Clinical Psychology
Ask a Question
Clinical psychology is the branch of psychology that focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of behavioral and personality issues and disorders. This specialization is the largest and most practiced within psychology. Some clinical psychologists may opt to focus their work on serious and extreme disorders such as schizophrenia or clinical grade depression. A good number of these types of psychologists, however, prefer to handle matters that stem from difficult personal circumstances, such as divorce, miscarriage, or the loss of a family member or another beloved individual.
Clinical psychologists are experts at providing a safe place for their patients to feel comfortable discussing the concerns that plague their minds; in response to what patients offer via their discourse and behavior in a session, clinical psychologists try to promote positive change in their patients' conditions. Clinical psychologists may work in hospital settings in conjunction with doctors in order to devise well rounded plans for their patients' progress. Academia is also a possible workplace for psychologists who use their valuable experience to educate graduate students on the ins and outs of practicing psychology.
Education to become a clinical psychologist can begin at the undergrad level, where students will then need to secure a bachelor's degree diploma in either psychology or another relevant field. With the diploma in tow, clinical psychologist hopefuls then should advance to graduate school, where they will earn either a Doctorate of Philosophy, PhD, in psychology, or a Doctorate of Psychology degree, PsyD. The job outlook for clinical psychologists is anticipated to rise appreciably, well into the future. The wages afforded to clinical psychologists are also strong, and the best in the field make more than $100,000 annually.
Answers to Your Questions
Accredited Schools Offering Clinical Psychology Degrees by Location
Online
Learn more about Florida Tech University Online
Arizona
California
Colorado
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Illinois
Minnesota
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Career Specializations
- Health: These clinical psychologists collaborate frequently with doctors and other health professionals, analyzing how biology and other health factors influence and challenge mental health.
- Neuropsychology: The connection between the brain and the thoughts and behavior it produces is these psychologists' specialty; they often handle brain trauma victims.
- Geropsychology: These psychologists focus their studies on the elderly, helping them to cope with the challenges of aging by providing important mental and emotional support.
- Child Psychology: The mental and emotional development of children and adolescents is what impassions psychologists in this field.
- Psychological Counseling: Many of the previously mentioned specializations operate within this branch of the field, where psychologists interact with patients to provide mental and emotional healing.
Degree Levels
- Master's Degree: 2-3 years to complete
- Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD): 4-7 years to complete
- Doctorate of Psychology (PsyD): 4-7 years to complete
Education & Certification Requirements
Preparation for a career as a clinical psychologist can actually begin in high school, where students can begin their exploration of the field by taking such classes as advanced placement psychology, which provides a dynamic introduction to the field and which might also grant college credit. The next obligatory step for clinical psychologist hopefuls is the successful attainment of a bachelor's degree. Psychology is the most clearly appropriate degree to earn, yet other fields like anthropology and literature can also provide an excellent and pertinent education for them. Completing the bachelor's, psychology majors may choose to head directly to graduate school, whereas those who studied another field may consider earning a master's degree first to buttress their knowledge.
Graduate school is essential for becoming an official clinical psychologist, and two options are available. Students can choose the PhD route, which emphasizes scholarship, concludes in a written dissertation, and is ideal for those who are primarily interested in conducting clinical research. Conversely, students may opt for the PsyD track, dedicated to preparing students as practicing clinicians. It also features a dissertation, but there is a greater focus on learning to conduct psychological exams on patients, grooming students for a clinical practice.
To open a practice, clinical psychologists must apply for, and be approved for, licensing by the governing state; passing a standardized exam and earning one to two years of postdoctoral experience are requirements. The American Board of Professional Psychology offers certification in fields like psychoanalysis, couples and families, and clinical neuropsychology, which smart psychologists strongly consider earning. (BLS)
Salary Information
Those clinical psychologists just beginning in a practice should expect between $35,000 and $45,000 for their first years of work. With time and experience, this salary figure can increase to an average of nearly $65,000. Those clinical psychologists at the peak of the field earn more than $106,000; these doctors have typically earned a sterling reputation, developed a solid and loyal base of patients, and have earned and updated their certification regularly. (BLS)
Job Outlook
Clinical psychologists are in for a significant augmentation in their employment figures well into the future. By the year 2018, estimates prognosticate that the number of jobs will increase by 12 percent. Essentially, earning a doctoral degree from a top-billed university, demonstrating training in quantitative research methods, and securing certification can almost guarantee that such clinical psychologists will never want for work or an adequate supply of patients. (BLS)
Related Careers
Counselors perform work similar to that of clinical psychologists in its intent to grant mental well-being and comfort to patients. Also interacting with patients tackling sometimes severe problems and issues, counselors do not need as extensive of academic training as their clinically trained peers. As such, counselors cannot legally diagnose or treat disorders in their clients. Environments centered around social work, educational facilities, and occasionally private businesses will enlist a counselor to promote community mental health.
