Latest Update: India's mental health market is projected to generate USD 1.16 billion in revenue by 2025. This translates to increased career opportunities in the field of psychology.
The presence of psychology in India is not new. We find traces of psychological thought in ancient Indian texts of Upanishads and Vedas. These historical texts contain evidence of practice as well as knowledge of psychological practices and concepts.
Psychology as a field extends beyond academics and has implications across sectors and industries. Psychology experts and psychologists work in healthcare, corporates, educational institutions, medical institutions as well in the non-profit sector.
With increasing importance being given to prioritizing mental health, the mental health market is on the path to expanding in India. According to Statista, the mental health market in India is predicted to show an annual growth rate of 1.03%. This, in turn, will result in a market volume of 1.20 billion US Dollars by the year 2029. Hence, psychology career options in India have a high scope for growth as the market demand for professionals increases.
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Top 18 career options in Psychology in India
If you were under the pretext that the scope of psychology is limited to counselling, you are in for a big surprise. As society advances and adapts to newer shifts and technologies, there is a greater need to comprehend and adapt to emotional well-being. This has been brought upon by shedding more light on the relevance of mental health being at par with physical health.
Read along as well discuss some of the best psychology career options in India:
The following table gives an overview of the average salary of the different job roles in psychology:
JOB PROFILE
AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY
Clinical Psychologist
4.9 lakhs
Career Counselor
3.6 lakhs
Industrial Psychologist
5.8 lakhs
Sports Psychologist
6.5 lakhs
Occupational Therapist
3.9 lakhs
Social Worker
2.9 lakhs
Forensic Psychologist
5.1 lakhs
Consumer Psychologist
8.7 lakhs
Educational Psychologist
1.9 lakhs
Neuropsychologist
4.95 lakhs
Psychology Teacher
4 lakhs
Psychology Professor
5 lakhs
Child Psychologist
3.3 lakhs
Psychotherapist
3.5 lakhs
Research Psychologist
4.1 lakhs
Rehabilitation Therapist
3 lakhs
Behavioral Therapist
3 lakhs
Psychometrician
16.6 lakhs
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Now, let’s understand each job role and what it entails:
1. Clinical Psychologist
A clinical psychologist is a professional psychologist who is licensed by the state and medical council to diagnose and treat psychological conditions among patients.
They have a high level of expertise in mental health being, helping patients cope with conditions like anxiety, stress, and trauma. They are professionally trained to handle patient care through therapeutic techniques and measures to work on the improvement of well-being.
Key Responsibilities
A clinical psychologist’s main responsibilities are:
Assessment of mental health conditions
Diagnosing mental health disorders
Working on developing treatment plans specific to the patient
Monitoring patient response and progress
Where do they work?
Clinical psychologists are employed in a variety of settings such as:
Schools and educational institutions
Research institutes
Hospitals (private and government)
Private clinics
Corporate organizations
2. Career Counselor
A career counselor is a professional who is trained to assist individuals in their career and educational decisions and personal growth.
They provide complete guidance and support to individuals who find themselves unsure about their professional path and seek professional guidance to navigate their thoughts through informed decisions.
Key Responsibilities
Providing one-to-one counselling sessions to the patient to fully understand their concerns and specific requirements
Assisting clients in doing a full-fledged assessment of their strengths, weaknesses, interests, and goals through personality assessment tests and aptitude tests.
Helping to take charge of career transitions and set professional goals
Assisting in job search and required plan of action for effective job-hunting strategies
Where do they work?
We find career counsellors in:
Schools, colleges and universities
Corporate settings
Personal counselling clinics
Government organizations
Rehabilitation centres
3. Industrial Psychologist
An industrial psychologist or an organizational psychologist is appointed by organizations to work on enhancing work dynamics by the dual means of bettering well well-being of employees along with bettering organizational performance or by applying psychological principles and strategies.
Key Responsibilities
Work on creating a positive work environment in the workplace
Assist in the recruitment and selection process of new employees
Conducting training programs for employees
Working on process improvement
Where do they work?
