How to become A Clinical Psychologist

• Licensed Clinical Psychologist
• Mental Health Psychologist

What do Clinical Psychologists do?

A Clinical Psychologist would typically need to:

• Assess and treat mental illness, abnormal behavior, and emotional & psychiatric problems, using their expertise in psychometrics: aim for the personal, social, educational, and vocational development of their clients
• Administer and interpret cognitive and personality tests to assess clients’ attitude, behavior, and abilities, diagnose their mental illnesses, create treatment plans, and conduct psychotherapy
• Administer intelligence and achievement tests, vocational tests, or other tests designed to measure aptitude and skill levels
• Interview clients, using direct observation or medical records, to identify and understand their needs and psychological, emotional, or behavioral disorders
• Devise, develop, and implement behavior modification programs using therapy or treatment for individual clients; incorporate various psychometric methods to improve a client's condition
• Help clients define goals and plan a course of action to achieve those goals; monitor their progress through regular therapy sessions or meetings
• Observe, monitor, and test the right therapy for its effectiveness; maintain accounts and keep records of a client's progress
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team alongside doctors, nurses, social workers, education professionals, health visitors, psychiatrists, and occupational therapists
• Communicate with, support, and offer guidance to the relatives, parents or loved ones of the client
• Teach classes; carry out applied research, add to the evidence base of practice in a variety of healthcare settings, and publish research findings in industry journals
• Provide consultation to other professions, encouraging a psychological approach in their work

Clinical Psychologists typically work indoors in hospitals, schools, industries, and counseling centers. In research, you would spend some time interacting with study participants, and considerable time designing studies, analyzing results, and preparing research reports.

Those in an applied profession may spend more one-on-one time with clients. You will work with children, adolescents, adults, families, couples, and groups in various settings.

Liaison with psychiatrists, social workers, and counseling psychologists is essential in dealing with clients' complex issues and may require local travel. You're unlikely to spend time away from home overnight or work abroad for work unless attending a conference.

Clients or patients typically feel at ease when Clinical Psychologists dress in business casual, conservative clothing that denotes professionalism.

Clinical Psychologists work full- or part-time. Full-time professionals have a typical work week Monday to Friday and regular hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You may sometimes need to put in extra working hours in the evenings or at weekends to meet deadlines or accommodate clients. You may work as part of an on-call system covering emergencies if employed by a healthcare facility such as a hospital or clinic.

Many Clinical Psychologists prefer self-employment or freelance work in private or clinical practice, and industrial or commercial consultancy while a few partner with other mental health professionals. Others find work in mental health, medical, and social service settings. You may also find employment through government- or charity-sponsored programs serving the community, or through university programs that help the students and staff of a particular school.

Clinical Psychologists are generally employed by:

• Public & Private Hospitals and Clinics
• Psychiatric Units
• Health Centers
• Community Mental Health Teams
• Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services
• Social Services
• Schools, Colleges & Universities
• Retirement Homes
• Prisons

Clinical Psychologists may choose to join regional and national professional organizations or even international associations to network, collaborate, and share resources. Among the global-level organizations is the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP), the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS), and the International Association of Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP). All three organize international congresses that bring together like-minded professionals from different parts of the world.

• Availability of jobs in most cities and large towns, with fewer opportunities in rural areas
• Contact with people who are often distressed and need to be tackled objectively without letting their problems exhaust you emotionally
• Conflict situations that may pose security concerns when clients who may disagree with suggested changes to thinking or behavior are angry and rude
• Continued supervision by colleagues essential throughout an active career
• Need for frequent travel during the workday to visit clients

During your undergraduate program, you could work as a research assistant under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist. You will acquire first-hand exposure to scientific methods, explore your research interests, and build relationships with professors who can write letters of recommendation that add weight to your graduate school applications. Some schools may offer independent study options and honors programs for students seeking supplementary research experience.

Experience in clinically-oriented research is also useful. Paid or voluntary work in nursing, social work, care work, mental health work, or services for individuals with disabilities will prove an asset.

Depending on location, you may earn a Doctor of Clinical Psychology degree that combines academic and practical training, including clinical placements and research.

A doctoral program requires relevant work experience, often at least for a year. Check with your course provider for specific requirements of the length and type of experience needed and advice on how to achieve it.

Postdoctoral fellowship programs, which usually last a year, enable students to provide clinical services under faculty supervision. It gives them valuable exposure to real-life situations while preparing them for licensure.

Clinical Psychologists typically major in psychology at the undergraduate degree level, heading to graduate programs in Clinical Psychology at the doctorate level.

Most master’s programs in Clinical Psychology also admit students with a bachelor’s in a related field, provided they do an accredited conversion course including research methods, abnormal psychology, and behavioral statistics. Intense competition dictates excellent undergraduate grades, relevant clinical/research work experience, and letters of recommendation.

Much favored joint degree options that result in a doctoral degree may not be available to students who do not have an undergraduate degree in psychology. Prospective Clinical Psychologists wishing to practice in a clinical setting pursue a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD). Generally, those who intend to focus on research and academia opt for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Clinical Psychologists must be licensed to practice in the field. Complete licensure usually requires graduation from an accredited doctoral program, complete clinical placements with a set period of supervised experience, and a research thesis.

Voluntary certification from an objective and reputed organization demonstrates competency in skills, typically through work experience, training, the passage of an examination, or some combination of the three. Successful certification programs protect the public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics. Investigating members that practice outside the Code earns trust and respect, which are the most critical elements in securing a Clinical Psychologist’s future.

