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Job outlook for chief psychologists in the United States
Chief psychologist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected chief psychologist job growth rate is 14% from 2018-2028.
About 26,100 new jobs for chief psychologists are projected over the next decade.
Chief psychologist salaries have increased 9% for chief psychologists in the last 5 years.
There are over 28,453 chief psychologists currently employed in the United States.
There are 24,107 active chief psychologist job openings in the US.
The average chief psychologist salary is $100,193.
Are chief psychologist jobs in demand?
Chief psychologist job and salary trends over time
Chief psychologist jobs over time
Chief psychologist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 28,453 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 35,324 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 35,438 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 34,372 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 33,463 | 0.01% |
Average chief psychologist salary over time
Chief psychologist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $100,193 | $48.17 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $98,160 | $47.19 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $96,641 | $46.46 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $94,256 | $45.32 | +2.5% |
| 2021 | $91,972 | $44.22 | +3.8% |
Chief psychologist jobs by state
Most common states for chief psychologists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 174 | 25% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 69 | 7% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 344 | 5% |
| 4 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 321 | 4% |
| 5 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 268 | 4% |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 261 | 4% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 166 | 4% |
| 8 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 43 | 4% |
| 9 | Alaska | 739,795 | 29 | 4% |
| 10 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 25 | 4% |
| 11 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,266 | 3% |
| 12 | New York | 19,849,399 | 625 | 3% |
| 13 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 241 | 3% |
| 14 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 171 | 3% |
| 15 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 154 | 3% |
| 16 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 120 | 3% |
| 17 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 67 | 3% |
| 18 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 35 | 3% |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 29 | 3% |
| 20 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 25 | 3% |
Most common cities for chief psychologists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marion | 1 | 3% | $83,606 |
Chief Psychologist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of chief psychologist experts
Luther College
The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga
Norfolk State University
Brigham Young University
Central College
Coastal Carolina University
Wright State University
Marian University
University of Oregon
Oberlin College
Northern Michigan University
Missouri Western State University
Bay Path University
University of Baltimore
What general advice would you give to a Chief Psychologist?
Loren Toussaint Ph.D.: Earn a bachelor's level (or higher) degree, and market the strengths you discover and hone in this training! Individuals trained in the field of psychology have excellent earning potential, especially as they are able to use their skills in applied settings such as education, business, law, government, and mental health. Recent Bureau of Labor statistics data show that college graduates out-earn their counterparts who have earned either a high school or tech school degree. This remains true even after adjusting for the cost of the additional education. A degree in psychology offers lots of career options and good earning potential in good working conditions. This is every bit as true today as it was in the past.
What Chief Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Loren Toussaint Ph.D.: I think it is important to remain open to lots of different possibilities. Psychology is a broad field and offers expertise that is applicable in many different sectors of the economy. Think in terms of what possible areas of work are appealing where you can apply what you've learned in psychology. For instance, consider how your skills can be applied in healthcare, counseling, data analytics, business, organizations, education, testing, and government. I've seen students use their training in all of these sectors and they have had excellent success.
What will help Chief Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Loren Toussaint Ph.D.: Two sets of skills seem especially important in the coming few years. First, data analytic and methodology skills. There is no question that psychology devotes more curricular time to analytic and methods skills than almost any other science. There are historical reasons for this, but suffice to say that psychology is first, and perhaps foremost, a science and data analytical field. Second, skills in counseling, organizational leadership and management, and social-emotional and critical-thinking skills are increasingly important in our society today. Think of an individual that can help someone through a relationship break-up or work-related burnout, or someone who can coach excellent leaders, or someone who can teach people how to interact gracefully in social settings and think carefully about critical social and political issues. Individuals with these skills will be sought after for their expertise.
What general advice would you give to a Chief Psychologist?
Tomorrow Arnold: It’s a good profession because it is something that touches every aspect of life including health, the environmental, social issues, and cognitive science. Whether you are interested in research, non-profit work, or practicing psychology you are able to do so in a lot of settings. The great thing about being a psychologist is you have a lot of opportunities. Right now, it’s a great time because there are many opportunities in various areas from artificial intelligence and how it impacts therapy, teaching, or the workplace to the climate such as motivating people’s behavior to improve the environment, help people live more sustainably, and understand how the environment impacts people such as noise and light pollution.