Industrial psychologists work in a multitude of organizations:
Consulting firms
Healthcare firms
Private businesses
Human resource departments
Non-profit organizations
Research institutions
4. Sports Psychologist
A sports psychologist is a professional who is appointed to ascertain and facilitate the mental well-being of sportspersons and athletes. They work closely with athletes to tackle the mental pressures of performing, challenge, competition, and expectations.
Key Responsibilities
Developing strategies for improved performance, focus, and motivation.
Dealing with stress management and performance anxiety
Providing mental health support to deal with mental blocks
Assist athletes to cope with psychological turmoil after physical injuries
Where do they work?
We find sports psychologists working in various departments involving sports:
Educational institutes ( colleges, universities)
National teams
Professional sports team
Sports rehabilitation centres
Corporate settings
Health clubs
5. Occupational Therapist
An occupational therapist is a professional therapist who helps people of all ages learn, relearn, or keep the skills they need for work and daily life.
Occupational therapy aims to boost the mental, emotional, and physical abilities needed for everyday tasks like taking care of oneself, working, learning, and having fun.
As an occupational therapist, you work with people who might be dealing with physical disabilities, injuries, growth issues mental health problems.
Key Responsibilities
Assessing and evaluating the patient’s current state and coming up with a treatment plan
Assisting patients to regain independence in their daily activities in their own capacities
Modifying safety measures and restructuring the physical environment for better access
Working on rehabilitation measures with post-op patients
Where do they work?
Occupational therapists work in various organizations and settings:
Social workers are professionals who work towards improving the social well-being of individuals and communities.
They do so by addressing pressing social problems and working towards organizational action or even individual action to work towards social justice and human rights ideas.
Key Responsibilities
Social workers are involved in a multitude of roles like:
Acting as a bridge between clients and sponsors to provide resources and aid
Counseling families for conflict resolution
Devising plans to work on social challenges
Working on community outreach and community-building projects
Perform services in childcare, eldercare, foster care
Provide support through legal and financial aid for refugees, abuse victims, and the homeless
Where do they work?
Social workers offer their services in a variety of settings:
NGOs
Community Centres
Old Age Homes
Juvenile detention centres
Child Protective Services
Adoption Agencies
Community Centres
7. Forensic Psychologist
A forensic psychologist is a professional who applies psychological concepts to the criminal justice and legal systems. They deal with people and organizations involved in legal matters, bridging the gap between psychology and the law.
Key Responsibilities
Perform psychological evaluations to assess mental competency
Testify in court on account of being a psychological expert on criminal behavior and correlation with mental health conditions
Working on criminal profiling to infer patterns and behaviors
Developing rehabilitation plans
Where do they work?
Government organisations
Jails
Juvenile centers
Mental health centers
Social service organizations
Law firms
8. Consumer Psychologist
A consumer psychologist is a professional who studies the interrelationship between people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors which, in turn, influences their purchasing decisions and interactions with products, brands, and services.
They use psychological concepts to understand how customers behave and assist companies in enhancing their product creation, marketing plans, and customer service.
Key Responsibilities
Conducting market research
Evaluating gathered information
Devising and creating marketing plans
Counseling businesses on how to successfully engage with customers
Where do they work?
Market Research Firms
Government Agencies
Academic Institutions:
Corporations
Consulting Firms
Nonprofits
Advertising Agencies
9. Educational Psychologist
Educational psychologists are specialists who use psychological concepts to comprehend and treat behavioral and learning problems in students.
They evaluate each student's unique needs, formulate interventions, and work with parents and teachers to establish nurturing learning environments.
Key Responsibilities
Educating teachers on psychological concepts and effective teaching techniques
Performing psychological tests to detect behavioral problems, learning disabilities, or other problems
Working together to establish encouraging learning environments with educators, parents, and other experts.
Providing students with individual or group counselling
Giving schools advice on inclusiveness, learning, and mental health policies.
Where do they work?
Schools
Universities
Government Agencies
Nonprofits
Educational Consulting Firms
Private Practice:
10. Neuropsychologist
A neuropsychologist is an expert specializing in the connection between the brain and behaviour.
A neuropsychologist evaluates and diagnoses cognitive and emotional problems associated with neurological diseases and applies rehabilitation techniques.
