Career In Psychology In India In 2023 - Salary, Skills, and Institutes

Table of Contents

Psychology is the study of human behavior and mental processes. Psychologists study a person’s reactions, emotions, and behavior, and apply their understanding of that behavior to treat the associated behavioral problems. Treatment is focused on therapy and counseling, rather than prescribing medications for a “quick fix.” Psychologists are, therefore, responsible for identifying psychological, emotional, and/or behavioral issues, as well as diagnosing any specific disorders, by using information gleaned from patient interviews, patient’s tests and records, and medical reference materials. career in psychology in India to come up with an individualized treatment plan for each patient, and to modify it as necessary over time (depending on the patient’s progress).

(Read More: Difference Between Psychologist and Psychiatrist)

How to Become a Psychologist

The  qualification required to start career in psychology in  India in 2023 to become a licensed psychologist are:

    • Pass the 10+2 exam preferably with Psychology as one of the subjects
    • Complete a Bachelor (BA or BS) in Psychology degree (the curriculum of which focuses on “personality development, psychotherapy, stress management and neuro-psychology”)
    • Specialization at the postgraduate level, where one can get an M.A. or M.Sc. in either Psychology, Social Work, or Counseling
    • Further specialization at the doctoral level is available as well via PhD or M.Phil

Career in psychology in  India the postgraduate and doctoral programs focus their studies more on research, which is great for pursuing either a research or teaching job, whereas the graduate degrees (Bachelors) emphasize practice, such as counseling. In order to practice Counseling Psychology, you only need to have a BA/BS in Psychology, or in a related field (like Education or Social Work). Graduate (Bachelors) degree programs are 3 years long, Postgraduate (Masters) degree programs are 2 years long, and Doctoral (MPhil or PhD) programs are 2 years long (can extend depending on research and studies involved). To know psychology syllabus click here

Personal Skills in a Psychologist

In order to be successful career in psychology in  India, one must have:

    • a very analytical mind for diagnosis
    • excellent communication skills to effectively counsel patients who suffer from mental/behavioral issues
    • a lot of patience, which grants the psychologist the ability to remain cool under pressure when dealing with a particularly difficult case or a challenging patient
    • a genuine passion for helping people overcome their own mental/behavioral challenges
    • compassion combined with drive are the two most important personality traits in a psychologist. The difference between PsyD and PHD in Psychology
       
Career In Psychology In India In 2023 - Salary, Skills, and Institutes

Job Prospects for a Psychologist

Psychology scope in India has a bright future, career in psychology in  India with a growing demand for psychologists in a variety of settings.
Aspirants who have successfully completed their training in psychology can make their mark and pursue a career as a psychologist in India psychology career options in India is the following lucrative branches of psychology. Here are some career options in psychology in India.

Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychologists assess and treat people with psychological problems. They may act as therapists for people who are experiencing normal psychological crises (e.g., grief) or for individuals suffering from chronic psychiatric disorders. Some clinical psychologists are generalists who work with a wide variety of populations, while others work with specific groups such as children, the elderly, or those with specific disorders.

Counseling Psychology

Counseling psychologists do many of the same things that clinical psychologists do. However, counseling psychologists tend to focus more on persons with adjustment problems rather than on persons suffering from severe psychological disorders. They may be trained in psychology departments or in education departments. Counseling psychologists are employed in academic settings, college counseling centers, community mental health centers.

Health Psychology

Health psychologists are concerned with psychology’s contributions to the promotion and maintenance of good health and the prevention and treatment of illness. They may design and conduct programs to help individuals stop smoking, lose weight, shed alcoholism, manage stress, and stay physically fit. They are employed in hospitals, medical schools, rehabilitation centers, public health agencies, academic settings, and private practice.

Teaching and Research

If you’re interested in teaching undergraduate, master’s-level, or doctoral-level students, you will probably work in a university setting, where you will probably also do research. If an individual is not interested in teaching and wants to focus on research, he/she can work for government agencies (for example, the Center for Disease Control) or for private research organizations. To work as a psychologist in these settings, one would need a Ph.D. in psychology.

