collageLearning to become a Child Psychologist in Uk is one of the comprehensive and adorable decisions one can take and here Collegelearners.com is doing just that through the informative articles below:
The way that we think about child development has changed. In the past, children were seen as little adults whose minds were effectively blank slates. They were dressed and treated like grown-ups, with exposure to education believed to be all that was needed to progress. We now know that how we learn is far more complex and animalistic, stemming from both our interactions with other people and the world around us.
Child psychology is one of the most popular branches of the field and explores the way that our brains and behavior advance over time. Studying development from the womb until adolescence offers a fascinating insight into our mental, emotional, physical and social growth. The topic encompasses cognitive development, motor skills, language building, and personal identity. By taking a closer look, we can identify cause and effect, enabling us to seek solutions for struggling children. This week we’re thinking about how to become a child psychologist, and why understanding young people matters
What is a child psychologist?
What is a child psychotherapist? The child psychologist career works with children and adolescents in social care, education, or health settings. They offer psychoanalytic treatment to individuals with behavioral or emotional difficulties, and it can also be referred to as a child therapist or a pediatric psychologist. They’ll work with children who may have depression, phobias, aggression, anxiety, gender dysphoria, eating disorders, learning disabilities or difficulties, development delay, psychosomatic disorders, consequences of child neglect and abuse, or who self-harm.
A children’s psychologist will across multiple disciplines, such as family or school, and develop a strong relationship with the child. They may see the child individually, with parents or other families, or within a group with other children. They may also meet with careers or parents when the child isn’t present. Child and adolescent psychotherapy within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is a core profession. You will also have to be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which is the body that governs nursing in the UK.
Areas of Expertise in Child Psychology
- Adolescent Psychology
- Developmental Child Psychology
- Abnormal Child Psychologist
Why learn more about child psychology?
Our first few years can have an irreversible impact on our lives and coping mechanisms. Many children need extra support and psychologists play a crucial role in keeping families together and protecting vulnerable young people. Find out how to become a child psychologist in the UK and take on a job in a profession that is both challenging and rewarding.
If you have an enquiring mind, and a passion for giving back to the community, this career path is for you. Becoming a child psychologist could see you helping clients from diverse backgrounds. By looking at behavior from different perspectives and within a variety of cultural frameworks, you can diagnose and treat social, emotional, and cognitive problems.
What do child psychologists do?
Child psychologists look for patterns in learning and behavioral development issues. They work with children that have been through traumatic situations or with lifelong conditions such as autism. Clients will often have a combination of problems that require patience and time to address. Treatment can involve Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and working together with a child to manage their emotions in a healthier way.
The challenges of becoming a child psychologist include keeping young people engaged and committed to any counseling programs. What makes the work that professionals do so vital is that they look for ways in which past environments and lack of care have led to current problems. Seeking to fully understand children is one of the most effective ways to help them.
The internet has made it much easier for people to share their experiences of raising children and to publicly celebrate milestones. More than ever before we are striving to make sense of developmental changes and passing on our findings. Mums and dads often find that a basic knowledge of psychology enhances their parenting techniques. Family life can improve if consequences are used to influence behavior, and learning more about child development can help parents to set age-appropriate expectations. As a professional, your task will be to pass on strategies to your clients, ensuring that their children grow into well-adjusted adults.
Taking a look at the child psychologist job description, we find that the therapist will observe children and young people, respond to what they’re communicating through play, behavior, or discussion, and provide assessment and treatment. They may treat a group of individuals or see them one by one. A children’s psychologist tailors their approach to each individual and works in an age-appropriate manner, as each case is vastly different from the next, even if the child has the same condition or contextual background. They’ll be able to provide long and short-term interventions, from a handful of sessions to several years.
Child psychologists work with children struggling with mental, emotional, or behavioral health disorders, such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, and autism. They may also treat children who have experienced trauma or are struggling with addiction. During their training and studies, child psychology students learn about typical social and emotional development, abnormal behavior and disorders, and treatment methods.
