What it’s really like to be a psychologist
By Claire BurkePublished on
Wondering what it's really like to be a psychologist? This guide offers a snapshot of what the job looks like from the inside, exploring what a typical day might involve, along with the rewards and challenges of the profession.
Inside the role of a psychologist
The beauty of a career in psychology is that it’s rarely boring and endlessly fascinating, according to Associate Professor Jacqui Yoxall, Head of Psychology and Chair of Psychological and Social Health at Southern Cross University.
Being a psychologist is a vocation; it's much more than a job,” Jacqui says. “It becomes part of who you are.
"It's an incredible honour to hold this role, and it's something that you can build a substantially rewarding career in – the endless quest to understand human nature.”
Read more about what does a psychologist does.
A typical day in the life of a psychologist
Ask 20 different psychologists what their typical day looks like, and you’ll probably get 20 different answers. Depending on their area of practice and workplace, psychologists can have very different routines from one day to the next. Adelaide University Online Lecturer and practising psychologist Catherine Ng is a good example.
Alongside her academic role, she also works in private practice and as a career coach.
“What you do throughout the day depends on where you work, who you’re working with and the type of psychology you practise,” Catherine says.
To offer a sense of what working as a psychologist can look like, Catherine has shared an example of what her day in private practice involves.
Time | Catherine’s day |
9am | Client consultations. Catherine sees three clients back-to-back at 9am, 10am and 11am. Each one-hour appointment includes around 50 minutes with the client, followed by 10 minutes to write notes before the next session. |
12pm | Lunch break |
12.30pm | Client consultation |
2.30pm | Break/Administrative work. Catherine consolidates her notes, writes reports and develops management plans. |
5-7pm | Evening client consultations |
“This is just me, and that's just one day in one part of my job,” Catherine says. “A lot of psychologists in private practice might see six clients over a shorter day. Because of personal reasons, I have a longer break in the afternoon and finish a little later – so, depending on where you work, there can be some flexibility in how you structure your day.”
Learn more about the different psychology specialisations.
What unexpected tasks are part of the job?
There are a number of things psychologists do in a day that often surprise people. Here are some of the less obvious aspects of a career in psychology:
Running a private practice, including staff management, finances and day-to-day business operations.
Navigating funding systems such as Medicare, the NDIS and workers’ compensation schemes.
Keeping up with the latest psychological research to ensure practice reflects current evidence.
Creating education resources that promote mental health and wellbeing.
Working with doctors, nurses and other allied health professionals in multidisciplinary teams.
Responding to subpoenas, preparing court reports or providing expert evidence in legal matters.
Keeping up with technological developments, from telehealth platforms to AI tools that can streamline admin.
Travelling to schools, organisations or clients' homes for consultations, depending on the role.
What are the most rewarding parts of the role?
Thirty years into her career, Jacqui says psychology "never gets old". Lifelong learning and seeing how your work makes a difference are two of the reasons she still finds the profession rewarding.
"It never gets boring,” she says. “There's always something different, something new that you're working towards. The cycle of research into teaching and then into practice is continuous.
Over the years, we learn from research how to do things differently, adopt new interventions and develop new understandings. That’s part of what is so fascinating and rewarding to work as a psychologist.
Watching people navigate tough times in their lives and make progress is also deeply gratifying. “There's nothing more satisfying than observing someone find their way through their particular struggles,” Jacqui says. “Ensuring that you learn to celebrate the small glimmers as well as the large changes is also very important and of course, it’s always based on the goals that your client has established, not your own… that is what therapy is about.”
That sense of progress can be central to both psychology and counselling, although each profession approaches client support differently. Understand the differences between counselling and psychology.
What are the challenges?
Psychologists are often working with people facing complex, distressing and traumatic events, and it can take a toll. Developing healthy boundaries and professional coping strategies is an essential part of the role.
"The therapeutic relationship is very different to any of your other life relationships, and it takes a while to learn how to manage yourself, care for yourself, maintain healthy boundaries and therefore, manage that relationship,” Jacqui says.
