Psychologist Interview Questions

"I am definitely a good listener which I think is an integral part of the job. If a client doesn't feel as if they are being heard then it's not a good foundation for a client-psychologist relationship. I also believe I'm an excellent communicator. It's important for me that I build loyalty and trust with my clients so they feel comfortable opening up to me. I'm also able to analyse what they are telling me to help them with their mental health issues."

"Confidentiality with my patients is of course the most important thing to me. If a client doesn't feel as if they can trust me or talk to me then I won't be able to help them. I also make sure that all the files I keep for my patients are locked up in my filing cabinet every night before I leave the office. I also change my password once a month for my computer to be extra careful."

"Working as a psychologist can be quite stressful. Listening to other peoples' problems all day can be quite exhausting. After a tough day at work, I like to come home and cook myself a delightful meal. I also like to deal with stress by picking up a wonderful book and getting lost in the story."

"I did my undergrad and Master's degree at the University of Toronto. I then completed my Post-doctorate degree in psychology at the University of British Columbia. I am a member of the Canadian Psychologist Association and regularly take part in research at the psychology department at UBC. When they have an important paper to research or a ph.D student that needs clinical training, I open them into my clinic."

"I once had a patient who was suffering from an eating disorder. She was quite thin and having a lot of difficulties overcoming her issues. I worked with her for two years meeting once a week. We worked through where her feelings were coming from and how she can change the way she was thinking to feel more confident in herself and her decisions. It was one of my proudest moments as a psychologist."

"I went through additional training after my PhD to work with children. I find this kind of work the most rewarding and you can really make a difference in someone's life if you are working with them from when they are a child. I have spent that last 10 years working with children who have behavioural issues and the feedback I receive from parents is amazing."

"Without a doubt, social media is the most important cause of mental health issues today. I have young patients coming in all the time who are suffering from low confidence and other mental health issues like eating disorders and depression as a result of it. The expectations placed on children these days are incredibly unrealistic so it makes sense that they are leading to problems. I try to talk to parents and help them understand the dangers of letting their children take part in social media."

"Working with teenagers I often have to adapt to the mode of communication that they are most comfortable with. Texting is not an uncommon form of communication with patients when they are experiencing an episode and need to talk quickly. I also have patients that have moved away but want to continue working with me so we rely on programmes like Skype to communicate."

"I have worked with children who have eating disorders for several years and have learned a lot about how to interact with them and help them manage their condition. There are new studies coming out all of the time so I subscribe to several key psychology journals to make sure I'm getting recent information and treatment methods all the time."

"A good friend of mine suffered from mental health issues growing up. They weren't able to get the help they needed and the situation didn't end well. That inspired me to want to help others to make sure no one else suffered the same fate as my friend. It's important that mental health issues are treated the same way a regular illness would be. I want to help others and improve their quality of life."

"It's very important to be a good listener as a psychologist. I make sure that all of my patients feel as if they are being heard and can open up to me. When I meet a patient for the first time, I ask them what difficulties they are dealing with. I typically ask a lot of open-ended questions and let them talk to me as much as they want. I always talk in a calming voice to make them feel comfortable."

"I once had a patient that was talking about wanting to hurt themselves. Throughout my session, I tried to help them and talk them out of their thinking process. Unfortunately, I think the patient was past the point of intervention from me so when they left I called the authorities and the family members of the patient so that the patient could get the proper medical intervention and care that they needed."

"I had a patient that was showing signs of suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder but the symptoms and episodes they were suffering from were incredibly mild. It wasn't enough that made me confident to diagnose. Instead, I referred them to a psychologist that was an expert in the field at diagnosing and treating BPD and the patient was able to get the help they needed to get better."

"The most important thing to remember when treating a patient that is experiencing stress is to always stay calm. I try to speak to them in a calming manner and use neutral or calming language. Someone who experiences trauma is not always aware of their surroundings and reactions, so it's important to use descriptive and reassuring language."

"I think every day I have another achievement. Anytime I have a patient that leaves my office calmer or happier than when they came in it's an achievement. My greatest achievement was helping a patient who was harming themselves for years. It took a lot of counselling but now five years later they are living a happy and fulfiling life."