Key Responsibilities
Analyzing behavioral, emotional, and cognitive functioning
Determining cognitive and neurological problems
Creating plans for rehabilitation and therapeutic measures based on the findings of assessments
Performing investigations to enhance knowledge of the connections between the brain and behavior
Providing information on neurological disorders and coping mechanisms to patients and their families.
Where do they work?
Hospitals
Rehabilitation Centers
Research Institutions
Academic Institutions
Clinics
11. Psychology Teacher
A psychology teacher is an educator who instructs students in psychological concepts, theories, and principles.
To promote critical thinking and an awareness of psychological science, they frequently expose pupils to subjects including human behavior, mental processes, and social interactions.
Key Responsibilities
Creating and carrying out lesson plans that adhere to academic standards
Using assignments, projects, and tests to gauge students' comprehension
Promoting debate and critical thinking on psychological subjects
Following recent developments in the most recent psychological research and instructional strategies.
Where do they work?
Senior Secondary schools
Community Colleges
Non Profits
12. Psychology Professor
A psychology professor is a scholar who teaches and studies psychological theories and concepts at colleges and institutions.
They promote critical thinking about human behavior by teaching students, carrying out original research, publishing findings, and mentoring aspiring psychologists.
Key Responsibilities
Giving undergraduate and graduate-level lectures and seminars on a range of psychological subjects
Mentoring students with guidance and oversight
Creating and revising curricula and course materials to inculcate the most recent findings in the subject
Carrying out original studies, presenting results at conferences, and publishing findings in scholarly journals.
Where do they work?
Colleges
Universities
Educational Platforms
Research institutions
13. Child Psychologist
A child psychologist is a professional who specializes in diagnosing children with behavioral and developmental problems. They work with families and educators to facilitate therapy sessions for children.
Key Responsibilities
Assessing children's emotional, behavioral, and developmental issues
Performing diagnosis to determine mental health conditions such as anxiety, or ADHD
Giving therapy sessions to give group, family, or individual therapy based on the needs of children.
Creating and carrying out coping mechanisms and treatment programs.
Providing parents with information and support regarding the mental health and development of their children.
Where do they work?
Hospitals
Community Clinics
Research Institutions
Schools
Private Practice
14. Psychotherapist
A psychotherapist is a trained psychology professional who uses talk therapy to address mental health conditions. Psychotherapists can work with families, groups, couples, or individuals. Their adaptable style of therapy enables them to tackle a large number of psychological issues of the patients.
Key Responsibilities
Organizing individual, group, or family therapy sessions to address mental health issues
Evaluating the needs through interviews and questionnaires
Working on devising personalized treatment plans based
Monitoring client progress and adapting treatment measures
Strictly maintaining confidentiality throughout client interactions.
Where do they work?
Schools
Community Health Centers
Hospitals
Nonprofit Organizations
Private Practice
15. Research Psychologist
Research psychologists are professionals who conduct psychological research to comprehend, assess, and treat psychological conditions. They conduct experiments, analyze data, and publish their results to deepen and improve our knowledge of psychological processes.
Key Responsibilities
Researching psychological phenomena, behaviors, and mental processes
Compiling information gathered through surveys, interviews, experiments
Examining both quantitative and qualitative data
Engaging in writing and publishing research papers in scholarly journals and presenting findings at academic conferences
Increasing the scope of research by collaborating with other scholars, institutions, and organizations.
Working on obtaining funding and grants for research projects
Where do they work?
Psychology departments of universities
Research Institutions
Government Organizations
Nonprofit Organizations
Healthcare Organizations
Market Research firms
16. Rehabilitation Therapist
A rehabilitation therapist is a healthcare professional who provides direct assistance to patients in regaining and enhancing their mental, emotional, or physical capacities after surgery, illness, or injury.
These professionals focus highly on recovery management through an interplay of various methods and techniques.
Key Responsibilities
Evaluating patients' needs to ascertain the range of rehab required
Creating individualized treatment plans
Offering therapeutic interventions including speech, occupational, or physical therapy
Educating patients on lifestyle change patterns, effective techniques and ways for improvement
Collaborating with other healthcare professionals, like doctors and psychologists, to coordinate care strategy
Where do they work?
