connections to the material, and review information. Complete your assigned readings before class so you have an idea of what to expect. When you take notes, focus on the main points. You can always go back to the professor for more details. Form study groups and meet regularly to discuss the information. Talk about how the concepts relate to your life, a character in a movie, a song on the radio, an assignment from another class. The more connections you can make, the better. You’re creating multiple pathways in your brain so that when it comes time to use that material, you’ll have no problem remembering it!

Michael Theisen, M.A., is a Professor of Psychology at City University of Seattle; a private nonprofit university dedicated to serving working adults and transfer students looking to start, change, or grow their careers. Dr. Theisen shares with us,

I think most importantly it is important to be a critical learner. What I mean by this is that when you read course material or are involved in any part of the learning process in the course, that you reflect on the material from your own perspective and experience in life. As I noted in question two, we all can learn from one another, and what this means for me is that we take all academic information in with a respectful and critical eye.

Dr. Jenny Yip, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist who specializes in OCD and anxiety. Dr. Yip is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Southern California - Keck School of Medicine. She shares,

When you're learning, it's important to be productive and focused. Students can accomplish this by scheduling daily tasks in a to-do list. Break down work into 15 minute time slots. Each time you've accomplished an item, you'll feel rewarded, which will boost your motivation forward.

Jessi Lail, MA, earned her Master’s Degree in Psychology from New Mexico State University, where she has also been a professor and departmental advisor,

Never sit in the back of class thinking that you can passively learn. Though a lot of major universities have enormous class sizes, create study groups where you can debate course topics. When someone challenges your opinion or what you held to be true, you have to have the knowledge to defend that. A lot of that knowledge stems from research that you do and that ends up being your strength and helps to cement that information in your mind. If you can't do that, taking good notes and practicing what you learned helps. When I learned about operant conditioning in undergrad, I spent the next week performing conditioning experiments on my family!

Dr. Emma Mansour has a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and has taught numerous undergraduate psychology courses (i.e. Developmental Psychology, Group Counseling, Personality Psychology).

Given the amount of information one has to learn, memorization is inevitable. However, memorization is easier if the student can find a way to apply or relate the information to their own lives or to people they know. Elaborating on and relating to the information will make the information much more relatable and easier to understand.

Misha Granado, MPH, MS has her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, her Master’s Degree in Community Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Public Health (emphasis on Behavioral Health);

When I am in a learning environment I totally immerse myself into the new space, attempting to learn as much as I can and utilize various resources in order to receive various perspectives. I also ask questions for clarity, and finally, I take the concept and apply it to my world, this always makes the concept and/or new information come alive and real for me.

Lori Woodring, Ph.D., is a psychologist licensed in NY and CT. She received her undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Cornell University and her graduate degrees (MS, PD, PhD) from Fordham University. She has also taught in the Graduate School of Education at Fordham (NYC),

In a learning environment, the best learning habits for students are to be good listeners. There is much to be learned from professors and peers, and students need to develop the skill of asking challenging questions to both professors and peers. A well-read and prepared student is paramount.

Leslie Davenport, MFT, is a licensed MFT in practice for more than 20 years, teaches at two Universities and is a published author,

Self care. It's easy to get focused on memorizing the material and completing papers, which is important. But unless you eat and sleep well, and have some time for enjoyment and stepping away, it will be difficult to endure the academic and clinical journey.

Ultimately, your study habits will reflect your personal capabilities and past experiences. The point is to never stop looking for superior ways to do something. If it works don’t fix it; but if it’s merely adequate, consider replacing it. You’ve got what it takes to be more than a mediocre student; you can be an excellent one.

THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE WITH EACH LEVEL OF PSYCHOLOGY

Although some may claim that the opportunities are scarce within the field of psychology, there are actually a fair amount of opportunities in terms of employment depending on what level of psychology one has pursued. There are clearly more professional opportunities with an advanced degree, as is the case with most other professional careers. But even with just a Bachelor’s degree, though some perceive it as a stepping stone towards Graduate school or a Doctorate, a Bachelor’s degree in psychology can still provide an abundance of opportunities, particularly when working with children. Psychology is simply not one of those fields of study that, if chosen, will provide little in terms of employment opportunities, as some people may assume. Instead, each level of psychology provides various different opportunities that are distinct from every other level of psychology.

For some who choose to pursue psychology, earning the highest level degree for psychology is of great importance. Once someone has earned their doctorate they can respectfully be known as a psychologist, and aside from simply assuming this title, a psychology student with a recent doctorate has the advantage over other psychology students in the sense that positions such as a licensed clinical or counseling psychologist, which otherwise would have been impossible to get without a doctorate degree. But aside from simply holding these two positions, psychologists who have obtained a Ph.D. are also able to hold positions such as of a university professor or even a researcher. There are also opportunities for psychologists, holding doctorate degrees, to practice at mental health clinics, hospitals, schools, and private practices.  But earning the doctorate degree is hardly easy, as it takes approximately five to seven years to complete, along with a dissertation. For those who just earn Master’s degrees rather than a Doctorate, these students can expect to spend at least two years in school competing graduate course work prior to going on to work jobs such as working in mental health under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.