These professionals may continue to research childhood and adolescent development or focus solely on clinical practice and working with patients. Some child psychologists work part-time as researchers or university faculty members while working part-time in their own private practice. In addition to research and clinical positions, child psychologists can also fulfill administrative roles, developing programs or curricula that facilitate healthy emotional and behavioral development.
Child psychotherapy works alongside other professions, including hospitals, schools, children’s services, and child protection departments within local governments. They will work as part of a team, with social workers, special educational needs coordinators, pediatric nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, family therapists, community nurses, and CAMHS. Child psychotherapist jobs may also supervise trainees and other therapists, plan and develop new services, and involve keeping up to date with the latest developments in research and theory.
how to become a psychologist uk
A psychologist for children should be sensitive, empathetic, confident, and approachable. They should have a genuine interest in the emotional and behavioral problems faced by young people and their families. Excellent communication skills and the ability to cope with extreme vulnerability and human emotion are vital due to the nature of the job.
They will need to be able to work as part of a team, alongside other professionals, and always have the child’s best interest at heart. They should be resilient and have the ability to differentiate between personal feelings they hold from those of the child or young person.
How to become a child therapist, and what qualifications do you need to be a child psychologist? Child psychotherapy training is offered at institutions that are accredited by The Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP). Prospective candidates will need substantial experience and an honors degree or equivalent.
Individuals can gain experience from a variety of areas, including health, social care, and education. Before beginning child psychologist training, individuals will need to undertake pre-clinical studies and complete a postgraduate diploma, Master’s, or equivalent in observational psychoanalytic studies. These courses typically take around two to three years to complete.
After this, you then need to complete a four-year training scheme where you’ll learn techniques, clinical practice, and theory work under supervision. Clinical work is typically based in an NHS CAMHS team or another suitable setting.
You can expect to study short and long-term psychoanalytic work with children, adolescents, and parents, consultation with other professionals, and assessments. As part of the child psychologist qualifications, you’ll usually be expected to undergo four sessions of personal analysis each week.
The NHS also provides some clinical training positions, but these are limited and only offered by a small number of trusts or as a partnership between a training provider and an NHS Trust. These posts provide a range of financial support, from grants to bursaries. If you’re interested in taking this route, you can check with individual providers and trusts to see what is available. The child psychologist career works with children and adolescents in social care, education, or health settings.
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Child psychologists work with children to diagnose and treat various developmental, behavioral, and mental disorders. To become a child psychologist, candidates need a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in psychology or a related field. This means they must complete a four-year bachelor’s degree and then matriculate into a doctoral program that takes 5-7 years. Doctoral programs explore theoretical and clinical perspectives through a combination of coursework, field practicums, and research.
Child psychologists also need state licensure. While requirements vary by state, students must typically pass the National Psychology Licensing Exam and complete two years of supervised clinical or counseling experience.
Child psychologists are sometimes called developmental psychologists. While developmental psychology refers to the study of cognitive and behavioral processes that occur throughout the lifespan, many developmental psychologists focus on children and adolescents. A child psychology career overlaps with other positions, including mental health counselor, school psychologist, clinical psychologist, and social worker.
Mental health counselors diagnose and treat mental health issues while school psychologists work with students to address behavioral or emotional problems affecting their learning. Clinical psychologists treat emotional and behavioral disorders while social workers help individuals in need identify their problems and how to resolve them. If these professionals specialized in working with children, they would fulfill many of the functions of a child psychologist.
Read on to explore child psychology education requirements and learn how to become a child psychologist.
child psychologist salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Child psychologists earned a median annual salary of $80,370 in 2019. The BLS projects jobs for psychologists to grow 14% between 2018 and 2028, which is faster than average. Child psychologists occupy a specific subfield of psychologists, and their salaries generally fall within the scope of available BLS data.