What Chief Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Tomorrow Arnold: What a psychologist does on a day-to-day varies a lot by their setting and job responsibilities. Many people think of clinical or counseling psychology, being a therapist and providing evaluations. However, even clinical psychologists can have many different roles from helping chronic pain patients, providing assessments for bariatric surgery, and providing assessments for forensic settings (e.g., courts). There are also roles as other practitioners as industrial and organizational psychologists which work with organizations and businesses to improve organizational practices and employee wellbeing. There are human factors and engineering psychologists who study human-machine interactions and help design technology (e.g., car dashboard layouts). Sports and performance psychologists study behavior in sports, exercise, and performance and will work with athletes to address barriers to their success. There are many areas but those are the most common.
What will help Chief Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Tomorrow Arnold: A lot of the reason people enjoy psychology is for how it can to day-to-day aspects of lives, so there is always something to do and learn. Downsides are that there is always something to learn and it can be overwhelming, especially if you’re passionate. Also, depending on what you’d like to do, you may also need advanced degrees such as a master’s or doctorate.
What general advice would you give to a Chief Psychologist?
Dr. Scott Debb: The first thing is to manage your expectations. Depending on what geographic area you’re in and how saturated the ‘market’ is, you should adjust your expectations accordingly. Further, many people have multiple employers, for example teaching at a college or university but also having whatever clinical caseload they can handle. This will also depend on the alphabet soup after your name. For example, are you licensed at a master’s level of training but also have a doctoral level education? Are you working for a private practice as a 1099 employee—which is often consistent hours but limited income based on insurance reimbursement and because you’d likely split with the business 60% for you 40% for the business. If you’re full time in practice doing therapy, you can estimate how much you’ll likely take in based on expected weekly billable hours, which means you won’t get a raise unless you work more hours or insurance reimbursement rates increase. To maximize income, it’s easier to combine academic and clinical or research worlds and earn income from a combination of sources.
What Chief Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Scott Debb: Telehealth, in particular virtual meeting spaces that we create for people will likely be the most significant skill for clinicians to master. Traditional counseling and therapy research and practice has predominantly been on in person, face to face meeting spaces where rapport is built through nonverbal communication as well as vocal tone. For telehealth work, we need to create the same safe space for people and still be able to pick up on their non-verbals and have them pick up on ours as well.
What will help Chief Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Scott Debb: Make sure you get good training, both in the classroom and then on the job before you get licensed. Once you complete training experiences at the graduate level, there can be a dropoff of support you get from classmates and colleagues, especially if you’re in a private practice setting. You can’t have too much trial-and-error when you’re licensed because you’re supposed to know the basics about how to help people when they’re in distress.
What general advice would you give to a Chief Psychologist?
Shaun Cook Ph.D.: There are tons of opportunities for those with Psychology training. The training prepares one to work in a myriad of settings (human services, therapy delivery, schools, the government, hospitals, clinics, research settings, human resources, business fields, statistics, legal and court settings, etc.). And, many of these fields are experiencing a dearth of well-qualified candidates.
What Chief Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Shaun Cook Ph.D.: I think most like working with people, knowing that their work is helping and serving others in some way. Also, I think most find the topics and content that Psychologists deal with fascinating - so our jobs are not boring. In terms of dislikes, for some positions, the pay should be better. Also, when one finds out you are in psychology, they automatically assume you are a therapist and analyzing them, which is not true. Finally, it is unfortunate that Freud is associated so strongly by most with Psychology as he is not an appropriate or accurate figure to associate with the field.
What will help Chief Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Shaun Cook Ph.D.: This really depends on the area of specialization and the type of psychologist. It varies widely depending on if you are a researcher, a clinician, a professor, a consultant, work in a school setting or in industry (our term for the business world), etc. If you have a type of psychologist in mind, that would be helpful.
What general advice would you give to a Chief Psychologist?
Professor Sam Hardy: The usual, things like paperwork (e.g., reporting) and bureaucracy, but that’s the kind of hassle you deal with in any job. Public universities also have to depend on government funding which is unpredictable. At research universities there is also a lot of pressure to publish and get grants, but most people at those universities have high goals in those areas anyway.
