Psychology Students Should Take Business Courses Says Therapist
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the fastest growing occupation in the country is industrial-organizational psychologist. With a predicted percentage change of employment between 2012—22 at 53 percent, San Francisco students majoring in psychology have the potential to find immediate employment beyond graduate school. But, job growth in other psychology professions are also expected increase during this same period, including marriage and family therapists. One leading expert in the field is Traci Ruble, who leads a psychotherapy center in downtown San Francisco.
What is your background and education?
"My undergraduate degree was in political science but I started out in publishing and then moved into high-tech sales in the Silicon Valley. After ten years in corporate life, I left my high paying career, sold my fancy car, got rid of my condo and moved into a shared small apartment and went back to graduate school to become a psychotherapist."
What type of services do your provide?
"I am a licensed marriage and family therapist. My personal style is very direct, playful, collaborative and business savvy for the professional clientele I work with. I also run a psychotherapy center called Psyched in San Francisco, headquartered in downtown San Francisco with 12 therapists who I hand-picked because they are so good at their work. We offer personal psychotherapy, couples counseling, parent coaching and personal coaching. Second, we just published a not-for-profit magazine called Psyched in San Francisco Magazine. Our mission is to inspire people to go to therapy, invest in growth and wear growth as a badge of honor."
What career advice can you share to students interested in a career in psychology?
"If you want to use your psychology degree as a therapist, an educator, a community activist or a writer, most psychology programs offer zero training in business. The best things you can do after graduate school is take an easy, basic business skills and online marketing course and follow their advice. Many therapists struggle to thrive without basic business management and marketing skills. Check out uncommonpractices.com or seek mentorship through your local CAMFT chapter free of charge. Read more I wrote on this topic on our magazine website about launching your business."
Randy Yagi is a freelance writer covering all things San Francisco. In 2012, he was awarded a Media Fellowship from Stanford University. His work can be found on Examiner.com Examiner.com.