Salaries vary depending on workplace setting, along with a psychologist’s specialization, geographic location, and years of experience. According to PayScale, clinical child psychologists earn an annual salary of $60,000 and child psychologists with counseling skills earn a salary of $75,405.
Child psychologists earn more as they gain field experience. An early career psychologist with 1-4 years of experience can expect to earn around $68,130 per year, according to PayScale. A mid-career psychologist with 5-9 years of experience makes around $73,974.
Child psychologists typically earn a salary from a particular organization, such as a hospital, school, mental health facility, rehabilitation center, research institution, or government agency. Employers set these salaries, although exact amounts vary depending on candidates’ qualifications and job positions.
Some child psychologists also make money from private practice, where they might offer independent counseling and therapy services. In private practice, child psychologists set their own rates and typically charge by the hour.
| Career | Lowest 10% Salary | Median Annual Salary | Highest 10% Salary | Projected Growth Rate (2018-2028) |
| Psychologists | Less than $45,380 | $80,370 | More than $132,070 | 14% |
Source: BLS
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Becoming a child psychologist takes years of education, fellowships, and hard work before ever being issued a license. The following section details the necessary steps to start your practice.
Step 1. Complete a Related Bachelor’s DegreeAspiring child psychologists must first complete a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as psychology, counseling, mental health, or behavioral health. Not all schools offer child psychology as a major. Some programs offer child psychology only as a specialization, concentration, or minor. Other programs do not offer child psychology at all. A bachelor’s degree typically takes four years to complete.
Psychology: A bachelor’s degree in psychology requires 120 credits and includes major courses in developmental psychology, social psychology, abnormal psychology, and research methods. Schools may offer a bachelor of arts (BA) or a bachelor of science (BS) option. BA requires more liberal arts general education courses while a BS requires more basic science courses. In some programs, students can choose a concentration or track within the broader psychology major, such as school psychology, health psychology, neuroscience, and counseling psychology. Schools may also offer a fast track or combination programs that allow learners to apply bachelor’s credits toward a master’s degree at the same institution. Different schools and programs offer different courses and specialization tracks.
Counseling: A bachelor’s degree in counseling requires 120-180 credits and covers topics such as diversity issues in counseling, methods of counseling, and crisis intervention. The curricula typically focus on counseling strategies rather than psychological theory. Counseling programs may offer concentrations or tracks in areas including substance abuse, mental health, school counseling, art therapy, and family and marriage counseling. A bachelor’s degree in counseling can lead to entry-level positions in related fields or a graduate program on a track to obtain a counseling license. Practicing counselors require a master’s degree and state certification. They can work as a school and career counselors, substance abuse and mental health counselors, or marriage and family therapists.
Step 2. Find a Suitable Graduate Program After completing a bachelor’s, aspiring child psychologists should pursue graduate school. While terminal master’s degrees exist in this field, they do not qualify individuals to become child psychologists. Instead, professionals need a doctorate to become licensed child psychologists. When choosing a suitable doctoral program, students must first choose between earning a Ph.D. in psychology or a Psy.D. (doctor of psychology).
Ph.D. programs are ideal for students not only interested in clinical practice but also in research and academia. A Ph.D. takes 4-7 years to complete and culminates in the completion of a dissertation based on a student’s own research.
Ph.D. in psychology programs are fairly competitive and require a strong GPA, GRE scores, recommendation letters, college transcripts, and a personal statement. Learners can pursue Ph.D. programs in developmental psychology, child psychology, and clinical psychology with an emphasis in developmental or child psychology. While many of these programs prepare students for a career as a licensed psychologist, students at the Ph.D. level should research faculty members at each school to see which professors complete research in their desired areas.
Students who want to focus on clinical practice without dedicating time to research often choose a Psy.D. This degree imposes fewer research requirements and takes less time to complete.