What Chief Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor Sam Hardy: Basically, faculty jobs are some combination of three things – teaching, research, and service. Teaching is obviously teaching classes. Research is doing studies and writing papers. Service is a lot of things. Some is at the university and involves being on committees, service in administrative roles, mentoring students, etc. Service outside of university involves reviewing and editing for journals, getting involved in professional organization, engaging in professional conferences, reviewing grant proposals, etc. The relative proportion of time spent on each depends on the type of college/university. Liberal arts colleges will have very little if any emphasis on research, so faculty do a lot of teaching (like maybe 3-4 courses per semester). At universities that have research programs it is usually split something like 40% teaching, 40% research, 20% service (likely 1-2 courses per semester). Sometimes faculty also do some applied work on the side, such statistical or methodological consulting, program development, public scholarship, etc.
What will help Chief Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Professor Sam Hardy: I’m not sure there is anything about it being a good profession NOW. But it is always a good profession because you basically get to study interesting topics and get paid for it. Universities are exciting and vibrant places to work. It is fun being a part of the conversation regarding knowledge creation and application. Faculty positions are seen as prestigious, lending credibility. There is a lot of flexibility. I set my own schedule. I study what I want to study. I teach how I want to teach. And with AI and other technological advancements, everyday there is something new.
What general advice would you give to a Chief Psychologist?
Randall Renstrom PhD: As technological innovations like artificial intelligence spread throughout the workforce, jobs in human services will continue to require just that: humans. Psychology students entering fields like counseling, social work, human resources, and healthcare will find they are well-equipped in these industries because of psychology's focus on understanding human relationships and social interactions.
What Chief Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Randall Renstrom PhD: I tell my students that a degree in psychology prepares them for any job where you have to interact with people, which is nearly every job there is! As experts in understanding the human condition, psychology majors are qualified to work in any number of fields, from counseling to sales to healthcare to marketing and advertising. Graduates should cast a wide net when on the job market and think about how their skills may apply in a wide range of possible career pathways.
What will help Chief Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Randall Renstrom PhD: You want your resume to stand out from the crowd. Take advantage of opportunities at college like internships, service-learning, and studying abroad, all of which can give you practical real-world experience and help you develop unique skills that strengthen your potential when starting your career. Likewise, I emphasize research skills with my students at Central College, which can give students an advantage on the job market. Many industries value research-savvy employees who can work with large data sets, perform statistical tests, or provide data-driven solutions to problems.
What general advice would you give to a Chief Psychologist?
Poonam Dubal Ph.D., LP, LSSP: The need for our expertise is out there, and so are good, livable salaries. To maximize your salary potential, first know what is typical for the type of position you are seeking. Don't be afraid to ask colleagues and peers what they are making; it's only with good data that you can make an informed ask regarding your own salary. Once you know the range that is available, think about how to leverage your unique experiences and qualifications. What of your skills makes you an excellent match for a particular site, or make you uniquely qualified to perform particular tasks? If you see gaps, you might spend some resources initially to get additional training/certifications that better position you for the types of jobs and the level of salary you want. You don't need to chase every certification out there; be thoughtful about what would enhance the skills you already have or really help position you as an emerging expert in a particular area (e.g., trauma, somatic bodywork, EMDR, etc). Often, these initial investments can really boost your salary potential.
What Chief Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Poonam Dubal Ph.D., LP, LSSP: There is a huge need for mental health providers, so you're off to a good start already! As you begin your career, be open to different opportunities and settings; there are a lot of ways to use your expertise and clinical experience. For instance, I've worked in schools, at a non-profit in social-emotional curriculum development, in private practice, and am currently a faculty member at a university. In your job search, you should be able to articulate your areas of strength and know the areas in which you hope to grow as a clinician as your career progresses. Be sure to utilize the connections you've made over your time in graduate school; you will be surprised what kinds of opportunities a simple introductory email from a mentor to a prospective employer might do for you! Don't be afraid to ask for that intro email or for someone to mention your name to their colleague who is hiring. At the same time, stay rooted in your ethics and scope of practice by not taking on projects/jobs that are far outfield from your primary domains. It's one thing to stretch yourself into new areas, which often happens over the course of a career trajectory, but know your limits, too.
