Can I work in psychology on military bases with a degree?

I'm graduating soon with a psychology degree and considering working on military bases. What psychology positions exist on bases and how do they compare to traditional roles? Any insights would be great!

Military bases do have a need for psychology professionals. Through your psychology degree, you might be eligible for a range of roles on military bases, which may include roles like clinical psychologist, counseling psychologist, and mental health counselor.

In these roles, you would be responsible for providing mental health and counseling services to service members, veterans, and their families. You could be helping them tackle a wide range of mental health issues, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, often brought on by the unique stresses and challenges of military life.

Comparatively, these roles are quite different from traditional psychology roles in civilian settings. While the day-to-day tasks like conducting therapy, assessments, and possibly research are similar, the population you will be working with and the overarching social and professional context can be quite different.

Working in a military base often means encountering more instances of trauma-related issues, and the military culture itself can influence how symptoms are expressed and how treatment is perceived. Moreover, there could be periodic relocations involved, and certain clearances and approval can be necessary for professional practice inside a military base.

Remember, you will likely need to obtain proper licensure to practice. Most often, a master's level degree and state licensure are required to independently practice as a counselor or therapist, while doctoral-level education and licensure are necessary for clinical psychologists.

Overall, working in a military setting can offer a challenging and rewarding career path, allowing you to make a significant impact in a unique community that can highly benefit from psychological services. Be sure to explore the different avenues and requirements related to this career path, perhaps even reaching out to professionals already working in military psychology for their hands-on insights.