Dr. Jameca CooperForensic Psychology Consultant, Emergence Psychological Services · Board Certified Counseling Psychologist and Forensic Psychology Consultant

Not for the faint, but you got this. #psychologycareers #criminalpsychology #clinicalpsychologist

19 Dec 2025 · 1 min

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In this brief monologue, Dr. Jameca Cooper shares two critical insights she wishes she had known before entering the fields of clinical and criminal psychology. First, she explains that obtaining licensure is a demanding process that goes beyond earning a PhD or PsyD; it requires completing post‑doctoral supervised hours, passing a rigorous licensing exam (which many candidates fail), and navigating state‑specific requirements. Second, she highlights the emotional toll of the work, noting that constant exposure to clients' trauma, intense emotions, and tears can be draining and demands a particular personal resilience. She emphasizes that both the procedural hurdles and the emotional demands make these careers challenging and suitable only for those with the right temperament.

Chapters

2 things I wish I had known before becoming a clinical and a criminal psychologist. One is getting licensed is hard. It's not enough to just graduate with a PhD or PsyD, but you actually have to then get postdoctoral hours, take the exam, pass the exam, which a large percentage of people don't pass the exam, and then begin the steps for licensure in whatever state you live in. It's hard. Second thing is this work is emotionally draining. Listening to trauma issues, emotions, tears all day, every day can take a toll on you. It's hard work. It takes the right type of person to be cut out for this type of work.