What will help Chief Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Poonam Dubal Ph.D., LP, LSSP: Psychologists are going to have to learn to work with the presence of tech and AI. Playing around with Chat GPT, I was astounded to see what kinds of responses could come related to therapeutic questions. However, there's no replacement for the therapist/client relationship and the kind of powerful work that can be done in the therapy room. At the same time, there might be a place for your clients to use Chat GPT and other apps; be open to exploring how technology can support your client in reaching their therapeutic goals. Also, understanding the impact of technology on clients and how to help them have a better relationship with technology will be very important, particularly if you're working with child/adolescent clients.
What general advice would you give to a Chief Psychologist?
Dr. Terry Pettijohn II: In the field of Psychology, the ability to think critically and be flexible will be especially important and prevalent in the next 3-5 years. With the rise of AI assisted technology, employees have to be able to determine how to accurately and ethically utilize AI and apply it in various environments. Being able to think through scenarios and change perspectives with new information will be critical to future job success. Do not rely on AI to do everything for you and make sure you check AI creations.
What Chief Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Terry Pettijohn II: A Psychology degree is great preparation for many types of employment, so majors should feel very confident as they begin their careers. Since you are not trained specifically to be a Psychologist at the undergraduate level, your ability to write, think critically, and rely on scientific findings to support your decisions and viewpoints are especially important and will help you advance in any position. In addition, your ability to understand people and their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors will be very valuable in the workplace. Rest assured you are well-prepared for new career challenges with the coursework and experiences you had as a student.
What will help Chief Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Terry Pettijohn II: While Psychology majors may not start at a high salary compared to other majors, they may quickly prove their workplace value through their critical thinking, flexibility, and ability to understand people. Stress these valuable characteristics when negotiating a starting salary and continue to work hard to demonstrate your value to the company.
What general advice would you give to a Chief Psychologist?
Dr. Pam Garverick: First, I would tell them that there are a wide variety of jobs that a psychology degree prepares them for, not just the ones that come easily to mind. Most students only think of counseling or clinical psychology and miss that there are many other opportunities.
What Chief Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Pam Garverick: Salary potential goes up quite a bit with additional education. I would highly recommend at least a master's for those going into Psychology.
What will help Chief Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Pam Garverick: Statistical knowledge, The ability to ask scientific questions
What general advice would you give to a Chief Psychologist?
Noelany Pelc PhD, LP: While there is variability in salary ranges across states, regions, and locations, be sure to review average salaries in the region for employees with commensurate training and education. This information can be used effectively in early negotiation stages to advocate for salaries on the higher end of the starting cap. Conduct research on specialized certifications or credentials, such as substance abuse or trauma-related credentials, that demonstrate expertise and can facilitate marketing early on. Similarly, at the outset of contract negotiations, ask targeted questions about opportunities for promotion, salary increases, and read Human Resource documentation about review cycles, some of which occur during the early probational months.
What Chief Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Noelany Pelc PhD, LP: Technology-related skills, such as digital literacy, adaptability to a number of modalities and forms of communication, along with the ability to cultivate presence across these different spaces will be critical. Strong scientific and inquiry skills, such as the capacity to communicate, evaluate, plan, question, identify areas of further investigation, analyze data and report conclusions are highly transferrable across settings and roles, which makes them invaluable. Additionally, well-developed ethical decision-making skills to navigate rapidly-evolving applications of artificial intelligence, privacy in digital spaces, and issues of social justice and advocacy are likely to be instrumental over the next 3-5 years. There is also a significant responsibility to remain current on shifts in sociocultural and sociopolitical variables, such as legislation and policy, that influence the lives of clients, students, patients, stakeholders, and community members.
What will help Chief Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Noelany Pelc PhD, LP: Leave room for growth and evolution. Often, the starting point of a career is one of many steps toward building a career path. Engage in mentorship, supervision, and seek out training and continuing education that clarify potential paths, areas for growth, and opportunities to develop specialization and niche expertise. Often, mentors can suggest pathways that are not on the radar for recent graduates. In the beginning, seek to experience different settings, populations, and person-centered work, given that graduates of Psychology programs are employable in a number of different fields. Diversity of experience cultivates deeper understanding of alignment with long-term goals.