Step 3. Complete Practicum and Licensure RequirementsCandidates for psychology licensure must also complete a certain number of supervised clinical hours — ranging from 1,500-6,000 — as designated by their state’s licensing board. Learners may complete these clinical hours as part of a practicum during the course of a doctoral degree or in a postdoctoral fellowship or work setting.
Practicums allow students to work closely with psychology professionals in the course of counseling and treating patients. Students often complete practicums in mental health facilities, private practices, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and correctional facilities. Learners may also explore postdoctoral fellowships to gain hands-on clinical experience.
Licensing requirements vary by state but generally include a doctoral degree in the field, the completion of supervised clinical experience, and passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). The EPPP tests candidate competencies in core psychology areas. Each state posts its own minimum score requirements that applicants must meet to obtain their license. Some states may also require candidates to pass a jurisprudence exam.
Step 4. Become Board CertifiedBoard certification represents to the public, patients, and potential employers that a psychologist has completed the necessary educational, training, and experience requirements to be an expert in a particular specialization. Although not required to practice psychology, board certification allows licensed psychologists to specialize and gain the expertise necessary to work with special populations or in specific subfields.
The American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) certifies licensed psychologists in 15 specialty areas, including health psychology, neuropsychology, and school psychology.
To obtain ABPP certification in one of these specialty areas, psychologists need licensure in psychology, at least five years of work experience, specialized training, continuing education in one of the specialty areas, and a passing grade on a competency exam.
Child Psychology Courses
Learners who take doctoral-level courses in child psychology or developmental psychology develop competencies such as research skills and knowledge of psychological theory and best practices. Students can then apply their knowledge to their own dissertation research and practicum or internship experiences.
See below for some courses students may take during their graduate studies. Note that not every program offers these specific courses.
Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology
Ph.D. in Child Psychology
Accreditation for Psychology Degrees
Accreditation serves as quality assurance for colleges and universities. Accrediting agencies evaluate schools based on a set of standards to ensure that students and parents receive a high-quality education. Six regional accrediting agencies oversee designated geographic regions.
Regional accreditation is considered more prestigious than national accreditation. Credits between regionally accredited universities transfer more easily since they adhere to the same standards.
Several national accrediting agencies focus on specific vocations, trades, technical careers, and professions. Psychology programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels are subject to regional accreditation at the institutional level. Doctoral programs are accredited by national accrediting agencies.
The American Psychological Association (APA) is the only organization authorized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit doctoral psychology programs. The APA accredits clinical psychology, school psychology, and counseling psychology doctoral programs as well as postdoctoral residencies in professional psychology.
Related Careers at a Glance
The child psychology field offers multiple career paths and specializations, including in general psychology, school psychology, neuropsychology, forensic psychology, and clinical psychology. These fields require the same level of education and licensing requirements, but the specific content of coursework and training varies.
Psychologist
School Psychologist
Neuropsychologist
Forensic Psychologist
Clinical Psychologist
Child Psychology Degrees and Career Resources
Prospective child psychologists and practicing professionals can access a variety of organizations and resources that provide research journals and conferences, professional development and training opportunities, continuing education and certifications, job boards, and advocacy. Membership in professional organizations also presents opportunities for networking and forming collaborations with colleagues with a shared specialization.
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology
This membership-based group supports individuals in the field by providing advocacy, a job center, research findings, and regional chapters.
American Psychological Association
The APA is the governing body for many different facets of the field of psychology, ranging from accreditation to overseeing many different specialized professional bodies. The website provides a wealth of information for prospective child psychologists.
Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology
This academic publication heralds the latest data and emerging research within child and adolescent psychology. Professionals can read about the work of their peers or contribute their own research.
National Association of School Psychologists
Individuals looking to counsel and treat students in an educational setting are often drawn to roles as school psychologists, and the NASP exists to help these professionals. Membership perks include access to research findings, conferences, professional development opportunities, and a variety of certifications.
Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
Operating under the umbrella of the American Psychological Association, Division 53 exists to develop and advance the field of child and adolescent psychology. Whether advocating for better public policy or providing training opportunities, SCCAP is a valuable resource for those in the field.
Distance learning degree programs are increasingly popular and are offered by traditional colleges and primarily online institutions alike. These web-based programs allow students to balance classes and schoolwork with their busy schedules and other commitments. Some programs may be hybrid, meaning that some classroom instruction or fieldwork is required.
What skills do I need to be a child psychologist?
To become a professional psychologist, you need to go to university and gain a degree. Students must also work towards a master’s or Ph.D. before they can specialize in areas such as educational psychology, counseling, or clinical psychology. Child psychology has no direct route, but can be the next step from many of these fields. If you’re new to the subject, then learning with Stonebridge will introduce you to a range of child psychology topics. Build the confidence to make the leap to higher education, as you discover more about:
- How we start to smile.
- The ways in which attachments first form.
- The effects of maternal deprivation.
- Why interactions with family members are important.
- Efficient research methods and ways of interpreting data.
- How our visual perception increases to judge distance and depth.
- The development of language and communication skills.
- Different ways in which we define and test intelligence.
- The nature/nurture debate and gender roles.
The course offers an in-depth look at psychological studies, alongside interactive resources. You can work from home, in your own time, and this flexibility will enable you to train for a new career, without affecting family life or your full-time job. You’ll come away with a strong academic base, that you can tailor to any number of education and employment pathways.
Career progression
Becoming a child psychologist will offer a starting salary of at least £31,000, with scope to reach £98,500 per annum with experience. By taking an introductory course, you can add to your CV and show a commitment to learning that will impress future employers.
Child psychology qualifications are also an ideal way for parents, or anyone working with children, to update their skills. You can apply your knowledge to family life, or job opportunities in hospitals, schools, private clinics, or mental health facilities. You could go on to pursue a role in counseling, speech and language therapy, social work, or community support.
If you’re considering a career change or seeking to be more effective in your workplace, a child psychology course will provide invaluable information. Learn with Stonebridge and you’ll have the resources you need to progress to further study or better understand children in your care.
Is your key focus to help children, whether that be from bad experiences or difficult emotions?
If you answered yes, then why not take a look at the child psychologist career? It consists of supporting and helping children deal with and combat a huge range of issues or experiences they may be going through. You’ll have the chance to make a real difference in their lives and hopefully help them overcome whatever it is they’re faced with. For more insight into this job, read our guide below!
Passionate about providing children with a better future? You should become a Child Psychologist…
Child Psychologists help children and young people with a range of mental and behavioral problems – including everything from depression and anxiety, to phobias, trauma, and aggression.
Their job is to observe and analyze patients’ behavior in age-appropriate situations (e.g. playtime activities with children, or supportive discussions with teenagers) – in order to understand their feelings, determine the route of the problem, and provide support and treatment
Although they often see patients individually, Child Psychologists could also carry out sessions in a group – with parents or other family members.
Typical tasks for a Child Psychologist could include:
- Studying children’s’ actions using cognitive testing
- Using their training to decipher meaning from behaviours
- Offering both short-term and long-term treatment plans
- Carrying out consultations and interventions
- Liaising with other health and educational professionals
- Attending conferences and meetings
- Supervising trainees
How to become a child counsellor?
It’s the same as psychotherapists or psychologists. Child therapist jobs or child counselor jobs require you to have a bachelor’s and Master’s degree, and in some cases, employers may want individuals with a Ph.D. as well. You will need to have clinical training and extensive experience to show you’ve worked with children from a range of backgrounds, issues, and conditions.
What qualifications do I need to work for CAMHS?
How to become a CAMHS worker? Well, it depends on the job role that you’d like within CAMHS. If you want to be a CAMHS nurse, then you’ll need the same three-year nurse course that all qualified nurses achieve.