But for a variety of psychology majors, ones who choose not to further their education, some graduate with just a Bachelor’s degree and this degree will allow them to gain entry-level psychology positions, but this is a small percentage of at least 25 percent of psychology majors who find jobs in a field that even closely relates to psychology (Training for Psychologists).  Though this may seem like a small percentage of the population of psychology students, there are various opportunities to work with children while holding a Bachelor’s degree and many of these jobs include child care counselor, child care worker, child development worker, and even an infant stimulation teacher (Psychology and Neuroscience). Although many psychology students who hold only a Bachelor’s degree to work with children, in previous years this sort of career was seen as being reserved mainly for those who have earned a Master’s degree. Those who hold a Master’s degree in psychology choose to work as a child psychologist and some go on to work as Psychological Associates or even Licensed Professional Counselors (Psychology and Neuroscience).

What does Psychology Entail?

Psychology is essentially the study of behaviorism, and in order to gain more insight into the behaviors of humans conducting research is necessary, and then only afterwards, practice is another part of psychology, as encouraging others to live healthier lives has an enormous impact on behavior.  There are a variety of different types of psychologists and their work vastly differs from one another in terms of how that type of psychology helps to benefit society. Clinical Psychologists tend to deal with the treatment of a wide variety of disorders that range from mental, emotional to behavioral. The types of disorders that clinical psychologists deal with can range from mild to severe, and some of these disorders can include schizophrenia or even a chronic depression.  As Clinical psychologists handle the diagnosis and treatments of a vast range of disorders, Social psychologists are committed to figuring out the reasons for people’s social behaviors and how it’s related to their interactions with others. These types of interactions that social psychologists are interested in both group and individual interactions, and it’s the Counseling psychologists, however, who assist clients with everyday problems. It’s these psychologists who assist people in acknowledging their problems as a way to help them handle whatever adversity they are facing in their lives (Psychology and Neuroscience).

The Point of an Internship for Prospective Counselors

There’s hardly any doubt as to the importance of an internship. For most people it’s a way to gain experience in a chosen profession while still in school, an experience that’ll hopefully increase the chances of that student landing a job following graduation. Whether the chosen profession is in health care or law, an internship can help students develop valuable skills that can then be used for a job following graduation. Aside from simply gaining specific skills that can be used later for a job, an internship can also assist a student in finding a career that highlights that person’s skills and abilities. There’s also the factor that with an internship students receive an opportunity to meet a wide range of people that could work to their advantage in terms of networking later, and in recent years networking was essentially the key to landing a job. Though this may be the case for most jobs regardless of the type of profession involved, it’s even more so the case with counseling since those participating in the internship are expected to develop skills and learn more about how to approach counseling others, something that the internee can take away and then later apply to their professional careers as counselors.

What does a Counseling Internship Entail?

Like any other type of professional internship, a counseling internship is meant to prepare the intern for a professional career regardless of what field it’s focused on. Though a counseling internship may seem similar to any other type of internship, there’s more involved to a counseling internship than what most people might expect. When a prospective counselor goes through the internship process that individual would likely gain a variety of experiences that are intended to assist that person in their professional career as a counselor. These experiences can include anything from clinical interviewing, either individual or group counseling or even psychotherapy, along with supervision and training and crisis intervention; all various degrees of the counseling career. These are essentially the skills that a counseling intern can expect to gain over the course of the internship, but those who participate in this type of internship have vastly different experiences than someone who participates in a different type of internship, particularly that in the law field. Counseling internships tend to focus on a different kind of learning, specifically that of learning by observing prior to placing the newly developed skills into practice and this is all while relying on previously completed research as a form of reference. Although this type of internship may seem somewhat overwhelming, the main incentive behind designing the counseling internship in this way is to allow interns an opportunity to work independently without supervision, and gain a feel for what their professional lives as counselors will entail. Aside from simply enhancing the requisite experience and knowledge base that’s required for working as a counselor, an internship also allows interns the opportunity to work towards the required license for working as a counselor. These counseling interns usually form awareness, along with knowledge and skills in the area that relates to professional psychology. For instance, one of these skill types include clinical skills and what the clinical aspect of counseling relates to is the initial assessment, along with referral and report writing (Counseling and Psychological Services).