What general advice would you give to a Chief Psychologist?
Nichole Kelly PhD: Congratulations! Graduate school in this field is intense. You are now trained to be a licensed psychologist and a scientist. Some of you may also have a great deal of experience teaching. It's a pretty beautiful combination of skills. And it's taken you a long time and many hours of coursework, practical experiences, and independent research to get to this point. I hope you allow yourself some time and space to see which combinations of these skills bring value and energy to your life.
What Chief Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nichole Kelly PhD: For those interested in pursuing careers in science, learning how to engage with open access, free statistical software, like R, will be critical. Very few organizations are supporting high cost software packages anymore. Learning how to engage with this type of software will also make you more marketable to the many different types of organizations that rely on data to be effective in their work. For those interested in clinical care, I would suggest gaining competence in brief interventions, including single sessions. Different healthcare settings are increasingly relying on one to three session interventions to meet the mental and behavioral health needs of their patients. While some patients will certainly benefit from longer-term care, there is a growing evidence base for very brief interventions. So I would suggest familiarizing themselves with this literature and gaining some clinical practice with these interventions.
What will help Chief Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Nichole Kelly PhD: In the science or academic arenas, having advanced statistical analysis skills can expand career potential. If you have multiple job offers, you can negotiate. And this doesn't have to be a particularly stressful or confrontational conversation. It can simply be a matter of asking for a salary that would make it worthwhile to not take another offer, and thanking them and moving on if they are unable to meet the request. In the clinical arena, I would suggest getting trained in multiple evidence based approaches and increasing your comfort with providing telehealth services. Both of these skills are valuable to medical hospitals, as well as private practices.
What general advice would you give to a Chief Psychologist?
Nancy Darling: Lots of folks who love people are not crazy about numbers, and psychology as a field is fundamentally a science based in statistics. For some folks, what they love about the field is the science. For others, they’d rather never see another standard deviation again. I think all psychologists value having the quantitative skills that make them unafraid to take on jobs that require them to play with numbers.
What Chief Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nancy Darling: Psychology balances quantitative skills, critical thinking, and working well with people. That and strong communication skills makes psychology a terrific background for a range of careers. That is always really important, but particularly so now when things are changing fast. The broad range of skills means you can move quickly from non-profits, to community settings, to business, to computer application design. Right now, in particular, we are in a time when there is a real need for people with training in the field of mental health, broadly defined, and for people who know how to create human environments that support people in their every day lives. Psychology students are well positioned for those fields.
What will help Chief Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Nancy Darling: Students with degrees in Psychology have a terrific balance of liberal arts skills. They have strong quantitative skills, write and speak well, have strong training in analytic thinking, and know how to work with people. Because of this training they go into many different fields. We have students entering business who go into marketing. Other students have a more clinical or developmental focus and work with children in after school programs, as teachers’ aids, or provide services to people with autism or developmental disabilities. Many of our students go into research. They collect data, organize and present analyses, and work with teams of scientists in fields from cognitive science to nursing or medicine. Recently, many students have gone on to get further training in both public health and designing good user interfaces for phones, tablets and computers. Psychology is a huge field. Our students go on to many different things. What our students DON’T do is go directly into providing what many people think of as the bread and butter of psychology - counseling, psychiatry or clinical psychology. Those fields require advanced graduate training that isn’t offered at the undergraduate level.
Dr. Marguerite Moore Ph.D., AT, ITAT
The Mark R. and Eileen Lovell Endowed ProfessorshipNorthern Michigan University
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
What general advice would you give to a Chief Psychologist?
Dr. Marguerite Moore Ph.D., AT, ITAT: Go in knowing your worth. Some areas are required to publish their individuals. Look at industry standards for entry-level positions. Examine the living expenses in the area you want to work and how that relates to the industry standard. Don't be afraid to go in with those numbers and advocate for yourself. Set a boundary and advocate for your skills. What else do you bring to the table to justify an increase above whatever they had planned for the position? Do you have additional certifications or expertise that is uncommon in the industry? Above all, you don't have to accept your first offer! Use the experience to gain for a second position or second offer. You are not a failure, you just know your worth and be patient.
