5 Important Psychologist Skills

If you are passionate about helping others and are fascinated by what makes people tick, psychology can be the right career. Before deciding to pursue a degree in psychology, it’s worthwhile to understand the mix of psychological skills required for achieving the best patient outcomes. 

Psychologists apply these skills when working with patients and researching human behavior, developing their expertise through education, clinical training, and experience gained in their careers. 

Many aspiring psychologists start down this challenging, rewarding career path by earning an online bachelor’s degree in psychology. Modern programs allow them to focus on areas of interest, including concentrations in human services and child and adolescent psychology.  

5 Essential Psychologist Skills

The following skills significantly influence how effectively a psychologist helps patients manage behavioral issues. Honing these attributes can make good psychologists great. 

Communication Skills

While communication is essential in every career, it’s critical to success as a psychologist. Communicating with empathy and compassion is imperative for clinical psychologists working with individuals and groups. For research psychologists, clear communication is essential in helping stakeholders understand their findings. 

Research Skills

Research is critical in psychology. Some psychologists, typically those with a doctoral degree, conduct experiments or surveys based on sound research principles. Others apply past research to treating patients and need to know how and where to find relevant and reliable research information. 

Patience

Whether in research or working with patients, results can often take years. Given that reality, patience is a key psychological skill. Psychologists must stay motivated even when results aren’t immediately apparent. Research shows that waiting for things results in a happier outlook over time. Perseverance in one’s career can lead to emotional wellness and improvements in optimism, self-esteem, and self-acceptance. Patience helps psychologists stay resilient through the inevitable ups and downs of the profession. 

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

The most successful psychologists possess critical thinking skills allowing them to solve problems better. They learn and use alternative strategies following patient needs. They also plan research to account for common challenges that could hinder their work moving forward. 

Ethics

Psychologists have an enormous responsibility. They can change people’s lives and frequently deal with people at their most vulnerable. A strong ethical code is essential to ensure the safety and well-being of patients. Psychologists also must build research on a strong ethical foundation to achieve unbiased, useful results. 

Do You Have These Psychologist Skills?  

Motivated individuals who possess these psychologist skills have an excellent opportunity to conduct meaningful research and improve patient outcomes. Touro University Worldwide offers 100% online psychology programs that allow professional psychologists to sharpen their skills and grow their expertise.  

The TUW Bachelor of Psychology program allows students to specialize in various concentrations. 

• Industrial/Organizational Psychology 
• Elementary Education 
• Secondary Education 
• Special Education 

• Human Services 
• Child and Adolescent Psychology 
• Forensic Psychology 

TUW also offers a Master of Arts in Psychology with concentrations in Media Psychology, Educational Psychology, Health Psychology, and Forensic Psychology.  

These degrees do not lead to any form of licensure or certification, although the acquired skills and knowledge help psychologists improve at their jobs. Students can further pursue a doctoral degree to become licensed psychologists from an accredited clinical psychology program.