A senior counsellor in school, with an MA degree in psychology and a PG diploma in guidance and counselling can get Rs. 17,000 a month. With three years’ experience, one can earn about Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000 a month. In a private hospital, a fresh clinical psychologist with an MPhil degree can get Rs. 30,000 a month. However, with experience and skills one can earn more than Rs. 1.5 lakh a month.

• 10.30am: Attend cases in OPD
• 12.45pm: Break
• 1.30pm: Administer psychological tests
• 3.00pm: Break
• 3.30pm: Conducting supervision/ training for students/juniors
• 4.15pm: Set up new appointments/ follow-up appointments
• 4.30pm: Make notes on complicated cases handled during the day
• 5.00pm: Pack up

• One should be a good listener
• Interpersonal skills and empathy
• Open-mindedness and objectivity to deal with the child neutrally
• Sensitive and non-intrusive

You can opt for any subject in Class 12 to be eligible for a bachelor’s in psychology, but it’s preferable to take science with psychology. Then you can go for master’s in psychology. For better career prospects, you may do MPhil/PhD. Although training programmes in India do not include in-depth self-analysis, it is important that one should undergo counselling and psychotherapy. This enables a person to sort out his/her own personal issues.

• University of Delhi
• Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
• Ambedkar University, New Delhi