What are the main disadvantages of a psychology degree?

After training in psychology, you will be able to advise or coach individuals, employees, teams or organizations. You will have the necessary methods and concepts of psychosocial counseling or various coaching methods. During counseling or coaching, you will keep an eye on the goal, provide new impetus with targeted interventions and evaluate success at the end.

The main disadvantages of a psychology course are:

1. The degree after a psychology course is not federal. No prior knowledge of psychology or experience in counseling or coaching is required. The SGfB certificate is the industry label of the Swiss Association for Counseling, which guarantees appropriate theory, self-awareness and supervision. It is a recognized intermediate qualification on the way to the higher professional examination for counsellors in the psychosocial field with a federal diploma.
2. At certificate level, the course content and admission requirements are generally not regulated and can be determined autonomously by the schools. However, in the case of association qualifications such as SGfB or ASCA, there are regulations and, as a rule, corresponding recognition in the industry. In some cases, psychological counselling can be registered as a method with the Swiss Foundation for Complementary Medicine ASCA and is thus recognized by the supplementary insurance schemes of some health insurance companies.
3. Working as a consultant is often associated with a high workload and a high volume of work. You are in a permanent state of activism and are a constant motivator and source of ideas for your customers. You need a lot of flexibility, patience, empathy and bear a lot of responsibility.
4. The learning doesn't stop after the psychology course: If you want to work as an experienced, qualified counselor in a psychosocial context, you should ideally take the higher professional examination for counselors in the psychosocial field with a federal diploma. Incidentally, only those who pass a federal examination can benefit from federal contributions towards the training costs.

As a psychological counsellor, you will work as an employee in companies, counselling centres, hospitals, aid organizations, non-profit organizations or as a self-employed person in your own practice or in a group practice. Part-time or full-time employment is possible.

Educational providers of psychology training