Psychologist

Psychologist - overview

As a psychologist you’ll understand, interpret and advise patients on their mental wellbeing and encourage positive behaviour change. Read below to find out what being a psychologist is like, how you can qualify and the skills you’ll need for a successful career.

Learn what the role involves below.

What does a psychologist do?

As a psychologist you will have knowledge of how people communicate, think, behave and react with others. Psychologists assist all varieties of people from the police and the prison service to trauma patients, athletes and school children. You might work independently or in close collaboration with other health, social or care workers.

Your responsibilities usually include providing a safe and confidential space for patients to express themselves and work on their issues, offering therapeutic activities or medication, referring patients to other health services as needed, and conducting research into new treatments. You’ll enjoy understanding the human mind and helping people find relief.

What will your days involve?

Daily tasks will vary but could involve:

Researching projects and publishing academic articles
Facilitating talk-therapies and supporting clients
Assembling and applying treatment programmes and prescribing medication
Measuring, testing, interviewing, observating and analysing
Completing administrative work like planning teaching programmes
Enabling recovery and lessening suffering working with individual and unique psychological experiences
Promoting the adoption of healthier lifestyles
Advancing and applying tools and interventions for training, structural change and occupation planning

FAQs

How much can you earn as a psychologist?

The average salary for a psychologist in the UK is £35,880. Graduates start at around £41,500.

Does a psychologist role involve travel in the UK or overseas?

While some psychologist roles may involve overseas travel, many psychologists work from a single hospital, university, private practice or rehabilitation centre.

Can you work from home as a psychologist?

Psychologists don’t typically work from home, but improvements in video conferencing have made it possible to deliver some services to patients remotely.