How To Become A Child Psychologist?

Topic: How To Become A Child Psychologist?

Becoming a child psychologist means choosing to devote your life to listening to and supporting children with psychological difficulties. This psychologist can intervene in various cases, particularly in children encountering psychological disorders (excessive shyness, violence, systematic disobedience, etc.) generated, for example, by a shock or a difficult family environment.

Depending on the seriousness of the patient’s condition, the psychologist’s intervention ranges from an interview aimed at providing advice to therapy resulting in complex support that is spread over a long period. 

The CNFDI offers distance training called child psychology. This training does not allow the practice of a psychologist’s profession (which requires a university degree). Still, it offers an apprenticeship of the essential notions of child psychology, at the learner’s pace, according to his availability and objectives.

This training includes 13 volumes addressing basic concepts and different areas of child psychology (development, pedagogy, cleanliness, etc.) and the patient-therapist relationship.

This training is recommended to all those who wish to move towards professions related to childhood (educator, nursery assistant, etc.) or who already work in this activity sector.

What is a child psychologist?

Child psychologists evaluate and treat children and adolescents who have developmental problems or are experiencing emotional difficulties and help them cope with stressful situations.

The types of disabilities they assess and treat range from learning disabilities and depression to serious mental disorders.

Child psychologists are also trained to help children who have suffered trauma.

They assess the child’s problem, develop a strategy, and meet with him in therapy sessions.

As a child psychologist, you will need various skills, including compassion, patience, and good listening and speaking skills.

Child psychologists can find employment in various places; they can work as school psychologists, open their private practice, or work in hospitals.

Child psychologists are trained professionals who specialize in diagnosing and treating children and adolescents with mental, learning, or emotional disabilities.

There are many areas in which a child psychologist can serve, including schools, health centers, or private therapy clinics.

Child psychologists must have a personality that encourages the child to trust them and feel comfortable sharing her private thoughts and information.

Child psychologists play an extremely important role in their clients’ lives, teaching young clients who lack coping skills to learn life skills; they can teach very effective skills that will help their clients be successful in their adult lives.

Possible conditions that child psychologists can treat include depression, attention deficit disorder, anxiety disorders, self-esteem, and family problems that affect a child’s ability to function healthily.

Family problems can include divorce, the death of a parent, child abuse, or whether a family member is an alcoholic or a drug addict.

People who want to become child psychologists may be interested in interacting with children and have a passion for helping them grow into healthy, functional adults.

If you think you can be successful in a career helping children, one option is to choose a path that prepares you to become a child psychologist.

The child psychologist can practice on his own by opening a private practice (he is then considered as a liberal professional) or work in a collective structure: hospital, clinic, school, PMI (maternal and child protection), CMP (medico-psychological center )

The function of a child psychologist

The child psychologist works during sessions which generally last from 30 minutes to 1 hour. The number of sessions varies according to the severity of the disorders affecting the subject. Generally, the first session provided requires the parents’ presence so that the psychologist can understand the child’s experience. Parents can thus inform him of many details allowing rapid identification of the causes of the disorders.

For the 4 or 5 other sessions that follow, the child continues the treatment alone. The psychologist gives him evaluation tests to measure his intellectual capacities. The child psychologist also considers the age of his patient to define the number of sessions and the level of difficulty of the tests. The last session is devoted to the assessment, and parents are again invited to attend.

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Child Psychologist Education Requirements:

Individuals who wish to become child psychologists must meet educational requirements to find employment in the field.

• The most qualified child psychologist candidates have at least a Ph.D.
• Applicants with a bachelor’s or master’s degree will face fierce competition among manipulated applicants.
• Interested students should begin their careers with a major in psychology, such as a bachelor’s degree, as most graduate programs require it for admission.
• In an undergraduate program, students will take courses that educate them about the human mind, child development, learning processes, and the many ways a family is structured.
• For applicants to practice independently, they must acquire a Ph.D.
• On average, this type of degree usually lasts around five years.
• After completing a graduate program, applicants must complete a one-year internship to learn the trade’s ins and outs.
• Internists will learn to interact with and interview patients and to take notes on important patient information.

Licensing requirements depend on the state in which the candidate will be working and, to obtain a license, the candidate must pass a certification exam.

Note : Some states require psychologists to continue their education to renew their licenses.

Child Psychologist Job Description

There is a big difference between a child psychologist and a psychiatrist.

One professional diagnosis and treats alone, while the second can also provide prescriptions.

Child psychologists may work with a licensed professional to suggest prescriptions if it is determined that the medications will help the patient improve.

However, they cannot write prescriptions for their clients.

An experienced child psychologist should be able to work with a parent or legal guardian and the patient himself.

They can work with parents to take an initial inventory of medical and health information.

Child psychologists will interview patients to assess their mental status, analyze and perform evaluations, determine the best treatment for a patient, and prevent the onset of mental disorders.

They will take your assessments to create, design, and apply techniques aimed at achieving behavior change.

Child Psychologist Salary:

The job prospects of these professionals are expected to increase at the national average rate for other careers.

Applicants with a Ph.D. will have more opportunities available to them and those with specialized degrees.

Applicants with a master’s degree will face stiff competition among applicants with a Ph.D. or more experience in the field.

The national median salary for all psychologists was around $ 77,000, according to 2008 reports.

Salaries also depend on the sector in which a professional works; health center positions pay the highest salaries with an average of $ 68,000, while personal and family services positions are around $ 57,000.

The national salary scale for all psychologists ranges from $ 37,900 to $ 149,000.

 How much does a child psychologist make a year?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for psychologists, overall, was $ 79,010 in March 2021.

Salaries vary based on a wide range of factors, including location, the psychologist’s experience, and region.

Some earn less than $ 45,000 per year, while others earn around $ 130,000.

How much does it cost to become a child psychologist?

If you want to become a child psychologist, the first step is to obtain a degree in psychology or a related field.

Psychology degree programs cost about $ 40,000 per year, but tuition fees vary widely depending on the school you choose.

Subsequently, you will need to enroll in a doctoral program in child psychology.

Doctoral programs provide students with the opportunity to spend time in a clinical setting, working with patients under the supervision of a faculty member.

The costs of doctoral programs vary widely and range from $ 10,000 to more than $ 40,000 per year.

To practice, you may also need a national certification and a state license; requirements vary from state to state.

The National Council of Certified Counselors offers the title of Certified National Counselor.

The Council also offers specialized certifications.

What is the demand for child psychologists?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of psychologists is expected to increase by 14% from 2018 to 2028, but the expected growth varies by specialty.

It is expected that more clinical, board, and school psychologists will be needed in the future, as the demand for psychological services is expected to be higher in schools, hospitals, and mental health centers.

How many years of school to become a child psychologist?

To become a child psychologist, you will need a bachelor’s degree obtained in 4-5 years and a master’s or doctorate that can be obtained in 3 to 7 years, depending on the program you choose.

Most states also require child psychologists to be licensed; the exact requirements vary from state to state.

The National Board of Certified Counselors offers the title of Certified National Counselor.

To apply for certification, you will need at least a master’s degree in counseling and 100 hours of postgraduate counseling supervision in the last 2 years. You must be approved by a colleague with a master’s degree or higher in mental health.