How to Become A Military Psychologist In South Africa

A military psychologist is one who works with members of the armed forces and their families to provide counseling services and mental health treatment. There are psychologists employed by all branches of the military in order to work with active duty personnel, as well as retired members, and their families.

Who do military psychologists work with?

Military psychologists support service members and veterans. These are populations that face tremendous stress and frequently have mental health and adjustment issues. One area of focus is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

What are Army psychologists called?

clinical military psychologists

Military psychologists have many of the same roles and functions found in traditional settings. Often, military psychologists are called clinical military psychologists because of their emphasis on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders in military clients.

Do Army psychologists get deployed?

Military psychologists deploy with troops in all branches of the military Army, Marines, Air Force, Navy, National Guard and Reserves. Some of the locations they work at include: Overseas military bases. Combat-stress detachments.

Career Requirements

Military psychologists maintain and assess the mental health of service members and veterans in a variety of roles such as consulting, teaching, and advising senior military commands.

Psychologists work full-time, and while most working outside of the military have the option of flexible schedules, those who serve as psychologists within a military post work hours scheduled by their commanders. The job can result in stress and emotional toil, especially for those working while deployed.

When it comes to career requirements, military psychologists are required to have a doctoral degree in psychology, pass a licensing exam, and meet other state licensing requirements.

Some type of related work experience is also typically needed. The key skills required of psychologists include patience and compassion, communication skills, observational skills, problem-solving skills, and computer skills.

The South Africa Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that as of May, the average annual salary for state government, excluding schools and hospitals as industrial-organizational psychologists is R 971508.85.

Degree LevelA doctoral degree is typically required
Degree FieldPsychology
Licensure/CertificationMust pass a licensing exam and meet other state licensing requirements; voluntary certification is available from the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
ExperienceRelated work experience is typically needed
Key SkillsPatience and compassion; communication, observational and problem-solving skills; computer skills including medical, spreadsheet, analytical and accounting software
SalaryR 1590444.60 (average salary as of May for industrial-organizational psychologists)

Below are steps to Become A Military Psychologist In South Africa

Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree is necessary for military psychologists to lay the foundation for graduate degrees. While a bachelor’s degree in psychology is preferable, it’s possible to gain entry to a graduate program with a number of different backgrounds. Undergraduate courses in psychology and statistics can be beneficial to students seeking to enter a master’s degree program.

Complete a Doctoral Program

Military psychologists need to earn a doctoral degree. They may earn either a Doctor of Psychology or a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology degree. Students in Ph.D. programs need to complete a dissertation based on original research, while practical work and examinations are the basis for Psy.D. programs.

Some doctoral programs require students to earn a master’s degree in psychology first, while others allow students to enter directly into the doctoral program if they have met the course requirements.

Gain Work Experience

After completing graduate school, most entry-level psychologists continue working under the direct supervision of a licensed psychologist to complete the requirements to become licensed.

The American Psychological Association (APA) suggests new psychologists attend workshops and conferences to network with experienced clinical health psychologists.

Earn and Maintain Certification

Military psychologists are required to obtain a state license to practice. Specific requirements vary by state, but generally licensure is granted to people who successfully complete an accredited doctoral degree program in psychology and an internship. Candidates must also pass licensing exams that test relevant competency and knowledge.

Though board certification isn’t required for military psychologists, obtaining it can offer several advantages to a military psychologist, because it’s the highest professional credential in the field. It’s also a credential that is easily transferable to jobs outside of the military.

What is the Role of a Military Psychologist?

Military psychologists have many of the same roles and functions found in traditional settings. Often, military psychologists are called clinical military psychologists because of their emphasis on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders in military clients.

In this capacity, military psychologists offer therapeutic services, such as counseling, as well as training and psychoeducational programs for military personnel, such as substance abuse education classes.

Military psychologists also engage in research. Naturally, military psychologists are interested in topics of research that most often impact members of the military.

For example, a military psychologist might explore how different personality types are suited for combat, how to improve the treatment of PTSD, or how to most effectively help military personnel deal with stress.

What is it Like to be a Military Psychologist?

Practicing psychology in the military can be incredibly rewarding, but also incredibly stressful. Military psychologists have the opportunity to work all over the world and in many different settings, which appeals to many people because of the potential to travel and work with clients in clinics, hospitals, or even on naval vessels or in or near combat zones.

Being a military psychologist is also a point of pride for many in the field, because of the importance of the work they do to keep service men and women and their families safe, happy, and mentally healthy.

Being a military psychologist can be incredibly stressful, however. Especially for psychologists that are deployed in combat situations, the day-to-day stressors of facing danger can quickly wear them down.

And when psychologists must then also treat military personnel for the mental and emotional traumas that result from combat, the job becomes that much more difficult.

Do you have to join the military to be a military psychologist In South Africa?

A variety of mental health professionals such as: psychologists, counselors, social workers can counsel military personnel and their families, but in order to be classified as a military counselor and work on a military base, you will need to enlist in the military and receive specialized military training.

What can I do with a psychology degree in the military In South Africa?

Here are 8 jobs you may consider if you’re interested in a psychology job within the military or related to the military:

Victim advocate.

Substance abuse counselor.

Psychological operations specialist.

Social services assistant.

Chaplain.

Military family life counselor.

Clinical therapist.

Mental health counselor.

Can you study psychology in the military In South Africa?

As a Psychologist in the military, your understanding of human behavior will be highly valued across a wide range of Defense contexts. Army Psychologists provide a flexible and responsive psychology capability that can be deployed at short notice to anywhere in the world.

How many years does it take to become a military psychologist In South Africa?

What Are the Education Requirements to Become a Military Psychologist?

Psychologist Educational TrackSchool ProgramsAverage Education Length
1. Earn a Bachelor’s DegreeView Programs4 Years
2. Earn A Master’s DegreeView Programs2 Additional Years
3. Earn a PHD or PsyDView Programs2-4 Additional Years

What degree is usually necessary to earn the title of psychologist In South Africa?

In order to earn a psychology license, prospective professionals must first earn a master’s or doctoral degree. To obtain a license that allows you to use the title “psychologist” and provide a full range of psychological services, you must earn a doctoral degree in counseling, clinical, or school psychology.

What do military psychologists study In South Africa?

The topics they address are wide ranging and include how fatigue, nutrition, and environmental variables such as temperature and altitude affect Soldier performance on a variety of operationally relevant tasks. Army research psychologists also study how battlefield events can affect brain health.

Who do military psychologists work with In South Africa?

Military psychologists support service members and veterans. These are populations that face tremendous stress and frequently have mental health and adjustment issues. One area of focus is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Which ailment requires a military psychologist In South Africa?

Specific examples of the issues faced by military personnel that may be somewhat distinct include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) associated with combat, or guilt and family/partner difficulties accompanying extended or frequent deployments due to separation.