What is a Clinical Psychologist?
Clinical psychologists focus on assessing, diagnosing, and treating mental illnesses. They are concerned with the prevention of mental health problems. A clinical psychologist may work in a number of different settings, including a hospital, a private practice, a university or another research institution. Although clinical psychologists may work in health care institutions, they do not prescribe medicine; instead, they offer the patients therapeutic methods for improving mental health and dealing with emotional difficulties. The mental or emotional disorders treated by clinical psychologists may be caused by life crises like the death of a family member or friend, divorce, physical injuries, or illnesses; these are all high-stress situations that any patient must cope with in order to lead a healthy life.
Clinical psychology is the largest branch within the field of psychology. There are several areas of specialization within clinical psychology. These specialties include child mental and emotional health; adult mental and emotional well-being; geriatric mental and emotional health; emotional disorders; addiction and other substance abuse problems; and learning disabilities. A clinical psychologist may choose to specialize in one or a few mental illnesses, like depression or schizophrenia, or she may decide to help patients with a wide variety of emotional disturbances. In addition to helping individual patients, clinical psychologists also work with families or groups. Part of the diagnosis and treatment offered by clinical psychologists involves keeping detailed records, offering specific goals to their patients, and assessing their patients’ progress.
Clinical Psychologist Requirements
Becoming a clinical psychologist involves both academic and practical experience. Clinical psychologist training requirements include the preparation necessary to teach courses at the university level, conduct research, and offer direct care to patients, making a degree in clinical psychology very versatile.
When considering educational options, a clinical psychologist may opt to follow the course of study for a Doctor of Psychology degree if their primary interest is working with patients in a clinical setting. A Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology degree best prepares the clinical psychologist to work in research and scientific settings. Most educational institutions recommend that students start by majoring in psychology in college. However, other institutions accept graduate students with other academic majors. Since practical experience is key, many institutions have internship requirements for clinical psychologists which allow students to gain first-hand knowledge of this field.
Both traditional and online institutions offer courses to help students reach their goals. And the great news: it’s getting easier to get the right online psychology degrees for your pursuits; with the increasing demand for and acceptance of distance learning institutions, there are now dozens of accredited universities with excellent online clinical psychology programs. Online courses of study allow working professionals to complete their studies at their own pace and offer considerable flexibility in clinical psychology training. Online continuing education credits or individual classes also allow those with degrees in clinical psychology to enhance their education with further study in specialized areas.
Clinical Psychologist Jobs and Salary
Clinical psychology is a growing field, and demand for clinical psychologists in the U.S. is expected to increase through 2016. Clinical psychologist salaries are also quite competitive. The average annual income reported by the American Psychological Association in 2001 was over $70,000.
Benefits of a Career as a Clinical Psychologist
One of the most rewarding aspects of clinical psychology is the ability to help others. This is also a field where skilled individuals are always in demand; well-qualified clinical psychologists can typically find work regardless of the economic climate. The opportunity for self-employment is another important benefit; if you are in a position to strike out on your own, you’ll be able to set your own hours and rates.
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