A Valuable Education

One of the main aspects of the counseling internship is the fact that there’s a strong mentoring presence throughout the course of the internship. Although the counseling internship is mainly geared towards giving internees opportunities to work independently, there’s also an emphasis on the need for those going through a counseling internship to work along with professional psychologists, and it’s advantageous for the internee if these professionals worked in a variety of fields, including mental health counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, and even psychiatrists. These interns, for the sake of their education and developed skills, are encouraged to interact with these professionals, mainly as a way to gain insight into their chosen field. The interns are expected to learn by shadowing these professionals, while also participating in events like staff meeting, project collaborations, and less formal consultation. Along with receiving a sense of the anticipated responsibilities that come with a career in counseling, those going through the internship will also have the ability to practice healthy communication, self-care, all while remaining an active member in the professional organization (Counseling and Psychological Services).  Part of the importance of this type of internship and one that the intern will hopefully take away and be able to use in their counseling career is the ability to use their self in the process, essentially enhancing their sense of self.  With this type of skill that’s learned during the internship, the individual will hopefully become more aware of both their thoughts and feelings, especially when working with a client, and in this way the counselor will have a better chance of empathizing with the client, essentially understanding what they’re going through and how they’re feeling (Psychology Internship Programs).

HOW YOUR REPUTATION IMPACTS YOUR CAREER IN PSYCHOLOGY

Before the dawn of the Internet and social media constructs, a reputation was a word-of-mouth opinion held by the majority of a community. Today it is everything--everything you write, post, tweet, publish and memorialize. If you are working towards a career in psychology, you are aspiring to secure positions which require the appearance of emotional stability and unbiased intellect. Therefore, if you are someone who likes creating a tidal wave of shock; what you post today might very well drown you out of the job you apply for tomorrow. That is why it is important to immediately begin to consciously and intentionally manage your public persona. Your reputation is much like your height--once you have it, it doesn’t change.

The notion of privacy is another concept that has been redefined since the dawn of social media. What you might consider private and safe for posting could very well wind up in the wrong hands or in the hands of those who do not agree with your standards of propriety. Additionally, when you comment upon the posts of others (for example on a news article), it is possible that a name search will reveal that particular opinion or comment. While you always have the right to free speech and to your opinion, freedom of the press quite literally promises that once you have spoken, the words need never be erased. That might play out by you not being employable because of “insane” comments you posted on various news sites 5 years ago. Suddenly free speech is expensive.

Farrah Parker, MA, is one of our profiled Experts, a Professional Executive Coach and the owner of FD Parker and Associates, a successful public relations firm. We spoke with her to discuss how important it is for psychology students to begin to immediately safeguard their reputations.

Farrah, how would you define a "reputation"?

Reputation includes a set of beliefs, values, and standards that an audience assigns to your character.

If you had a client who wanted a career in psychology, what would you tell them to do now regarding their reputation?

The internet is the greatest asset of our time and the biggest liability. There is no such thing as a private profile. Always ask yourself an important question before posting, 'How does this information affect my brand?' Many people assume that the hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of social media connections respect privacy. Unfortunately, we live in an age where we readily screenshot everything and share. Take the safe road and post as though your most critical opponent is watching.

Can you give us a hypothetical or example of someone who had no regard for their reputation and it came back to haunt them?

There is a teacher who believes that it is a character flaw to separate public and private persona. This educator has thousands of friends on Facebook, SnapChat, and Twitter and openly shares stories about her personal life including marriage and parenting struggles. After befriending a student, this teacher learned the hard way that loyalty is delicately defined on social media. The student showed provocative, "night on the town" photos of the teacher in Aruba to his friends. A parent eventually found out and reported what they believed to be inappropriate behavior.

What are some things most people don't think about when they are young that greatly affect their futures as executives/professionals?

There is no delete button! In a technological age, speed is everything. We share our thoughts in a click. We send text messages in an instant. We slowly eliminate the concept of time and patience, which provides a narrow window for logic to enter the equation. Mistakes should not follow you forever. However, in an information age, proof of these mistakes last forever.

What are some concrete examples of acts that can come back to haunt you?

1. Posting risqué photos online
2. Inappropriate remarks based on race, class, gender, or sexual orientation
3. Political views

What can someone do to combat the mistakes of their youth?

Hiring an executive coach who is well versed in public relations can mean the difference between a thriving career and one that flops before it starts. Seek out a professional who can help you build, nurture, and maintain your brand, and you will increase your chances for sustained success.

While it is important to have fun and enjoy your years as a college student, it is equally as important to be mindful of the longevity of your life and career. Treat the words you speak and write as though they are permanent tattoos—on your forehead. Remember that while you might feel confident in flaunting certain ideas and opinions right now, they may keep you from getting where you want to go in the future. You only get one reputation. Care for it wisely, beginning today.

