So, You Want to Become a Psychologist
A practical guide for those considering a career in mental health
Every week, I hear from students, early-career professionals, or simply curious people asking: What does it take to build a career in psychology?
The path isn’t a straight line, like most paths, and it’s certainly not always glamorous. But it is meaningful, challenging, and deeply human. If you’re thinking about stepping into this profession, here are some truths worth knowing.
1. Choosing the Right Degree: PhD, PsyD, or Master’s?
The first fork in the road is education. A Master’s degree can provide a solid foundation, and there are many excellent clinicians who stop there. However, keep in mind:
Some positions require a PhD or PsyD.
Doctoral programs typically shorten the road to independent practice and insurance reimbursement.
A Master’s often means additional years of supervised practice before full licensure.
If you’re unsure what you ultimately want to do, plan to advance as far as you can, so you’ll keep more doors open. And wherever you study, make sure the program is CPA or APA accredited. Accreditation matters when it comes to licensure (a process that can get very technical - yes, they may even ask you for your first-year syllabi). Also, if you hope to do a fellowship, plan to get more program clinical hours (i.e. via internships, practica) than are standard, even if your program is accredited.
Some might counsel you to a choose niche area of practice speciality; in my opinion it is better to go broad, while also steering towards a specified horizon. You want to be able triangulate theories and approaches to establish your own robust mental models.
2. Balance Science and Art
Psychology is grounded in evidence-based practices. The field has learned the hard way that intuition and caring aren’t enough. What we believe works must be tested against data, replicated, and measured for real-world outcomes.
For example:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy has decades of research supporting its efficacy for certain conditions.
Established fields like neuropsychology rely heavily on data from standardized testing. There is a methodic way of thinking that underscores neuropsychology, and an emphasis on assessment/diagnosis, which complements and disciplines clinical interventions.
Outcome research helps us understand not just what works, but for whom and under what conditions.
At the same time, psychology is an art as much as it is a science. Therapy is not a lab experiment but a living relationship. Too much technicality can strip away what makes therapy powerful: the human connection.
Think of it like music. The data are like the sheet music, the melody comes from how the sheet music is played. The strongest psychologists know when to privilege data and when to lean into the subjectivity of human experience.
3. Live a Full Life
One of the best ways to become a better psychologist is to become a fuller human being. Explore wide-ranging interests. Travel, read, try new things, and talk to people outside your comfort zone. Your ability to connect rests on the richness of your own experiences more so than on your formal education.
4. Don’t Do It for the Money
Psychology offers many things such as meaning, connection, and growth - but “lucrative” is not usually one of them. Yes, some niches (neuropsychology, forensic psychology, industrial-organizational work) can pay well, and new opportunities with apps, AI, and media offer monetary possibilities, though they have their own pain points.
If your goal is to “make a big score,” this is not the field. Business, finance, or tech may be better suited. That said, you can earn a wonderful living as a psychologist. You just need to understand the limits and opportunities.
5. Learn the Business Side
Most graduate programs won’t teach you how to run a practice - but you’ll need to know it.
Get comfortable talking about money and going rates.
Learn to negotiate leases.
Hire a good accountant and a good lawyer.
Build a referral base through word of mouth, primary care providers, and directories like Psychology Today.
Invest in a website and SEO. Many clients now find their therapists online.
Consider taking an introductory business course at your school’s business program.
The “helping” side and the “business” side don’t have to be at odds. Think of business skills as a tool to sustain your practice so you can focus on helping people.
6. Stay Curious - It’s called a “Practice” for a Reason
The most rewarding part of psychology isn’t in textbooks or theory, it’s in the daily surprises. You’ll learn something new from your clients every day. You’ll be inspired in ways you can’t predict. And you’ll be reminded, constantly, of the strength and resilience of the human condition. If you go to therapy yourself, as some training programs rightly advise, this will include yourself, too.
Stay humble. Stay honest. Stay curious. That orientation will serve you better than any technique or credential.
Final Thought
Becoming a psychologist is not just a career choice but a purposeful calling, that requires an estimation of what you are good at, and what the world needs. It’s a responsibility and privilege to help others. If you choose this path, you won’t necessarily get rich quick. But you will become alive to the enriching, beautiful stuff of being human.
- E.S.