Habits that help psychologists build long, healthy careers include:
Regular supervision (formal and informal). Taking time to reflect on challenging cases, seek advice from colleagues or mentors, and continue developing as a practitioner.
Setting clear professional boundaries. Supporting clients doesn't mean carrying their experiences with you. Understanding where your role begins and ends is an important skill.
Workload balance. Back-to-back client sessions for long days, many days each week, are not sustainable. Scheduling time for administration, reflection, professional development and breaks helps prevent burnout.
Self-care. Taking annual leave, spending time with family or pursuing hobbies outside work that bring you joy, and maintaining your own wellbeing overall are all key to offering quality support to others.
How does the day vary between workplaces?
No two psychology jobs look exactly alike. While the core skills remain the same, the pace, environment and types of people you work with can vary significantly depending on where you're based.
Workplace | What a typical day might look like |
Private practice | You’ll likely spend most of your day in one-on-one client sessions, with time for case notes, reports and supervision. You may also run group sessions and conduct assessments. There may be greater flexibility over working hours, while if you're running your own practice, there'll also be business admin. |
Hospitals | Hospital psychologists are part of a multidisciplinary team, balancing patient care with meetings and collaboration with other allied health professionals. |
Schools | Often working within school hours, psychologists collaborate with educators, families and students to support learning, social and emotional wellbeing. |
Community health | Expect variety, with individual and group sessions, collaboration with local services and supporting people with diverse and often complex needs. |
Businesses | Organisational psychologists facilitate workshops, coach leaders, conduct assessments and help workplaces improve culture and wellbeing. You could also be working with people who have been injured at work or through motor vehicle accidents, and assist them with their rehabilitation and return to work. |
Universities | Academic psychologists balance research, teaching and supervising students, and may also conduct clinical work. |
Justice system | Psychologists may conduct assessments, prepare reports and work with courts or correctional services to support rehabilitation and decision-making. |
Who tends to thrive in this role?
While empathy, strong communication skills and a fascination with human behaviour are fundamental qualities for a psychologist, Jacqui says the people who thrive in the profession also have a strong sense of self.
“You should have a good degree of personal reason, but also personal insight,” she says. “You should be able to identify the things you're great at, but also the things you've still got to work on and maintaining your curiosity about the human condition will support you through the tough days.”
A commitment to lifelong learning is equally important. Jacqui says psychologists need to continually engage with research and ensure their practice is guided by evidence.
“You've got to be constantly checking back with the question – ‘What’s the evidence base for this work I am doing right now?’”
Explore your study options through us
Curious about taking the next step? Learn how to become a psychologist and browse the psychology courses you can study online through Open Universities Australia.
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About the author
Claire Burke
Contributor
Claire Burke is a Melbourne-based writer with more than two decades of experience telling engaging stories around education, wellbeing, health and lifestyle. She considers it a privilege to share people's stories and enjoys creating thoughtful, human-centred content that resonates with readers. Away from the desk, she loves spending time with her family and getting outdoors with her dogs.
FAQs about what it's like to be a psychologist
Is being a psychologist emotionally draining?
Some days can feel emotionally demanding, particularly when working with people experiencing trauma or distress. But with good supervision, professional boundaries and a strong focus on self-care, psychologists can build rewarding, sustainable careers.
How many days a week do psychologists work?
It depends on the role and workplace, but psychologists can often tailor their workload to suit their lifestyle and career stage. While many work a standard full-time week, part-time roles and flexible hours are common in many settings.
How many clients do psychologists see a day?
There's no set number. It depends on your workplace, area of practice and the length of each appointment, with most psychologists balancing client sessions alongside administration, supervision and other professional responsibilities.
How much paperwork do psychologists do?
Like many healthcare professionals, psychologists complete a range of administrative tasks, including case notes, reports and referrals. While it takes up part of the day, it's an important part of providing safe, effective and evidence-based care.
