Should I Pursue a Career in Child Psychology?

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The Needs of Children

Is there any greater gift then the ability to help a troubled child or help an adolescent through those troubling times? Even as adults, at one time or another, we have all needed someone we could count on to be able to talk to or is just willing to listen without the fear of judgment. If we, as adults, have a difficult time expressing our emotions, we can only imagine the frustration children must go through trying to explain what is troubling them.

Too many times, young children and adolescents alike, need someone who is able to speak for them or who will help them develop the ability to express what they are feeling. This is the role for those who choose child psychologist careers.

Special Characteristics of Child Psychology Careers

If helping young children and adolescents is your passion, then a position in child psychology could very well be right for you. However, one must consider the importance of communication skills and patience, as there may be emotional conflicts or sudden withdrawals. As a child psychologist, you will deal with how children grow physically, mentally, emotionally as well as their social development.

Though many child psychologists work with a range of clients that include infants, toddlers, children and teens, there are a couple of areas of expertise in child psychologist careers such as the Abnormal Child Psychologist. The abnormal child psychologist works with children who are suffering from psychological disorders including anxiety, mood, and personality disorders.

Another specialized field available in child psychologists career is known as Adolescent Psychologist. The adolescent psychologist works with adolescents ranging in the ages of 12 and 18 who may be suffering from psychological illness or distress. Problems could include eating disorders, depression, or anxiety. If you have a specific area of interest, a specialized field may be better suited for you.

The Mind of a Child

As a child psychologist, your duties will include diagnosing and treating learning or developmental disabilities, helping clients learn to manage behavioral issues, administering psychological tests and conducting scientific research on childhood development. You will also work with a health care team to formulate a unique and specific treatment plan individualized for each patient.

A commonly held belief is that it is internal factors that influence how a child grows, such as genetics and personal characteristics. While these are factors, the truth is child development involves much more than the influences within an individual.

Environmental factors such as social relationships and the culture in which we live also play essential roles. Social context, cultural context and socioeconomic context all have major roles in child psychology and development, whether it is in the overall field of child psychology or in one of the more specialized fields. These contexts are constantly interacting, so while a child that may have fewer opportunities due to a low socioeconomic status, teaching them to enrich social relationships and develop strong cultural ties may help correct this imbalance.

It was once believed children were just a smaller version of an adult. When it was suggested children actually think differently, Albert Einstein said it best: “So simple that only a genius could have thought of it.”