When asked for advice by a friend, you are able to listen carefully without giving your own opinion unnecessarily. A person who is able to approach the other person's heart and find a way to solve the problem together.

A "clinical psychologist" is a person who has obtained certification from the Japanese Association for Certification of Clinical Psychologists. They listen carefully to people who have mental problems and use knowledge and techniques based on clinical psychology to analyze precisely what the problems are. The job is then to help the person find answers. Although it is often misunderstood, this is not a job to give answers to the person's "life questions. I do not want to be dragged into a serious conversation and fall into a depression with the person. First of all, you must have a strong heart to do the job.

First, enroll in a university strong in clinical psychology (a practical study of knowledge and techniques for solving mental problems). After graduation, students can proceed to a graduate school designated by the Japanese Association for Certification of Clinical Psychologists (there are two types: Type 1 and Type 2) or to a professional graduate school for the training of clinical psychologists. Type 2 is available after at least one year of work experience after completion of the program. The pass rate for the certification examination has been in the low 60% range.

Stress at work, bullying and truancy from school, and a host of other mental problems are piling up in today's society, and people need "mental helpers" who can provide them with friendly advice. The field of activity will continue to expand in the future. However, there is a similar national qualification, the "licensed psychologist," and at present, the difference between a licensed psychologist and a clinical psychologist is not clearly defined. The distinction between the two should become clearer in the future. If possible, it may be advantageous in the future to obtain both qualifications.

If you work as a full-time staff member at a municipal welfare facility or hospital, you will be subject to the standards of the organization to which you belong. The average annual salary is in the 3 to 5 million yen range. For part-time work of about two days a week, many places start at 1,000 to 2,000 yen per hour. Therefore, it is necessary to secure multiple places of work.

Although it varies depending on where they work, they usually have two days off a week and rarely need to work on holidays. However, the work is mentally demanding and requires constant mental refreshment so as not to be overwhelmed by the stress of others.

They include neuropsychiatric departments in hospitals, psychological consultation offices in companies, welfare facilities such as mental health welfare centers, insurance offices, and child guidance centers, the Metropolitan Police Department (psychological technicians in charge of juvenile counseling), schools (school counselors), private counseling clinics, and many other places.

It's a chart that shows at a glance the main routes to getting a job as a clinical psychologist (psychotherapist)!