9 side hustles for psychologists you can explore

Are you a psychologist or mental health therapist looking to earn extra money through an additional income stream? Or perhaps you’re looking for a way to express yourself creatively without being limited to your profession? Maybe you’re looking to grow your career by immersing yourself in a different setting? A side job may be helpful for you! 

We’ve listed down nine side hustles that psychologists can do. Some of these jobs can even be side hustles for mental health therapists too. Read on below.

Psychology teacher

If you enjoy working with younger students and want to share your knowledge, consider taking on a part-time lecturer role in psychology or related courses at a school near you. As a teacher, you get to explore the subject from new angles and even get the chance to renew your interest in the field you’ve chosen. This job offers flexibility to teach the course load at a time that fits your schedule without the expectation placed on tenured faculty. 

Life coach

Coaching is a very broad area, but for psychologists and mental health therapists, you have the leeway to explore different aspects of it. Determine which subject matters you’re passionate and knowledgeable in to know what you can do coaching on. 

Depending on the niche or service you’ve chosen, you may need to get credentials from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Here are some of the areas you can explore:

• Life coaching - for helping people make plans and reach their goals

• Career coaching - for guidance in career development and transitions

• Family coaching - for family planning, conflict resolution, and goal-setting 

• Fitness or health coaching - for body and weight goals, strength training, and rehabilitation

Yoga or pilates instructor

Yoga focuses on mind and body awareness and deep breathing that may help ease stress and anxiety. It can also help people build strength, flexibility, and stability. If you enjoy yoga, you may try to get certified as a yoga teacher.

Because they’re closely related, you could also explore teaching pilates. This is a great way to not only get fit and become more mindful, but also connect with others who wish to try these exercises. Psychologists and mental health therapists can incorporate certain aspects of yoga or pilates into their practice!

Blog writer

If you enjoy writing, you may consider taking on a blog writing job. Skills to consider include writing, having excellent English grammar, and research. 

Use your blogging skills to get paid to write guest posts for other mental health specialists on different psychology-related platforms like Psychology Today. If you have blogged extensively on a particular subject, you can edit these posts and compile them into an eBook that you can share or sell to others! 

Being a writer also lends credibility to your professional profile. Getting published in a respected magazine or peer-reviewed journal allows you to showcase your expertise publicly. This can be very useful for future job hunting.

Telehealth therapist

The COVID-19 pandemic increased the demand for flexible health care services, so now more therapy and counselling services are accessible by phone or online platforms. Studies have shown that virtual clinical interventions can be just as helpful as in-person ones. 

If you are a psychologist or mental health therapist seeking to make a sideline as a telehealth therapist, look into taking on part-time work through platforms like Beyond Blue, GP2U, PSYCH2U, and more. Check out the requirements of the telehealth service you want to work for to find one that fits your schedule.

Corporate retreat and workshop facilitator

As part of company policy, many companies are now committed to overseeing their employees’ mental well-being. These companies invest in retreats and workshops to help address different work-related issues like burnout and other related issues. As a psychologist or mental health therapist, you have the opportunity to create a package to help address these needs.

Have a specific focus when creating these workshops. This helps to streamline the lessons that employees can take on and avoid information overload. It also allows you to refine the experience clients get, leaving them learning something of value.

Digital course creator

Online learning enables teachers and learners to study at their own pace, and what you can teach may not always have to be related to your client work. 

When formulating your course, make sure to include a clear outline and learning outcomes. This allows your students to know what exactly they can achieve and learn. This also increases the chance for people to sign up for your course.

As a mental health expert, some topics to consider creating courses on include:

• Work-life balance

• Setting personal goals

• Reducing stress

Podcast host

If you’re confident enough, you can try becoming a podcast host. While starting a podcast seems daunting, you can use your phone to start recording and editing episodes! 

You can use different mental health topics as episodes for your show. Start sequencing or listing the topics you want to record, and consider getting fellow mental health experts as guests for different episodes.

Public speaker

Similar to being a podcast host, public speakers allow you to talk at events. If you don’t have the experience for it but wish to pursue public speaking, seek out places like schools to start practising public speaking for free, where you can talk about the insights you’ve gathered through your career. You can also check out a local chapter of Toastmasters where you can work on your speaking in a supportive environment.

Get a side hustle that works for you!

The side hustle possibilities are endless for psychologists and mental health therapists. When choosing your side hustle, know what you want to pursue and consider how much time and effort you are able to commit to it without compromising your current job!

With so many side jobs available, you’ll be able to find one to satisfy your needs, be it additional income or a creative outlet. Sign up on Airtasker today to take on a side hustle!