Some Clinical Psychologists choose to focus on researching an academic environment. Common research topics may include efficacy and effectiveness of therapies, conventional change processes in therapy, developing or evaluating prevention programs, validating assessment methods, developmental psychopathology, and developmental epidemiology.

With experience, you may move into a supervisory or clinical management role. Experienced Clinical Psychologists may write legal reports and act as expert witnesses. In such cases, you'll keep detailed paperwork about clients to monitor the progress of their treatments.

As a Clinical Psychologist, you may also choose to move into clinical academic research and teaching. Opportunities to train as a high-intensity Therapist require you to provide cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to patients with complex issues related to anxiety and depression.

Job seekers who supplement their degree with training and experience in computer science and quantitative research will likely enjoy an edge over other candidates.

Clinical Psychologists must actively learn new things related to their discipline to customize their treatment plans and therapies to each patient’s unique needs and problems. They also engage in extensive assessment research to develop valid and reliable ways to measure the efficacy of specific treatments and interventions.

Renewal of credentials earned from professional organizations in terms of license, certification, registration, or chartered status requires continuing professional development; CPD may comprise post-qualification training courses, conferences, workshops, and specialist publications to present research & results.

Professional development centers offer training opportunities. You can also practice personal-psychological counseling and gain insights from subsequent reflections. You may also opt for further research at the doctoral level. A minimum of ten days of work per year in the area of your specialty is obligatory.

Clinical Psychologists train to work across the human lifespan; they are skilled in working with children and their families and adults (individuals and couples). Their training involves practical experience working with these groups and a comprehensive theoretical teaching program that focuses on developmentally relevant aspects of mental health.

What sets a Clinical Psychologist apart from the Rest

Psychology studies the human mind, mental behaviors, and psychological functions. Psychologists try to understand how the mind functions, how it responds to stimuli, whether it can be improved, and how it can be kept in a stable state. They study behavior, emotion, relationships, human perception, cognition, personality, attention, and motivation.

Clinical Psychologists, unlike other types of psychologists, specialize in abnormal psychology. While some focus on a variety of mental disorders and behaviors, others focus on a specific area, such as schizophrenia. They treat their clients through interactive consultations, assessments, testings, and treatments based on scientific methods and psychological principles. A Clinical Psychologist’s goal is to offer the client a corrective course of action or specific treatment to improve their mental well-being.

A psychologist must generally complete a four-year undergraduate psychology degree plus two years of supervised clinical experience to register with an accredited professional body. On the other hand, a Clinical Psychologist needs to complete an undergraduate degree in psychology, a two-year master's degree, and then another two years of supervised clinical training, and preferably a doctoral degree. Those who complete a PhD earn the title of 'Doctor.’

What distinguishes a Clinical Psychologist from a Psychiatrist and what brings them together

Clinical Psychologists and psychiatrists often work in tandem to treat the patient's symptoms from both a behavioral and clinical standpoint to improve their mental and emotional health.

Referred by a family doctor, a patient may regularly meet a Clinical Psychologist to address problematic behavioral patterns. The Clinical Psychologist may refer the patient to a psychiatrist who has a different educational background and can prescribe appropriate medication and monitor its effect. The law does not typically allow Clinical Psychologists to prescribe medication. However, new legislation in specific locations now allows the prescribing of medication, leading to debate.

Subspecialties

Clinical Psychologists may choose to specialize in a niche area: a cross-section of the population they deal with or the kind of problems such as addiction, clinical health psychology, clinical forensic psychology, oncology & palliative care, and psychosis & complex mental health. Child Psychology Professionals in this specialty apply scientific methods designed to understand the cognitive functions and emotional needs of patients in infancy, childhood, and adolescence. Among the common issues they treat are learning disabilities, anger management, developmental disorders, and emotional & physical abuse.

Health Psychology

Health Psychologists identify and examine how biological and social factors can impact psychological health. Their focus areas include illness, injury, harmful behavior, worrisome thoughts and beliefs, and stress.

Neuropsychology

Neuropsychologists study how psychological behavior is affected by the brain and central nervous system function and anatomy. Much of their work involves diagnosing and treating traumatic brain injury, stroke, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and learning disabilities.

Geropsychology

Geropsychologists specialize in mental well-being and the all-around physical, emotional, and social health of older adults. Typical issues that warrant treatment are depression, cognitive dysfunction, and chronic illness.

A Growing Need

Significant advances in imaging technology may lead to new avenues of work in Clinical Psychology as well. The growing number of military veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder demands expertise in PTSD.

Employee assistance programs and bringing in trained Clinical Psychologists to evaluate employee performance and increase productivity & morale is gaining momentum in the corporate and government sectors. The niche domain of industrial & organizational psychology gets to play a major role in employee assistance programs.

The rising awareness of youth mental health and behavioral problems that affect learning, such as bullying and a desire to combat them, is spurring the application of clinical psychology in educational institutions.

The rise in health care costs associated with unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking, alcoholism, and obesity, rising incidences of depression and marriage and family problems have people looking towards clinical psychology for viable treatment options.

American psychologist Lightner Witmer opened the first psychological clinic in 1896 with a specific focus on helping children with learning disabilities.

Do you enjoy learning about what makes people tick? Do you genuinely care about others? Clinical psychology integrates the science of psychology with the treatment of complex human problems, making it an exciting career choice for people looking to work in a challenging and rewarding field.

Always remember for each patient that you see, you may be the only person in their life capable of both hearing and holding their pain. If that isn’t sacred, I don’t know what is.