Astronaut Fiasco Sheds Light on Clinical Psychology Jobs

When astronaut Lisa Nowak was arrested for assaulting her perceived romantic rival Colleen Shipman with pepper spray, those in clinical psychology jobs all over the nation were left scratching their heads.

Just what could make an astronaut, who had passed many rigorous psychological and physical exams before her first shuttle mission in 2006, put on a diaper and drive 950 miles with rubber tubing, a BB gun, a steel mallet, and folding knife? That's what NASA officials want to know, and they're turning to those in clinical psychology jobs to make sense of it.

Could the high stress and competitive environment of Nowak's work have kept her from asking for much-needed help? Perhaps. That's why NASA is reevaluating Nowak's tests to see if anything slipped through the cracks, and they're also consulting with those in clinical psychology jobs to determine what more can be done in the future to prevent such incidents. These measures might include tighter selective screening or enhanced and ongoing monitoring.

Behind Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychologists help mentally and emotionally disturbed patients to adjust to life or recover from illness or injury. While a four-year psychology degree isn't enough to go into independent practice, it is possible to work as an assistant to a psychologist, in a community mental health center, or in a vocational rehabilitation office with a four-year psychology degree. A doctoral psychology degree is required to become an independent licensed psychologist.

If you earn your psychology degree - whether it's a bachelor's or graduate degree - through an online degree program, you'll have access to some of the country's best clinical psychology professionals. An online degree program allows you to work at your own pace, so that you may gain career experience assisting in the field while furthering your education. An online degree may allow you to take a heavier course load and earn your degree in less time than a traditional full-time program.

We may never know what drove Lisa Nowak to attempted murder, but with an online degree in psychology, your career could involve working to prevent such events in the future.

Sources

Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Psychologists"
MSNBC.com, "Fit for Flight? How NASA Tests Astronauts" by Arian Campo-Flores