You will also have to be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which is the body that governs nursing in the UK. After qualifying, you can apply to CAMHS and become a specialized nurse working with children and young people.
How to become a CAMHS practitioner? Each position may require diverse expertise from their candidates; for example, they may ask for proof of your qualifications in either nursing, social work, occupational therapy, child psychotherapy, or play or drama therapy.
You’ll need experience working and caring for children and young people who have mental health problems/needs. Some may look for people who have experience working with young offenders or individuals with complex needs.
Therefore having a relevant degree or qualification as well as experience you can apply for jobs with CAMHS.
How much does a child psychologist make?
The child psychotherapist salary in the UK typically follows the NHS pay scale as they are the biggest employer of the profession nationwide. Trainees earning between £30,000 and £37,000 are familiar with the child psychologist salary in the UK, also referred to as a Band 6. Individuals can gain experience from a variety of areas, including health, social care, and education.
The child psychology salary for qualified individuals increases to Band 7, ranging from £37,000 to £43,000. Then, the principal psychotherapy salary in the UK usually starts at £44,000 (Band 8) and rises to £86,000 for senior positions, following years of experience. However, the child therapists salary in the UK can be vastly different in private practice, where there is no standard pay scale.
You can vary your charging rate depending on experience, location, client base, or expertise. In some cases, the child counselor salary may differ if they provide low-cost therapy for unemployed or low-income clients. If you want to find out more about the psychotherapy salary in the UK, you can research job boards and vacancies during your studies to get a gauge of what you’d expect.
What are counsellor prospects?
Whether you’re under child counseling jobs or child psychology jobs, there is a vast world out there where you can progress further. The same can be said for general psychology prospects, as the skills can be used across sectors. Although child and adolescent psychotherapy is a specialized profession, there is room to progress depending on your interest and willingness to relocate. If you work within the NHS for a CAMHS team, you can advance in forensics, learning disabilities, neonatal work, or looked-after children. Other options include working within managerial responsibilities or moving over into clinical teaching, lecturing, or research. You can also look for child psychology jobs in the UK within the private sector, after building a reputation and gaining contacts.
What Benefits Come Along With Becoming a Child Psychologist?
Child psychology is one of the major subspecialties within clinical psychology. Child psychologists work with children, generally under the age of 17, helping them to understand and cope with a variety of emotional, developmental, and psychosocial issues. Professionals in child psychology reap the benefits of helping others, working independently or within an organization.
Prestige
Child psychologists gain social prestige simply by virtue of their profession. As highly educated medical professionals, child psychologists are held in high esteem. It takes at least six or seven years to complete the training required to practice as a clinical psychologist, and as long as 10 years if you earn a doctorate.
Comfortable Working Conditions
Therapy sessions usually occur in an office setting, which means that child psychologists spend most of their working hours in comfortable, climate-controlled conditions. Some child psychologists have to travel to meet with clients at schools, at hospitals, or in law enforcement or courtroom environments. Child psychologists typically work regular business hours, although some might have to be on call for emergencies.
Above-Average Pay
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, clinical, counseling, and school psychologists earned a median salary of $67,650 in 2012. Child psychologists employed at elementary and secondary schools earned an average salary of $71,730. Those working in educational support services garnered an average salary of $67,190 in 2012, while clinical psychologists employed in individual and family services came in slightly below average with a salary of $64,730.
Emotional Satisfaction
Child psychologists also reap the benefits related to the emotional satisfaction of helping children and families to lead more happy and productive lives. Children can blossom rapidly in healthy environments, and helping children come to terms with the problems in their life makes a child psychologist feel good and build self-esteem.
Strong Job Prospects
Child psychologists also have strong job prospects. The BLS projects a robust 22 percent job growth for psychologists as a group between 2010 and 2020, and the subcategory of clinical, counseling, and school psychologists is also expected to grow by 22 percent during that decade. Increased demand for counseling services in general, and especially for school-based services, is listed as the main reason for the strong projected growth.
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