Studies show that when it comes to picking careers, today’s youth are seeking more altruistic, and people-facing careers. This global move towards altruism is responsible for a heightened interest in careers that involve helping others. Luckily, there are several career options available to those looking to improve the lives of those around them.
Working in any of the “helping professions” (medicine, law, social work, child care, mental health) can fulfill both your personal and professional goals. So if you or someone you care about are interested in helping others through your daily job, here are some professions you should consider pursuing.
Same-Sex Couples’ Therapists
Even though great strides have been made to support marriage equality, LGBT couples all over the world still face unique challenges. It also doesn’t help that these challenges are made worse by the fact that many people still hold outdated beliefs about same-sex relationships. While we can’t ignore the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to legalize gay marriage in every state has offered legitimacy and dignity to same-sex couples, the prejudices society holds towards LGBT couples still abound.
In addition to this, same-sex couples face relationship problems just like heterosexual couples do—sexual and intimacy problems, trust issues, monogamy vs. open relationships, and how to start a family, to mention a few. If you and your partner are planning in getting married, premarital counseling is something you should consider. Premarital counseling is designed to help both straight couples and LGBTQ couples prepare for marriage. When done right, it can also help you develop the skills needed to maintain a healthy relationship, further increasing your chances of having a fulfilling marriage.
If you and your partner are considering couple therapy, LGBTQ-affirming couples therapists or lesbian and gay marriage counselors can help you work through your relationship issues. Finding an LGBTQ-affirming therapist can prove to be a bit of a challenge, but online resources like the Therapy Group of DC, or the American Psychological Association can help you find a compassionate and professional same-sex couples therapist.
Healthcare Providers
All essential healthcare providers, such as doctors, medical assistants, paramedics, and nurses, need to be certified in CPR. CPR and first aid certifications equip these medical providers with the skills they need to effectively respond to life-threatening medical emergencies. Due to the nature of their work, other professionals who may also require CPR certificates and first aid certification include lifeguards, firefighters, and childcare providers.
Considering how demanding their work schedules are, medical professionals may sometimes find it difficult to access traditional classroom learning. Luckily, due to the advances in technology, healthcare providers can conveniently take an online CPR course through eLearning resources. Learning CPR online is just as effective if you’re called to perform chest compressions in an emergency.
Child Psychiatrists
A child and adolescent psychiatrist is a medical professional who can diagnose and treat behavioral, emotional, and mental health issues in young children and teenagers. As an area of study, child psychiatry takes a deeper look into the social, biological, and psychological causes of these disorders, and helps children and their families find ways to cope with these triggers.
In child custody disputes where both parents differ on the custodial care of the child, a judge may request a forensic child custody evaluation. A forensic child custody evaluation is an extensive psychiatric report from a forensic child psychiatrist or another mental health professional that details psychological information about each parent and the role they play in the child’s life.
Forensic psychiatry is a medical field that intersects the areas of family law, psychiatry, and the criminal justice system. By offering psychiatric evaluations, medical consultations, and expert witness testimonies, a forensic psychiatrist can help in the analysis of juvenile court cases, criminal cases, child custody disputes, and other legal processes.
A child custody evaluation involves a series of child and parent interviews, psychological tests, and information gathered from various third parties such as teachers, and other family members. After a comprehensive evaluation, the forensic evaluator then provides their findings to the court. These findings are then used to rule on a custody arrangement that is in the best interest of the child. Child custody evaluations are also used in instances where there may be suspected cases of child neglect, child abuse, and substance abuse.
Legal Professionals
All attorneys are expected to protect their clients’ legal rights. They’re also required to offer their clients the best legal counsel, and also give them the best defense and representation in a court of law. Just as there are several branches of the law, so too are there different types of lawyers. Regardless of whatever type of law they practice, lawyers are tasked with helping their clients get the best possible outcome for their legal issues.
The best lawyers are those that branch out and make an impact beyond their area of practice, and Malliha Wilson is a great example of this. Malliha is a Tamil-Canadian lawyer who is recognized as being the first visible minority to act as the Assistant Deputy Attorney General of the Ontario Government. She served in this position from 2008 to 2016, and the impact of this was that it gave other Tamil-Canadians the confidence to aspire to leadership positions in the public sector. Today, Malliha is a Senior Counsel at her private practice, Nava Wilson LLP in Toronto. Her areas of practice include human rights law, labour law, and other complex litigation.
If you’re interested in seeking out the services of any of the professionals mentioned above, first, consider their years of experience. This is important because the more experience they have, the better your chances of receiving professional help. Beyond this, also consider their areas of expertise, level of education, and certification. Your doctor, psychiatrist, lawyer, or therapist should be someone you trust and someone you can speak to openly. With this in mind, also ensure you have a rapport with them.
Lastly, also find out how many clients/patients they handle at a time. This is important to know because if your attorney, for instance, has several clients at a time, it may be difficult for them to give your case the attention it deserves.
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