Child Psychologist Resume

The advances of psychology show us that childhood determines the predispositions of adult life. The role of a child psychologist is to help their subjects overcome certain behaviors, emotional or environmental obstacles, which left untreated, could become life-long problems. This job is a bit more delicate, compared to that of a general psychologist, as children are shyer, don’t trust people easily and sometimes don’t see the point of talking personal things to an adult who is not part of the family.

A child psychologist uses a mix of cognitive therapies, psychological tests, hypnosis and even medication to help the child bring to surface the underlying problems, in order to be able to address them. This requires a lot of knowledge and formal education which usually does not stop at a relevant bachelor’s degree. Respectable child psychologists continue their training with courses and certifications on the niche they are interested in: abuse, phobias or other.

When applying and interviewing for a child psychologist job, don’t forget to mention your credentials, the number of years of experience and some key results you got in your career. Being a parent yourself helps, but is by no means mandatory.

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Tips for Child Psychologist Resumes

Educated empathy

Any functional human is capable of empathy, especially towards children, but to be a successful child psychologist, you need to convert empathy into the fuel of your diagnosis process. You are still advised to create a bond with your patient, to understand them, to care for them and aim for their best interest, but you should also remain professional and detached, in order to be able to see the situation as a case. Remember all the literature you went through as a student and as a specialist and include the person in front of you in the most appropriate pattern, suggesting activities that would lead to improvement.

Communication to build trust

Your most powerful tool is communication, building bridges through an open and fair discussion. This is a process which takes time and should never be rushed. As most children are shy at first or unwilling to open to new people due to guilt, using drawings, colors, songs or other art forms can help them express their emotions without causing additional stress. These methods are especially useful for traumatized children, for those going through the parents’ divorce or those who have been abused by one parent.

Medical knowledge

Not all cases can be solved by cognitive means. Sometimes to stabilize a patient or to help them cope with really difficult times, such as the death of a parent or sibling, school failure, rape or bullying, the answer lies in prescription drugs. You need medical support to be able to give such recommendations; usually collaboration with a pediatrician or psychiatrist is mandatory. Apart from this situation, knowing how the human body functions might help you send your patient to further investigations about their health state to see if some physical condition also affects their mental state.

Child Psychologists Resume Samples

The following resume samples and templates for child psychologists can help you get a better idea of what your resume can look like.

Child psychologists are encouraged to show their previous experience in working with troubled youth and making a real change for the better.

Additional Child Psychologists Resume Tips

• Problem solvers – The human brain is a puzzle and you have to put together the pieces: what the patient tells you, what your observations show and what does your experience and gut instinct dictate. Correct diagnosis revolves around putting all the information together in the right way and suggesting the right treatment.
• Collaboration–The child psychologist is a gearwheel in a larger machine that influences the child’s life. They need to work as a team with teachers, parents or legal tutors, physicians and even sport coaches to define the root of the unwanted behaviors and ways of converting the energy of the young patient towards a positive goal.

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