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

I/O psychologists (as they are usually called) are concerned with the relationships between people and their work environments. They may develop new ways to increase workplace productivity or be involved in personnel selection. They are employed in business, government agencies, factories, industrial set-ups, corporate houses, and academic establishments.

Sports Psychology

Sports psychologists are concerned with the psychological factors that improve athletic performance. They also look at the effects of exercise and physical activity on psychological adjustment and health. Sports psychologists typically work in academic settings and/or as consultants for sports teams. 

Jain University, Bangalore & Amity School of Physical Education & Sports Sciences offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Psychology

Agency/Community Counseling

Graduate programs in agency or community counseling train you to provide counseling services in human service agencies in the local community–for example, in community mental health centers. They may also train you to administer a limited number of psychological tests (vocational interest tests, for example).

The work is similar to that done by a person with a master’s or doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology, psychotherapy, and, perhaps, limited psychological testing.

Educational Psychology

Educational psychologists attempt to understand the basic aspects of human learning and to develop materials and strategies for enhancing the learning process. For example, an educational psychologist might study reading and then develop a new technique for teaching reading. Educational psychologists are typically trained in departments of education (known as departments of psychology) and employed in colleges and universities.

School Counseling

School counselors work with children who are troubled, helping such children function more effectively with their peers and teachers, deal with family problems, etc. They work at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

School Psychology

School psychologists do a lot of testing–mostly of children who are encountering difficulties in school–to try to diagnose the problem and, sometimes, to suggest ways of dealing with the problem. School psychologists are typically trained in departments of education (vs. departments of psychology) and work in public school systems.

Social Work

Another career option to consider if you’re interested in counseling is social work. As is true with other disciplines, there are a variety of allied fields in social work. Social workers who practice psychotherapy are usually called either clinical social workers or psychiatric social workers. Clinical social workers are trained to diagnose and treat psychological problems. Psychiatric social workers provide services to individuals, married couples, families, and small groups. They work in mental health centers, counseling centers, sheltered workshops, hospitals, and schools. They may also have their own private practice

Pay Package for Psychologists

Psychology careers in India is is a highly rewarding and lucrative field of study. Scope for psychology in India is very broad a psychologist salary depends on many factors like his/her qualification, area of specialization, and experience in the profession. Professional psychologists with M.Phil and Ph.D degree earn quite handsomely. career in psychology in  India  in private practice have more scope for earnings.

career in psychology in  India , your starting salary can vary between INR 1.79 LPA to INR 6.23 LPA. As one establishes himself in the field and specializes in any of its branches, he can earn more. 

Also read: (How to manage your finances as a student?)

You can have a look at some of the high-paying job profiles mentioned in the table below: 

Job Profiles

Average Annual Salary (in INR)

Clinical Psychologist

8 lakh

Consultant

7 lakh 

Psychotherapists

4 lakh

Therapist

3 lakh

Practitioner

2.8 lakh 

Counsellor

2 lakh

Social Worker

2 lakh

Psychiatrist

1.1 lakh

Psychology Institutes/Universities

University of Delhi

University Road, Delhi 110 007
Phone South Campus: 011-24119832
Phone North Campus: 011-2766709, 27667011, 27667190
Fax: 011-27667049
Website: www.du.ac.in

Colleges
:

Courses:

  • ‎MA Psychology
  • MA Applied Psychology
  • Ph.D. Psychology

Indian Institute of Psychology & Research (IIPR), Bangalore

IIPR office: 080 41307111
Office of Admission: +91 7022619130
E-mail: [email protected]

Amity Institute of Behavioural Health & Allied Science, Noida

Integrated Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology

University of Rajasthan

JLN Marg,
Jaipur 302004,Rajasthan
Phone: 91-141-2711070
Fax: 91-141-2711799
Email:[email protected]
Website: http://www.uniraj.ernet.in/

Loyola College

Phone: +91-44-28178200
Fax: +91-44-28175566
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.loyolacollege.edu

Jamia Millia University

Jamia Nagar, New Delhi
Pin-10025
Tel: 26984650, 26985180
Fax: 011-26981232
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.jmi.nic.in