THE FLEXIBILITY OF A DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY

One of the great things about pursuing a degree in psychology is that once you graduate with your degree(s) there are a plethora of fields and professions from which you can choose to specialize. While many academic disciplines limit the graduate to participation in closely related fields, a psychology degree can be utilized for a seemingly infinite number of career options.

A common misconception of a career in psychology is the notion that the resulting day-to-day job consists of seeing clients and employing traditional therapeutic techniques. The reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Two of our profiled experts are living proof that a student can pursue clinical or research specialties in the field of psychology and yet transform the resulting career into one that suits their individual interests and passions.

Dr. Ben G. Adams grew up in St. George, Utah; the son of the small town’s only practicing psychologist. While the spectrum and intensity of his father’s solo practice impressed upon him the transformative aspects of the profession; he wasn’t immediately drawn to the field. Although he was fascinated by psychology and how it helped people, he was significantly drawn to the arts.

Growing up, Adams had been highly influenced by his Mormon roots and the artistic expression therein. Due to the powerful work ethic in which he was steeped, however, Adams did not perceive art as a viable career option which he could explore. Over time though, Adams discovered that he could take his passion for artistic methodology and marry it to the more scientific principles of psychology. It wasn’t long before Adams was officially a student of psychology.

After he earned his PhD in clinical psychology at Columbia University, Adams stayed on at the university for three years as a post-doc in the Psychiatric Epidemiolology Training (PET) Program. “I’ve never been so spoiled in my life,” says Ben about his time in the PET program. “I got to do tons of reading and learning and writing. They really gave me the time and space to figure out my own niche.”

During this time period, Adams conducted his first major study; a body of work characterizing the nature and scope of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Viet Nam veterans. Together with Bruce Dohrenwend, PhD, their groundbreaking research revealed that 18.7 percent of Viet Nam veterans had developed war-related PTSD and that over a decade later, 9.1 percent were still acutely affected.

Interestingly enough, Adams found that, for him, the study of PTSD was in fact an artistic endeavor.

I love studying PTSD as a person interested in art. I believe it’s the most interesting thing in psychology. It’s the one disorder that is based around a story and a cause; there are symptoms related to trauma. In my heart of hearts most studies don’t interest me as much as art, except PTSD. Dohrenwend was writing on his own trauma, which gave me the idea to weave together some of my more artistic theories as applied to PTSD.

Adams is a perfect example of how a student's passion can be a driving force in their career and be significantly present in their life’s work. He lives in New York City, New York, and is the author of The Creative Process Diet a revolutionary book which blends art theory, concepts of mastery, spirituality and the possibilities inherent in one’s relationship to food.

Another expert, Lisa Bahar MA, CCJP, LMFT, LPCC, also has a unique approach to her practice due to her life’s beginnings. Her father came from Persia (Iran) to study Architecture at Cal Poly San Louis Obispo and was a licensed architect; he valued education and was very adamant regarding her getting an education. Bahar’s mother worked in the school system for most of her career; both parents were respectful of education and considered it essential to being in the world. They were, however, open to Bahar exploring other ways of making a living; specifically by being an actress.

In her words;

I had initially been in the cinema television field and wanted to be a film producer and actress. With that experience, I was introduced to the opportunity of understanding ‘people’ and ‘characters’ which are people in a fictional sense. My curiosity of how people act and behave and relate the way they do has always intrigued me. When my film career did not take the turns I would have preferred, I decided it may be time to reconsider my career work and began to do my own self-evaluation and through that process became more and more intrigued with psychology and the opportunities to actually be in the profession as a career choice.

Bahar attended the University of Southern California and studied Cinema Television production and received a Bachelor’s Degree. She then worked with independent producers right out of college and was in development and story editing for most of her career. She worked primarily with writers, development executives and producers to pitch thought provoking and healing stories for the field of cinema. At this point, Bahar began to consider entering the field of psychology.

After some setbacks and a broken heart in my career, my desire to enter a new field led me to psychology; I followed my intuitive sense and applied to master’s programs, and was accepted by Pepperdine University where I received my Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy. I then did my clinical internships, studied for licensure and am now a licensed marriage and family therapist and a licensed professional clinic counselor as well as a certified drug and alcohol counselor.

Due to her passionate beginnings as an actress, today Bahar can offer her clients one of the newest forms of therapy available--Cinema Therapy; a therapy which utilizes the evocative medium of film to explore and examine feelings and emotions. She sees clients at 2 California offices; one in Laguna Niguel at Southern California Psychiatric Associates and also Newport Beach.

Summary…

One of the greatest aspects of the psychology degree is also one of its most significant challenges. While it seems that a pre-disposition or affinity for a niche will come either by nature or nurture; the ultimate responsibility for establishing that niche will be in the hands of the individual practitioner.