8 advantages and disadvantages of being a psychologist

March 30, 2024

All professions have their advantages and disadvantages, and Psychology is no exception. Dedicating yourself to this exciting discipline is a way to go through moments that make everything worthwhile thanks to the personal and professional satisfaction they produce. However, there are also specific moments that are frustrating or tedious.

It is important, before considering whether to undertake this formative and professional trajectory, if our preferences, motivations and objectives fit well with what the profession offers us. Because, it is good to know the best and the worst of being a psychologist .

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The advantages and disadvantages of engaging in Psychology

Clearly, The advantages and disadvantages of engaging in psychology they are something that depends on the personal opinions and the subjectivity of each one, but in broad strokes are the following.

The advantages of being a psychologist

Among the good things about dedicating to psychology, there are several things that have to do with both what happens in real time in therapy sessions and counseling or training as with others that occur outside of sessions.

1. It allows to see in the improvement of others the fruit of one's work

Psychologists, very often, have great reasons to rejoice: the consequences of their work directly benefit someone, and translate into lasting happiness and that one can see. This is something that happens with very few professions.

2. Offers flexible hours

If you do not work in a company, psychologists can reach have a freedom of schedules that is appreciated . In addition, the possibility of doing online therapy means that the sessions do not have to be canceled if a patient or client leaves the city or is traveling.

3. Always gives excuses to continue learning

Psychology is a young field, so it develops very quickly. That is why those who work in this field are always in contact with very interesting sources of knowledge about human behavior: seminars, conferences, books, scientific articles ... All of them can be relevant to the profession addressing issues as different as biology, philosophy, neurology , learning, etc.

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4. It allows to learn techniques that apply to oneself

Having a therapist to advise and direct us externally is never the same as not having it, but knowing several principles, theories and techniques, Psychologists have more ways to adapt to the circumstances that appear in their own lives , on the one hand, and are less likely to fall for harmful beliefs about mental processes, personal problems and patterns of behavior that they themselves manifest from time to time.

The drawbacks of engaging in Psychology

We have already seen several of the advantages offered by the profession of psychology. Let's go now to that not-so-kind side of this job.

1. The doubts based on the criterion that is followed

The profession of psychologists usually goes hand in hand with significant and intense experiences, since in most cases it is constantly dealing with people of all kinds. In addition, the type of relationship that is established between the professional of psychology and those people with whom it interacts (whether patients, clients or subjects over which it intervenes psychologically) can end up having a strong emotional charge, for what is usually be habitual in professional environments.

And, after all, psychologists do not stop empathizing at any time. That is why sometimes you can get to doubt about whether certain actions are carried out from a professional criterion or from a personal one, based on emotion.

2. Find time to look for clients

If the fact of offering the services of the psychological intervention already consumes enough time, money and effort, to that we must add the task of looking for clients.

This is aggravated considering that it is usually a task that is not foreseen by psychologists, who have been training for several years with the idea of having to invest all their capacities in therapeutic intervention and in education and awareness programs. Developing a marketing plan can be tricky , and you have to find time for it.

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3. Work intrusion

Unfortunately, both in Spain and in many other Spanish-speaking countries the profession of Psychology is not very well regulated legally , with which there is a lot of work intrusion.There are people who, having done courses for a weekend of Coaching, believe that they can give psychotherapy.

This has disastrous results for everyone: customers are hurt by spending time and money on something that does not work and can even make them skip the really effective treatments; to the psychologists it takes away a part of their market, and the false therapists end up raining the denunciations.

4. Prejudices about psychologists

Many people believe that psychologists are always practicing as such , which means, on the one hand, that any friend, relative or friend of a friend can ask for free therapy, and on the other, that they are always trying to "read the mind" of the people. Obviously none of this is true, but sometimes it can be quite annoying that people in the immediate environment assume these erroneous beliefs.