How to survive and thrive as a psychologist
There is no one right way to be a psychologist.
However, there are a few things that will help you beat burnout and survive and thrive: an awareness of the challenges, including the high rate of burnout, a support network, firm boundaries, intentional self-care, and an understanding of your legal and ethical requirements.
Click here to access your free copy of Five Things You Need to Know to Survive as a Psychologist.
When I graduated and started my psychology career over 15 years ago, I did not know one other psychologist, I had no peers and no mentors.
I completed my Masters as a part-time mature student with two very young children and a husband as a first responder, doing rotating shifts..
On graduation I was straight away offered work in a private practice, which was so exciting. However, overtime all I really came to know was that practice. Their policies and procedures, their client base. The owner was a wonderful psychologist, don't get me wrong, but my knowledge of psychology as a professional world was very limited.
So at first I soaked all this in, then I struggled. I really had nowhere to go with my thoughts, to figure out what clientele I actually wanted to see, to understand the bigger world of psychology..
An added complication was the navigating through the political division that exploded around the time I was struggling to find my feet as a psychologist.
Remember, this was pre Facebook.
Fast forward to today where I work as a solo psychologist and get to make all the decisions about how my business looks and what I focus on.
As part of my journey, I worked on intentional self-care including constructing a support network and tightening my boundaries.
Now I work to assist other psychologists, especially early career psychologists to set up their self-care as early as possible. To be the mentor I would have loved when I first started.
However, there are a few things that will help you beat burnout and survive and thrive: an awareness of the challenges, including the high rate of burnout, a support network, firm boundaries, intentional self-care, and an understanding of your legal and ethical requirements.
Click here to access your free copy of Five Things You Need to Know to Survive as a Psychologist.
When I graduated and started my psychology career over 15 years ago, I did not know one other psychologist, I had no peers and no mentors.
I completed my Masters as a part-time mature student with two very young children and a husband as a first responder, doing rotating shifts..
On graduation I was straight away offered work in a private practice, which was so exciting. However, overtime all I really came to know was that practice. Their policies and procedures, their client base. The owner was a wonderful psychologist, don't get me wrong, but my knowledge of psychology as a professional world was very limited.
So at first I soaked all this in, then I struggled. I really had nowhere to go with my thoughts, to figure out what clientele I actually wanted to see, to understand the bigger world of psychology..
An added complication was the navigating through the political division that exploded around the time I was struggling to find my feet as a psychologist.
Remember, this was pre Facebook.
Fast forward to today where I work as a solo psychologist and get to make all the decisions about how my business looks and what I focus on.
As part of my journey, I worked on intentional self-care including constructing a support network and tightening my boundaries.
Now I work to assist other psychologists, especially early career psychologists to set up their self-care as early as possible. To be the mentor I would have loved when I first started.
Choose how to connect next
- Networking is not about just connecting people. It's about connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people with opportunities.-- Michele Jennae
Kim Dunn
Psychologist
Founder of the Victorian Psychologists' Networking Group
I am an independent, private psychologist who works on increasing connection and self-care in everyday lives, through individual counselling, workshops, podcasts, and the Essential Self-Care for Psychologists program. I also founded the Victorian Psychologists' Networking Group
In my downtime I love to read fiction and watch Collingwood (AFL). I also walk, spend too much time on social media, and love catching up with my friends and family.
Nonie Carr
Psychologist
Co-host of the Weekly Check In on Thursdays.
Co-Administrator of The Victorian Psychologists' Networking Group on Facebook.
www.enhancelife.com.au
Psychologist
Co-host of the Weekly Check In on Thursdays.
Co-Administrator of The Victorian Psychologists' Networking Group on Facebook.
www.enhancelife.com.au