What does a Psychologist do?
A Psychologist is a member of an interdisciplinary health team to help patients suffering from mental health issues to integrate and deal with daily life. Psychologists spend time examining patients to properly diagnose them and provide therapy to help them work through whatever mental illness they are suffering from. A Psychologist will often use standard testing to properly diagnose a patient. Psychologists may also be responsible for creating intervention programs and determining the best treatment methods.
Psychologist skills and qualifications
A successful Psychologist candidate possesses various prerequisite skills and qualifications for the duties of this job. Some of these may include:
- Strong counselling skills and the ability to deal with a range of mental health illnesses
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal
- Strong diagnostic skills
- Ability to initiate and model positive change with excellent team-building skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Excellent organizational and time management skills
- Ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- Excellent and thorough knowledge of a range of mental health illnesses
Psychologist experience requirements
When reviewing resumes for an entry-level Psychologist, prior experience isn’t always necessary if they meet the educational requirements. However, if previous experience is required then look for someone with at least two to three years of experience. It is also best to look for someone who has experience working with a similar demographic or type of mental health issues such as children or the elderly. If it’s required, look for someone who has experience providing support and therapy sessions virtually as well as in person.
Psychologist education and training requirements
When reviewing resumes for a Psychologist, look for someone who has at least a Master’s degree in Psychology if the applicant will be working in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, or the Northwest Territories. If the applicant will be working in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, or British Columbia than the applicant should have at least a doctoral degree in Psychology. Prince Edward Island requires an applicant to have a doctoral degree if they will be working privately and a master’s degree if they plan on working for an institution or agency. Most provinces will also require applicants to have successfully passed the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and be registered with the provincial college of Psychologists.
Psychologist salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Psychologist in Canada is $127,080 per year. The salary can vary depending on many factors including experience, location, or the company that is hiring.
Job description samples for similar positions
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