Rehabilitation Centers
Hospitals
Home Health Care
Long-term Care Facilities
17. Behavioural Therapist
A Behavioural Therapist is a professional who offers services to clients to assess and tackle behavioral aspects after assessing behavior patterns. The end goal is overall improvement of emotional well and coping mechanisms.
Key Responsibilities
Evaluating the emotional and behavioral health of your clients
Creating individualized treatment programs
Tracking the development and progress of patients
Educating families on ways to manage behavior
Documenting records of therapy sessions as well as results
Where do they work?
Schools
Non-profit organizations
Private clinics
Hospitals
18. Psychometrician
A psychometrician is a professional who specializes in psychometrics, a field that encompasses the theory and practice of psychological measurement.
A few examples of psychometric tests measuring psychological dimensions are aptitude tests, personality tests, and IQ tests. These are created, given, and interpreted by psychometricians.
Key Responsibilities
Designing and evaluating psychological exams and evaluations
Conduct psychological assessments and analyze the findings
Examining data to ensure that evaluations are valid
Working in collaboration with educators and researchers to enhance testing procedures.
Giving analysis and suggestions based on test findings.
Ensuring adherence to professional and ethical norms.
Where do they work?
Psychological Testing Centers
Research Organizations
Educational Institutions
Private Consulting Firms
Government Agencies
Top sectors hiring psychology professionals in India
With advances in increasing mental health awareness, there is a greater need for psychologists in India. This increase is the result of a growing understanding of the significance of psychological health in a variety of spheres of life, including education and professional relationships.
As industries grow and evolve, they rely on the domain expertise of psychologists to tackle a variety of problems.
The table below provides a glimpse into the industries in India that recruit psychologists, highlighting the variety of opportunities :
SECTOR
ROLES
HEALTHCARE
Therapy service, Patient Care, Assessment
EDUCATION
Counselling, Curriculum Development, Research
NON-PROFIT AND GOVERNMENT
Policy Development, Community Mental Health Programs, Mental Health Advocacy
TECH AND GAMING
Product Development, User Experience Research
RESEARCH
Research Studies, Primary Research
CORPORATE
Organizational Development, Talent Management
Skills required for psychology professionals
Like any other discipline, psychology demands a diverse skill set from professionals for their career advancement and industry needs. Psychologists deal with the complicated interplay of emotions and behaviour patterns of individuals. Hence, being equipped with the right skills helps them offer service better.
Working on continuous skill development opens the doorway to better professional performance as well as chances to rise to higher positions in the industry.
Let’s take a look at some important skills required by psychology professionals.
1. Communication
Effective communication is crucial for assessing client needs and understanding their concerns
Mastering both verbal and non-verbal communication increases your professional credibility as patients feel more comfortable getting treated by you
Professionals in psychology need to be culturally competent to comprehend and value people from different backgrounds, ideologies, and values.
This skill promotes better communication and rapport-building, which in turn allows psychologists to improve mental health outcomes in multicultural settings
7. Empathy and Compassion
These skills are required in a psychology profession so that you can fully understand your client's feelings and be able to validate them.
This provides a safe space for patients and encourages an effective healing process.
8. Ethical awareness and understanding
Ethical awareness and understanding are rudimentary to psychological practice. Ensuring the protection of client privacy and confidentiality is essential to the practice.
Further, ethical standards contribute to the integrity of psychology careers. This role bears several responsibilities with it as patients trust you to open up to you.
Future Trends in Psychology in India
The Economic Times reports that around 60 to 70 million people in India suffer from some mental disorders. This is highly concerning and needs systemic reforms and organizational change as well.
However, tackling such a large number is a mammoth task, posing newer challenges for psychologists and healthcare practitioners in India. However, with rising awareness about mental health and its implications, there is a greater need for psychologists who are specialized in different fields.
We can expect the following future trends in psychology in India:
Increased Integration of technology like AI and Machine Learning will enable analysis of large data sets. Virtual therapy via bots shall also make its way into everyday life
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As time evolves, India is set to witness a high demand for psychologists and tackle the mental health taboo in India. Moreover, psychology shall gain institutional integration in terms of mental health care and practices.