What Chief Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Marguerite Moore Ph.D., AT, ITAT: Don't over think your first job. It doesn't have to be your dream job, but should be related to a 3-5 year goal you have. If that is taking a position in the dream company and making lateral moves to get into the position you want or climbing the ladder to the position you want don't be afraid to take a different path and to learn along the way. If it's a management position you seek or a specific patient population glean all of the advice from colleagues and utilize the internal mechanisms to get you where you want to be.
What will help Chief Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Marguerite Moore Ph.D., AT, ITAT: I think the human connection will be focused on over 3-5 years as there is a bit of lashback from too much artificial intelligence. Using a holistic approach to solve problems in the body and not just specializing in one area will be key.
What general advice would you give to a Chief Psychologist?
Dr. Kelly Henry Ph.D.: IN PSYCHOLOGY, THERE ARE GOING TO BE INCREASED NEEDS IN BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT SORTS OF POSITIONS (BEHAVIORAL TECHNICIAN AND SO FORTH). ADDITIONALLY, TRAUMA-INFORMED THERAPY IS GOING TO BE AN INCREASING NEED. SEEKING OUT OPPORTUNITIES TO COMPLETE EVEN PRE-BACCALAUREATE MICROCREDENTIALS IN EITHER OF THESE AREAS WILL ENHANCE YOUR RESUME AND EMPLOYABILITY. FINALLY, DIALECTICAL-BEHAVIOR THERAPY HAS SEEN EMERGING CLEAR EVIDENCE OF ITS EMPIRICAL VALUE WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF POPULATIONS. GAINING A FOUNDATION IN THIS AND SEEKING CONTINUING EDUCATION IN THIS AREA WILL ALSO BE USEFUL.
What general advice would you give to a Chief Psychologist?
Maxine Brashaw Ph.D.: As you begin your career path, seek out advice from experts in the field and be willing to evaluate and accept what is applicable to your goals. Be flexible and committed to maximize your potential as you become the best 'you' possible. This will involve adapting to technological changes, actively participating in the profession by attending and/or presenting at conferences and seminars while you keep abreast of industry standards and changes, pursue licensure, build on your existing skill sets, and engage in networking to build collaborative relationships and alliances. Explore other means to maximize your skills and abilities as you adjust to the demands presented in a competitive environment and think outside the box. Additionally, be aware of changes in the environment and be prepared to evolve to meet changing demands and be open to opportunities that may present multiple streams of income.
What Chief Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Maxine Brashaw Ph.D.: There are specific traits required for the effective counselor. Some of these involve self-reflection and personal assessment that will lead to personal growth and development. This should be continuous and become normal so that you will remain authentic. Remember, the best gift you can give to your client is your fully functioning self: this enhances therapeutic success and minimizes early termination. As you feel adequate and comfortable with your self-worth, you will strengthen the client to be willing to work towards positive change. Active listening is very important to allow you to understand the client's world and convey such understanding back to the client. As intolerance increases on every level, be committed to understanding differences and remaining non-judgmental as you navigate the multicultural and multidimensional landscape. Maintain a sense of humor by not taking yourself too seriously, and when you make mistakes, do not judge yourself too harshly, and learn from your errors. Maintain healthy boundaries as you develop the skill to say 'no' when necessary. Remain empathetic to foster a trusting and caring environment, and work on improving your communication skills, including verbal and non-verbal communications.
What will help Chief Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Maxine Brashaw Ph.D.: I would tell the new beginner that it is normal to feel ambivalence as a beginner in the field, especially if the new graduate compares themselves to others. However, the personality and character of the therapist are the most important attributes that will lead to therapeutic alliance and success in counseling. So just be your authentic self and trust the process that prepared you for your chosen career path. Additionally, practice time management and connect with a trusted professional who is willing to provide advice and mentorship.
