I'm a Senior Psychologist. I mostly handle assessment, therapy, documentation and treatment planning.

Healthcare & Social Science.

11 years. Some coworkers would probably answer differently.

Most of it is assessment, therapy, documentation and treatment planning.

Basically, the organization needs someone responsible for this area so problems don't just get passed around. I didn't really understand that until I started working.

It contributes pretty directly. If my part is late or wrong, somebody else usually gets held up. The job description didn't really explain that part.

I don't really have a perfect 'typical day.' There is usually some assessment, therapy, documentation and treatment planning, then whatever came up overnight.

Definitely. A good chunk of the job is recurring work, which is useful because you get faster at it. That's how it works on my team.

Deadlines are just part of it. The stressful ones usually happen when several things land at once. It's not something I thought about before I started.

My current job is hybrid. That changed a little once I had more experience.

Most days I have clinical records, assessment tools and telehealth systems open or nearby.

I work alone on parts of it, but decisions usually involve other people. Some coworkers would probably answer differently.

The common path is doctoral or other required professional training and state licensure.

Certifications can help. Experience still matters more once you've been working for a while. My last job handled it differently.

Problem solving. A lot of the day is figuring out what to do when the obvious answer doesn't work. Some coworkers would probably answer differently.

My hours move around a little, but it's a full-time schedule. It's not something I thought about before I started.

Fairly flexible unless there's a meeting, appointment or deadline I have to be there for. I learned that pretty quickly.

Work-life balance depends more on the employer than the title, in my opinion. The job description didn't really explain that part.

Most weeks it's the same core group, with different customers or stakeholders mixed in. That's been my experience anyway.

Yes. More complex work usually comes first, then senior or lead responsibilities. That matters more than I expected.

Early career is mostly learning. Later you start owning decisions instead of just tasks. That's been pretty consistent for me.

You can move into training, operations, management or a neighboring specialty. That's been my experience anyway.

There seems to be steady demand where I am. My last job handled it differently.

Keeping up with new tools while still doing your regular job takes effort. That's the part I notice most.

I think there will be more opportunities, but the required skills will shift. I learned that pretty quickly.

Technology has already changed the job since I started. I expect that to continue rather than suddenly replace the whole role. It depends a lot on who you're working with.

The range is wide enough that I'd check current job postings in your area rather than trust one number. At my workplace, at least.

The usual benefits are available at larger employers. Smaller places can be different. That's been my experience anyway.

Practice writing and presenting your work. People underestimate how useful that is. That's been pretty consistent for me.

Volunteer or take a part-time role where someone is actually relying on you. That matters more than I expected.

I changed direction after college and ended up liking this more than my original plan. It's not something I thought about before I started.

I like that I still run into problems I haven't seen before. I notice it more during busy weeks.

Scheduling. I spend more time coordinating calendars than I expected. The job description didn't really explain that part.

People think the job is more exciting day to day than it actually is. That's how it works on my team.

Someone patient and consistent usually does well. At my workplace, at least.

People who want instant answers can struggle because some problems take days to sort out. That's been pretty consistent for me.

The number of meetings surprised me. It depends on the project, though.

I'd spend less time worrying about picking the perfect career and more time trying things. That's how it works on my team.

Nobody expects a new graduate to know everything. I put way too much pressure on myself. It can be different at other places.

There was a difficult deadline we met without cutting corners. I was proud of the whole team. I notice it more during busy weeks.

I've become much more comfortable saying 'I don't know yet' and then figuring it out. I didn't really understand that until I started working.

Weekends happen during busy periods, but not every week. It can be different at other places.