University of Mumbai

M.G. Road, Fort
Mumbai – 400 032, Maharashtra,
Phone: 22 – 2652825
Fax: 22 – 2652832
Website: www.mu.ac.in

University of Calcutta

Senate House,
87 /1 College Street,
Kolkata-700 073, West Bengal
Tel: 033 22410071(O) 24106741(R)
Fax: 22413222
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.caluniv.ac.in

Guru Nanak Dev University

Amritsar – 143 005, Punjab
Tel:2450601-14 (14 lines)
Fax: 0183-2258819, 2258820
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.gndu.ac

Future of psychology in India

The scope of psychology in india is bright. The field is growing rapidly, and there is a growing demand for psychologists in a variety of settings.

Here are some of the factors that are driving the growth of psychology in India:

  • Increased awareness of mental health: There is a growing awareness of mental health issues in India. This is due to a number of factors, including the increasing availability of information about mental health, the growing number of mental health professionals, and the increasing willingness of people to seek help for mental health problems.
  • Rise of the gig economy: The rise of the gig economy is creating new opportunities for psychologists. For example, psychologists can now work as consultants to businesses, providing advice on how to create a more mentally healthy workplace.
  • Digitalization of healthcare: The digitalization of healthcare is also creating new opportunities for psychologists. For example, psychologists can now provide therapy online, which makes it more accessible to people who live in rural areas or who have difficulty accessing traditional therapy services.

As the field of psychology continues to grow, there will be a growing demand for psychologists with a variety of skills. Some of the most in-demand skills in psychology include:

  • Clinical skills: Psychologists with clinical skills can provide therapy to people with mental health problems.
  • Research skills: Psychologists with research skills can conduct research on mental health issues.
  • Teaching skills: Psychologists with teaching skills can teach psychology courses at universities and colleges.
  • Business skills: Psychologists with business skills can work as consultants to businesses, providing advice on how to create a more mentally healthy workplace.

Frequently Asked Questions

A psychologist is a mental health professional who uses psychological evaluations and talk therapy to help people learn to better cope with life and relationship issues and mental health conditions.

Yes, a student from any stream can apply for a BA in Psychology.

Candidates are required to have the following skills:

  1. Communication
  2. Patience and Active Listening
  3. Critical Thinking
  4. Creative Problem Solving

To become a psychologist, you will need to complete a bachelor’s degree in psychology, followed by a master’s degree and/or Ph.D. in psychology. You will also need to complete an internship or residency, and pass the licensing exam.

Psychology is a good career in India. The field is growing rapidly, and there is a growing demand for psychologists

To become a psychologist in India, you will need to complete the following steps: Earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Gain experience, Earn,a master’s degree in psychology, Earn a Ph.D. in psychology

There are many great psychology professors in India, but here are a few of the most highly-regarded:
Dr. Ajit Dandekar , Dr. Prerna Kohli, Dr. Kamna Chhibber,

Here are the steps on how to study psychology in India:

  1. Complete your 10+2 education with psychology as a subject.
  2. Pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology from a recognized university.
  3. Gain some practical experience through internships or volunteer work.
  4. Pursue a master’s degree in psychology, specializing in a particular area of interest.
  5. Obtain a doctorate in psychology if you want to pursue a career in research or teaching.

Here are some tips on how to make a career in psychology in a very short answer:

  • Get a good education: A bachelor’s degree in psychology is the minimum requirement for most psychology jobs. However, many employers prefer candidates with a master’s degree or Ph.D. in psychology.
  • Gain experience: Gaining experience in the field is essential for a successful career in psychology. You can gain experience by volunteering, interning, or working part-time in a related field.
  • Network with other psychologists: Networking with other psychologists is a great way to learn about job opportunities and to get advice on your career path.
  • Stay up-to-date on the latest research: The field of psychology is constantly evolving, so it is important to stay up-to-date on the latest research.

The educational requirements for a career in psychology in India vary depending on the specific career path you choose. However, most employers require a bachelor’s degree in psychology as a minimum requirement. Some employers may also require a master’s degree or Ph.D. in psychology.

Articles Updates:

12/07/2023: Content update, Interlinking 

12/07/2023: Added Faq and infographic