Digital Mental Health is already entering the mental health market and is expected to grow further due to its far-reaching accessibility and possible affordability in the future, on online platforms like applications
The advocation of policies on mental health will be on the rise to target systemic inaccuracies. This will give rise to larger discussions and attention to the importance of mental health by involving the public.
Preventive mental health programs in educational institutes and workplaces shall garner attention to enable the prevention of issues and provide instant attention to issues faced.
Conclusion
The psychology landscape in India is set to see substantial growth and give way to a rise in psychology career options. Owing to the vast potential of psychology careers in India, pupils and professionals interested in this field have a chance to pursue some promising career paths.
With newer advancements in technology and digitalization, psychology and mental health are expected to make the best use of these resources and democratize mental health services in India. Moreover, potential career aspirants of psychology have a plethora of options to gain specialization in and offer niche services to organizations.
If you are looking to explore your career options and seek professional guidance, book a free counseling session with us to brainstorm together with expert counselors!
1. What is the scope of psychology in criminology studies?
The scope of psychology in criminology is quite vast as understanding criminal psychology is vital to criminology studies in areas like profiling criminals, using psychological theories to ascertain criminal behavior, social psychology, and understanding behavior patterns of juvenile delinquents.
2. Which are the best colleges to study psychology in India?
Some of the best psychology colleges in India are Tata Institute of Social Sciences, University of Delhi, Christ University Bangalore, and Jamia Millia Islamia Delhi.
3. Do I need to qualify the NEET exam to study psychology?
The NEET exam in India is the eligibility criteria for medical and dental courses of study, eg. MBBS and BDS. Even though psychology entails the study of healthcare practices, you are not required to clear NEET. Rather, you may need some university-specific entrance exams to be cleared for admission to the course।
4. Can I pursue psychology even if I didn’t study it as a main subject in senior secondary?
Yes, you can certainly enroll in a UG psychology course even if you did not study it as a core subject in the 12th grade. You can even come from different streams for a UG course in India. However, few universities may have different requirements for their programs. It is always best to check such details on the university's official page.
5. What is the difference between BA Psychology and BSc Psychology?
A BA Psychologist specializes in an arts UG course, has its focus area on socio-cultural and theoretical components of psychology and also incorporates interdisciplinary studies in other art disciplines. Hence, it has a more holistic curriculum. A BSc Psychology on the other hand has its subject matter based on scientific and biological methods of inquiry in psychology. It paves the way for roles in research psychology with a specialized syllabus.
6. What is the path to becoming a psychologist after the 12th grade?
After the 12th grade, you can enroll in a UG course with psychology as a specialization. Post this you can continue your higher studies with a PG program. You can choose to engage in practical internships during your course of study or go for full-time training after completing your PG., followed by obtaining specific licenses. If you wish to deep dive into niche specializations and research, you can enter this path by enrolling in a PhD or MPhil course which will pave the way for roles in research and academia.
7. What is the scope of psychology in India?
The scope of pay in India is quite vast with opportunities in academia, research, corporate environments, mental health services, and non-governmental organizations. The need for psychologists is growing as mental health awareness rises, leading to a variety of specializations and career pathways.
8. How is a psychologist different from a psychiatrist?
A psychologist and psychiatrist are two different professional domains even though it is quite common to confuse the two. Psychologists use the counselling and therapy route to understand behaviour and practices. Whereas, psychiatrists are clinically licensed medical professionals who use a medical route to undertake mental health matters. They can prescribe medicines to patients while psychologists cannot.
9. What certifications and licenses are required to become a psychologist in India?
Other than your degree programs in psychology at UG, PG, and higher level, some required licenses are Rehabilitation Council of India registration, Indian Psychological Associate along with additional certificate courses in facets of organizational psychology, child psychology, etc.
10. What is the scope of psychological research development in India?
The scope of psychological research in India is ever-expanding and pans to areas like social psychology, clinical psychology, policy advocacy, cognitive psychology, and workplace dynamics.
11. What are some challenges in the psychology field in India?
Some of the challenges in the Psychology field in India are a lack of trained professionals, difficulty in research grants and funding, the stigma around mental health well-being, lack of knowledge of treatment of psychological conditions, and misconceptions about psychology.
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