Child Psychologist

Finally realizing that she could match her passion to help children reduce their anxieties while earning a living for herself, she changed her career path and now looks forward to beginning each day to help others through their challenges. 

CHILDHOOD

As a child, Stephanie Wolf (SW) was a ‘sensitive sole.’ “As early as kindergarten, I had so many strong feelings. I grew into adulthood and remembered those experiences vividly. I realized this was a special skill: many adults do not recall their childhood in detail, but I do.”

“After working as a camp counselor and in a preschool, I discovered I also loved spending time with kids. Finding a vocation in which I can work with kids was a given, but in what capacity was a journey.”

EDUCATION – PART ONE

Following high school graduation, SW proceeded to college, earning her Bachelor’s degree and then directly to law school, where she earned her J.D. (Juris Doctor) degree. After passing the state’s Bar Exam, required to practice law, she joined a private practice law firm (different from employment by a government agency or a business – where your client is solely that business – or a public service group, where your clients cannot afford to hire a private attorney.)

FIRST CAREER – LAWYER

SW’s journey toward becoming a psychologist involved “MANY wrong turns. After initially becoming an attorney for one year, I realized that I enjoyed the emotional aspects surrounding issues far more than legal fighting. I retired early from law – course corrected! – and entered a PhD program in child clinical psychology.” 

EDUCATION – PART TWO

To qualify as a practicing psychologist, a student must pass a state’s licensing exam. While focusing her second round of education upon the study of psychology, SW earned a doctorate (PhD) in child psychology. Along the way, as a graduate school student, SW taught college level courses in psychology, where her title was ‘Adjunct Professor’ (meaning a ‘temporary’ academic role, without the long-term job security as a ‘tenured’ professor). 

In addition to her graduate school coursework, SW obtained valuable, real-world experience while serving as a clinical supervisor within the “Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition” and Mental Health Director and psychologist with the Maryland Child Advocacy Center, the latter post for six years. 

CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST – BUSINESS OWNER

After gaining enough skills and experience, SW was ready to create her own perfect job: opening her own ‘practice’ (a term for ‘businesses used by certain groups of professionals, such as doctors and lawyers). 

SW formed a business partnership with another PhD specialist in child psychology, Dr. Jenna Calton. 

“Opening my own practice – Maven Psychology – has allowed me to do everything I love, including therapy, assessment, expert witness work, adjunct teaching, clinical training and even the flexibility to co-create a non-profit organization.” 

TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST

SW spends most of her waking hours interacting with people – in person, by phone or Zoom. She has interactions with children, parents, schools, lawyers, and other mental health professionals. 

She gets to play with toys, write reports, review legal documents, write patient notes, send emails and research (looking up psychological studies which have been reviewed by other psychologists for comment, then published as ‘peer reviewed’ articles). 

Inevitably, as a small business owner, SW will often have to respond to the need for more trash bags or that the sink in their office is leaking. (An office ‘bookkeeper’ / accountant oversees issuing bills, dealing with insurance companies and filing tax returns.)

During SW’s typical day, she will often receive an early morning text from the director of a local childcare center regarding a traumatic incident that happened the previous day; can SW please make time to provide advice on how to handle that situation? 

Choosing what to wear as a professional psychologist involves considering with whom SW will be interacting in person during the day. If she intends to sit on the floor to engage with a child during play therapy, SW will need to wear pants. If a child has indicated her enthusiasm for ‘sparkling things’ then SW will choose to wear her glittery shoes. If SW will meet with an attorney, she’ll want to look professional in a blazer. 

SW stays in regular contact with her business partner through scheduled calls twice weekly, which often occur while driving to and from their office. 

CHALLENGE – WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

Like many adults, people with ‘troubles’ don’t always know the cause(s) of their problem(s). But children have less life experiences to help them self-assess and less vocabulary to express their problems. 

Before trying to solve a problem, the first task for any therapist is to figure out the problem and then whether there is any safety risk to the patient before the problem can be effectively dealt with.

WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES

Therapy sessions for children may involve playing with Legos to help the child talk about their feelings, how to feel better, and possibly practicing “cookie breathing” – pretend to smell the cookies in the oven, then blow on them since they’re hot. 

At the end of the session, the parent who brought the child to therapy that day may be invited to join the session, where the child might be encouraged to teach their parent this new skill (to subtly reinforce it within the child), with the double advantage of the parent seeing progress within the child, thus reducing the adult’s anxiety at the same time. 

After therapy sessions with her young patients, SW finds time to meet with leaders of the nonprofit group which SW cofounded, whose mission is to treat trauma in children from underserved communities. This may involve preparing for a podcast to be presented. 

As one of the business partners, SW meets regularly with all the psychologists employed by their practice. Their priority is to identify the potential risks posed by their patients, such as suicide. Together they brainstorm possible approaches to cope with each child’s situation. 

After each child therapy session, the patient’s confidential medical record must be immediately updated while the psychologist’s thoughts can be most quickly recalled. 

Later at home, relaxing with her own family, SW avoids any tv shows involving too much emotional drama – she has enough each day! Books and conversation are her best relaxing moments. 

CAREER SUCCESS

For SW, ‘success’ as an outcome varies from child to child. For some, intervening before they harm themselves achieves an intermediate goal. For many, teaching them coping skills to reduce their anxieties is a goal. For others, helping them to gain self esteem will reduce the need for further therapy. Promoting positive family interaction among the child brought for treatment and other siblings is a secondary, successful outcome. 

Being your own business boss, mentoring less experienced practitioners, helping your clients – all are vital parts of career success for a child psychologist. 

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This career story is based on an article written by Stephanie Wolf, published by The Washington Post on August 2, 2022, plus internet research.