Child psychology offers a wide range of opportunities, all of which can be extremely rewarding. Child psychologists can work in a variety of settings, such as schools, hospitals, government agencies, or private practice, and can treat patients or conduct research. A master’s degree is required at the very least for a career in child psychology, though most child psychologists pursue a doctoral degree, either a PhD or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD). In addition, every child psychologist must be licensed in the state in which he or she works.
Working directly with children who have behavioral or mental issues is one of the most common careers in child psychology. A child psychologist will usually work in a school or private practice with children until they are about 12 years old. He or she could help children who are having trouble dealing with family issues like death or divorce, as well as children who are hyperactive, depressed, or anxious. A child psychologist uses different techniques than an adult psychologist, which is why having a specialized degree is so important. Because age is a significant treatment factor, each treatment must be tailored to the individual child.
Some careers in child psychology focus on abnormal child psychology, which is similar to child psychology but focuses on the study and treatment of long-term mood disorders, schizophrenia, psychopathology, sociopathy, and other personality disorders. Psychological evaluation tests for children will also be administered by child psychologists. In addition, when planning treatment for the child, he or she will need to collaborate with teachers, family members, and other caregivers.
Child psychologists frequently collaborate with social workers and the legal system to help families and children. A child psychologist may diagnose learning disorders in schools and work with students to improve their abilities. Other tests, such as IQ tests, may be administered by a psychologist in schools.
Aside from these careers in child psychology, which require the psychologist to work directly with patients in order to treat them, developmental psychology is another option. In this field, psychologists usually conduct research to learn more about children’s psychological development, including issues like emotional and language development, as well as human behavior in general. Patients are frequently seen by a developmental psychologist, though this is primarily for research purposes.