Have you ever considered becoming a psychologist? If so, this blog post is for you! There are many different types of psychologists in India. Some focus primarily on research while others treat patients.
Whatever your interests, there’s sure to be something that will spark your interest in the field of psychology. With enough hard work and dedication, your dream of becoming a psychologist can become reality!
My name is Dr. Sharma and I am currently teaching at one of the top universities in India as an Assistant Professor of Psychology.
My goal with this blog post is to provide some information about what it takes to become a psychologist in India- from education requirements to salary expectations. To help guide my students who are interested in pursuing careers in psychology but might not know-how.
So let’s get start it…
Let's find it...
What is psychology?
Psychology is the study of human behavior and mental processes that seek to understand how individuals think, act and feel.
The word was coined in 1879 from Greek roots meaning ‘study of the psyche’ (psychē, “soul” or “mind”) and -logy (“study of”) and is defined as the science of behavior and mental processes.
Accourding to wikipedia “Psychology is the science of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries between the natural and social sciences.”
What is psychology?
Who is a psychologist and what do they do?
We live in a world where people are constantly striving to explore their potentials. As the term goes, “Know thyself.” Without any doubt, psychotherapy is one of the most important areas of psychology that helps you to learn about yourself and your surrounding environment.
Psychologists help not only themselves but others as well by helping them understand themselves better through treatment and therapies. And this is what makes them one of the best professions to take up in India at present.
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If you are someone who thinks about pursuing a career in psychology, then it is important for you to know what you’ll be getting yourself into.
What do I need to do to become a psychologist in India?
If you want to become a psychologist in India, you need to earn a Post-graduate degree in psychology.
This is either Master of Arts (M.A.) or Master of Psychology. Become a Psychologist in India A M.A. degree is more popular among Indian psychology graduates.
If you want to pursue MA then you have to do your Bachelors of Arts (BA) and must have scored at least 60% marks.
Similarly, if you want to pursue Master of psychology then you have to score at least 60% in Bachelor of psychology.
Salary and career prospects
Psychologists in India are usually paid anywhere from Rs.3,50,000 INR – Rs.4,20,000 INR per annum. The highest-paid psychologists are paid more than 9,60,000+ INR per annum for their work.
- Entry-level positions pay anywhere from Rs.30,000–35,000 INR per month.
- Experienced psychologists earn between Rs 50,000–70,000 INR per month.
- Senior-level psychologists with 10+ years of experience usually earn more than Rs 1 Lac per month.
Entry-level jobs will require a Masters degree in Psychology, and the more senior positions will require a Ph.D.
To know more about salary for a psychologist in India read this quora answer.
Pros and cons of being a psychologist in India
According to me, being a psychologist is rewarding because it allows you to help people. It’s also very fulfilling when you see your clients improve, but it can be stressful because you have to deal with personal issues all the time.
Here’s some more pros and cons to become a Psychologists in India.
Pros of becoming Psychologists
- As a psychologist, you get to meet people from all walks of life. This is an opportunity for you to help them deal with their personal problems and understand human behavior better.
- People think that psychologists only deal with teenagers and adults, but it’s not true. You can do general counseling during your undergrad– helping them deal with issues related to family, relationships, stress or academic issues.
- As you progress in your career path, you can specialize in areas like forensic psychology, clinical psychology, psychotherapy and other emerging fields.
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Cons of becoming Psychologists
At the same time, being a psychologist also has its drawbacks.
- Psychologists work with mental health issues like depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, etc. Therefore, it’s not always the happiest of professions because you are constantly dealing with people’s mental issues.
- Like other jobs, doing psychology means that you have to deal with lots of stress. You have to deal with clients who have a variety of issues, and it could be quite challenging at times. If you are not able to handle the stress, it could lead to depression.
- Since you’ll be dealing with people from different cultures and backgrounds, it’ll be challenging to understand people and their motivations.
- In some cases, You may never get a chance to see the results of your work since most of the time a client will come to you for help when they are in crisis or when there is no hope. You will help them cope with their issues and that is where your job ends. You may never get to see how they improve over time because if they do, chances are they won’t need to seek your services.
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Why psychology is important for the future of India
Psychology is an important field of study because it affects each and every aspect of our lives. It is important for understanding ourselves and others, which is a prerequisite to interacting with people in a healthy manner.
It is also important because it allows us to take a scientific approach in understanding social behavior which might have been driven by instincts or culture otherwise.
Psychology will continue to be important in the future because as our society changes and becomes increasingly globalized, it is going to become even more challenging to understand and relate to people from different cultures.
To make our society more equitable, we need to use the tools of psychology for motivating people to take action against oppression, poverty and injustice.
On a more personal note, I would like to study the psychology of consumer behavior because I find that it is important for people to make good choices- both in terms of their health and finances.
Learn More: You can learn more about psychology by reading the Medium article “The future of psychology“.
Tips for succeeding as a Psychologist in India
India ranks 4th in the world with maximum psychologists, after US, China and Japan. Career opportunities are vast for those who want to become a psychologist, both in India and abroad.
Career options include clinical psychology, cognitive therapy, counseling psychology, school psychology etc.
As you know, Psychology is a growing career in India. But, there are some key things you can do to ensure success at your place of employment:
- Maintain good standing with the public and your employers.
- Be patient with your clients/patients: Remember that you can’t take care of all their medical problems. You can take care of their psychological problems.
- Be punctual and responsible: Treat your clients like you would your friends or family.
- Get to know your clients: Don’t treat them like numbers or statistics, but as people.
- Don’t ever stop learning: New medical knowledge is constantly being discovered and you will need to keep up with it if you plan on being a successful psychologist in India
- Study for the right exams: One of the best things you can do to ensure your long-term success as a psychologist is to be certified. It doesn’t matter if you’re an Indian or American psychologist, there are many different types of exams and certifications you will need to take.
- Make sure your resume is up to date and professional. Career counselors can help you with all of the above.
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Conclusion: How to Become a Psychologist in India
Psychology is a diverse field with many different sub-specialties. But regardless of which path you choose. The most important thing to remember is that psychology can be an incredibly rewarding profession for those who are passionate about making life easier and better for others.
If you’re interested in psychology, this article will have answered some of your questions. I hope it has given you a better understanding of what to expect as an Indian-based Psychologist (Therapist or counselor).
As always, feel free to reach out with any follow-up questions for me or other members of the Aimpur!
Don’t forget to share this post with your friends and family members so that they can also know about how to become a psychologist in India.
Good Luck with your new journey:)