讀後心得

The work of psychologists is gradually gaining importance. With societal changes, more and more people are seeking psychological therapy. Recently, discussions about psychologists have sparked heated debates, mainly because many people have misconceptions about this profession, believing that the work of a psychologist is simple and only involves chatting and listening. In reality, becoming a psychologist requires intensive training and professional certification, and many enthusiasts in psychology may not necessarily adapt well to clinical work. Psychotherapy needs to be adjusted based on the individual case, and should not be applied arbitrarily based on theory. Moreover, the field of psychology is broad, not limited to psychotherapy, and there are many other areas where it can be applied.

In recent years, "spiritual healing" and "psychological counseling" have become increasingly discussed topics. With societal changes, the number of people seeking psychological therapy continues to rise, and many are willing to spend money to obtain psychological treatment and counseling. Recently, a video about "spiritual growth courses" sparked intense discussions. The popularity of these courses is partly due to many people's misunderstandings about the "business opportunities" in the psychological industry, mistakenly believing that the role of a psychologist is merely simple conversation, or thinking they can become teachers or coaches just by learning a few psychology books, while neglecting the rigor of the psychological profession and the risks of improper treatment.

In Taiwan and the United States, becoming a psychologist is increasingly favored as a career choice, with many aspiring to apply for psychological research institutes. However, the thresholds to become a psychologist are high, the training is long, and it requires significant financial investment. Therefore, many choose to become "spiritual coaches" instead of clinical psychologists or psychological counselors. According to reports, job banks have listed "mind-body-spirit healing practitioners" as one of the top ten highlight jobs for 2025. Moreover, the counseling research institutes are generally considered to be among the "most difficult graduate programs" to enter today. The growing popularity of the psychologist profession may be attributed to the following three reasons:

• Job security upon graduation
  In recent years, the number of applicants for psychological counseling programs has significantly increased, making psychological counseling a highly competitive field in Taiwan and the United States. Hundreds to thousands of students apply each year, but the admission slots are relatively limited, often only accepting 10-20 students. According to current regulations, the psychologist license can only be obtained after graduating from graduate school, and not every psychology graduate can successfully gain acceptance into graduate school or obtain a license. Despite the enormous market demand for psychologists, there is still a shortage, leading to a situation of "fewer practitioners and more demand." In the United States, many community counseling agencies are unable to recruit psychologists due to staff shortages and even offer scholarships to attract students to enter the workforce after graduation, thus making the "job security upon graduation" an increasingly appealing aspect of this field.
• Hope for "self-healing" through psychology
  In the field of psychological counseling, many individuals consider becoming a psychologist due to their own psychological trauma or emotional distress. With the popularity of the concept of "self-care," people are placing increasing importance on their psychological issues, believing that learning psychology can help them solve these problems, and thus choose to enter this field with the hope of assisting others with similar experiences in the future. Research shows that many psychotherapists faced psychological difficulties during their upbringing, and these experiences are a significant factor in their choice of this career path. However, this does not mean that becoming a psychologist is the best way to "heal oneself." If psychologists still have unresolved trauma, it may lead to "countertransference" when dealing with clients, which can affect the professionalism of therapy.
• Misconceptions about "psychologists"
  As the popularity of the psychological consulting industry rises, many hold misconceptions about the work of psychologists, viewing it simply as "listening and chatting," and therefore considering it an easy way to earn money. They even believe that merely understanding some psychological knowledge qualifies them to serve as psychologists, casually applying techniques learned from books or videos, underestimating the complexity of this work. This is also the issue faced by the "spiritual growth courses" mentioned in the video—many founders of Large Group Awareness Trainings (LGATs) are not psychologists, yet they extensively use psychological techniques to manipulate people's minds, creating the illusion of "effective therapy" while being unaware of the harm caused.

The techniques used by professional psychologists in the field of psychological therapy must meet the standards of "evidence-based treatment," meaning that only clinically validated treatment methods may be employed. All psychologists must not arbitrarily use unverified techniques; violating this may result in ethical issues and, in severe cases, even the revocation of licenses. Every psychologist who graduates from a graduate program, even if they are just starting their practice, must undergo one to two years of supervised training and receive guidance from senior supervisors during this period, ensuring clients receive safe and effective psychological treatment, rather than merely "chatting" work.

Therefore, when seeking help from a mind-body-spirit teacher or coach, it is essential to verify whether the individual has received complete training and understands the basic ethical guidelines to avoid exploitation or improper utilization.

Having an interest in psychology or wanting to heal oneself through psychology does not necessarily mean one must work in psychological treatment and counseling. The application of psychology is broad; for example, if one enjoys researching human behavior, they might consider becoming a psychological researcher; if they like training or placing suitable people in appropriate positions, they can pursue work in human resources management; if they enjoy studying consumer behavior, they could become a market analyst. These professions also employ extensive psychological theories and can help others in various fields.