Dr. A. Wright Ph.D., ABAP, ABPP
Clinical Associate ProfessorWhat will help Chief Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Dr. A. Wright Ph.D., ABAP, ABPP: Graduates in counseling psychology have a great number of different skills, and they shouldn't limit themselves to traditional clinical practice settings only. The doctoral degree in counseling psychology--and the license as a psychologist--allows these professionals to practice in many different areas. The most obvious ones, such as private practice clinical work, doing clinical work in clinics and hospitals, or going into academia as researchers and faculty, are a great fit for many graduates. However, all the skills gained in a doctoral program in counseling psychology transfer seamlessly to many other areas and industries, as understanding human behaviors, emotional development, and wellness are applicable widely.
Dr. Christopher Robinson
Assistant Professor of Psychology and Psychology Program CoordinatorWhat general advice would you give to a Chief Psychologist?
Dr. Christopher Robinson: Psychology at its best can talk about how people are and about how we are now. We live in an ever more connected and yet fragmented world. Psychological research has been used to help us understand how different cultures approach the world, and also how changes in technology are effecting us. For example, a lot of good research is suggesting that our phones are destroying our ability to concentrate. If I had one piece of advice it would be to turn off as many notifications as you can.
We live in a world where information is ever more accessible, and other cultures are easy to learn about. A degree in psychology will help you organize and evaluate the information you are exposed to.
We also live in a world with an aging population, and there will be a need for psychologists to assess individuals, research new treatments, and work with individuals to help them maintain social and intellectual functioning.
There are good job prospects for people who become competent and eloquent in their psychological training, and this training also helps set up for advanced education.
Suzanne Gile
Adjunct professorBay Path University
Clinical mental health counseling, developmental psychology
What general advice would you give to a Chief Psychologist?
Suzanne Gile: I think finding a job that has a decent base pay but allows you to earn extra if you exceed productivity. Also, new clinicians can also do private practice in the evenings or weekends, under appropriate supervision, to make extra money. Another option is to explore opportunities to be an adjunct faculty member at an institution.
What Chief Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Suzanne Gile: Telehealth has definitely been something that clinicians have had to get used to over the past 4 years and I don't see them changing. I think clinicians need to keep expanding their skill set by learning other techniques like Accelerated Resolution Therapy, EMDR, and other alternative therapies.
What will help Chief Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Suzanne Gile: I encourage all graduates to find a job that will provide good supervision. They need to find a supervisor who will support them and challenge them to keep growing as clinicians. I also remind graduates of the importance of self-care and work/home life balance.
Sepideh Soheilian Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Baltimore
Division of Applied Behavioral Sciences
What general advice would you give to a Chief Psychologist?
Sepideh Soheilian Ph.D.: Counseling Psychologists have a specialized understanding and training with regard to how to provide evidence-based and culturally informed clinical intervention, assessment, prevention, training, and research practices. Due to this specialized knowledge and training, Counseling Psychologist are employed in myriad settings including but not limited to: private practice, university counseling centers, veterans affairs, hospitals, community mental health settings, academic affairs, and academia in the role of faculty or administration. Depending on their role, Counseling Psychologists will provide mental health counseling and/or assessments, engage in teaching, conduct and publish research, develop and engage in mental health advocacy and outreach programs, and engage in social justice advocacy work.
What Chief Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Sepideh Soheilian Ph.D.: Counseling Psychologists have a lot of flexibility with regard to career opportunities. For a Counseling Psychologist looking to provide mental health services, there is a always a high demand for mental health counselors. According to O*NET (21-1014.00 - Mental Health Counselors), counselors are expected to grow rapidly for the next decade. In Maryland the projected growth is 23% for mental health counselors from (2020-2030) with a projected number of 800 job openings for mental health counselors (2020-2030). As stated above, there are many other career directions such as private practice, community mental health, universities, VA, teaching, research, etc.
What will help Chief Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Sepideh Soheilian Ph.D.: This is a tough one to answer as I cannot speak for all Counseling Psychologists with regard to likes/dislikes about the profession. I can say that there are some benefits to being a Counseling Psychologists such as career options in various settings and flexibility. For example, if someone is in private practice, they set their own schedule, and since Covid, they have more options for modality of services such as providing in-person therapy, telehealth, hybrid, etc.