Is there a place for psychologists in Japan? -

I m planning on attending Japan for a psychology graduate program geared towards those wanting to practice in Japan. I was just wondering if there is an actually need for psychologists in Japan (not a bunch of rich people needing someone to whine to) but an actual need.

Mental health facilities in Japan (and all of Asia) are actually a fairly recent thing. There is a need for psychologists/psychiatrists in Japan, but there is a stigma against them. People are embarrassed if they need one, and many people have somatic symptoms, so they go to hospitals without knowing that they really have mental health problems. I think one issue that you will face is the fact that you are not Japanese. In order to be a successful psychologist in Japan, you need to have a deep understanding of their culture, so that you can work with it instead of against it when devising the best way to combat psychological disorders. A lot of people would probably say that a person cannot do this without growing up Japanese...

yes we need for more Clinical Psychologists in Japan (16,732 JSCCPs as of 2007). Several of them myself included are not Japanese. I was trained in Tokyo in Japanese and qualified by the Japan Society of Certified Clinical Psychologists in 1996. http://www.counselingjapan.com... Report Abuse

If you speak Japanese! rots o ruck!