I have already told you how to become a counseling psychologist, now I will let you know the traits you need. The steps you need to take – get degrees (undergraduate, graduate, doctorate), get valuable experience (volunteering and paid), and get licensed. It takes several years of schooling, working, and studying, but in the end you will become a counseling psychologist.

How to Become a Counseling Psychologist – the 5 Essential Traits

1. Smarts. If you don’t have the brainpower, this profession is not for you. It takes years of schooling and difficult courses to get the required degrees. If your IQ isn’t relatively amazing, find another career.
2. Persistence. Most people go to college for four years; if you are thinking of becoming a counseling psychologist, you will be in college for a few more years than that. How to become a counseling psychologist – stay in college until you can officially be called “doctor.” You will definitely need your Ph.D to be in this field and that much education takes, not only a substantial amount of money or loans, it also takes persistence. Be persistent and you will be rewarded in the end!
3. Patience. This goes along with persistence as patience is required to survive the educational requirements and to begin your career. In the hypothetical manual on how to become a counseling psychologist, it doesn’t say that the rewards are quick and easy. It says that it takes more time than most people are willing to invest. It is a long term investment instead of a get rich quick scheme. Patience is an absolute necessity if you are going to stay the course, get all the required degrees, gain the necessary experience, and reach your goal.
4. Work ethic. Study, study, study, and study some more – this is what you will be doing as you head toward your eventual doctorate degree. You will also spend hours volunteering at a clinic or in some similar environment, so you must have a strong work ethic. To be successful in an career takes hard work, and counseling and coaching are no exceptions to this rule.
5. Passion. This is the final essential trait and perhaps the most important one. You must have passion for the field of psychology, and you must possess an undeniable passion for helping make a difference in other people’s lives. This passion will drive you to succeed, whether you are volunteering, working your first job, or working as a high-paid counseling psychologist. It is passion that drives the motor and it is passion that fuels the fire.

Do you want to know how to become a counseling psychologist? Look in the mirror first and see if you possess these five traits – smarts, persistence, patience, work ethic, and passion. If you can honestly say that you have a good supply of these five essential traits then you are off to a good start in your quest to become a counseling psychologist.

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Fred Philips
Business Coach
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