How to become A Health Psychologist

The rising incidence of deaths due to the negative impact of unhealthy lifestyle choices makes the role of a Health Psychologist extremely critical to promoting wellbeing and healthy behaviours at an individual, family and societal level.

• Community Health Psychologist
• Public Health Psychologist
• Critical Health Psychologist
• Clinical Health Psychologist
• Medical Psychologist
• Behavioural Medical Psychologist

What do Health Psychologists do?

A  Health Psychologist would typically need to:

• Prevent and treat illness, promote overall health and work to improve the healthcare system while understanding how people handle and recover from physical illness
• Conduct clinical interviews and behavioural assessments of patients to investigate health and illness behaviours; use a range of models and frameworks to explain and predict behaviour
• Identify behaviours that may damage a person’s health, such as smoking, drug abuse, physical inactivity and poor diet
• Seek to understand why certain patients do not follow medical advice and use the knowledge to reduce levels of non-adherence
• Apply psychological theories and interventions to support prevention and health-related behaviour change
• Encourage positive health care behaviours such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, oral hygiene, health checks/self-examination and attending preventative medical screenings
• Develop healthy and practical interventions such as changing health beliefs, increasing internal control or self-belief to overcome addiction or a sedentary lifestyle
• Guide patients with severe or terminal conditions through the phases of grief and acceptance
• Explore the nature and effects of communication between health professionals and patients; offer advice when necessary
• Examine the psychological impact of illness on individuals, families and caregivers 
• Provide information and advice to public health organisations

Health Psychologists work across a range of health care, corporate, community, academic and government settings. Those who work part-time or on a consultation basis may need to travel to different places of employment during a workday or workweek.

Employed Health Psychologists usually work either full-time or part-time for around 40 hours/week. Self-employed professionals may work some evenings or weekends to suit their clients’ needs.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Health Psychologists can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting employers directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Health Psychologists are generally employed by:

• Government & Private Hospitals
• Private Practices
• Charities
• Community & Public Health Settings
• General Practice
• Health Research Units
• Local Authorities
• Local Clinics & Health Centres
• Public Health Departments
• University Departments
• Rehabilitation Centres
• Mental Health Clinics

Healthcare associations such as The International Society of Critical Health Psychology (ISCHP) provide unparalleled networking and educational opportunities. They offer all the certification courses members will need throughout their professional careers.

Affiliated Healthcare Psychologists may attend conventions, seminars, and dinners frequented by peers, mentors, and other industry leaders. The events help them learn about the newest breakthroughs and latest developments, including plum jobs.

• Working around the various benefits and limitations of the different theories within this broad field
• The need to keep in mind that no single therapy suits everyone and that health psychology is limited in scope
• Inherent red-tapism and bureaucracy in the political system may delay or inhibit the legislation of essential healthcare bills, leading to frustration

One of the best introductions to a career in mental health is to vol­unteer at a local hospital, clinic, or nursing home. Work experience demonstrates your interest and dedication to the profession. It allows you to understand what it is like to work around other healthcare professionals and patients.

In addition, working with a diverse range of clients helps you understand different behaviours, situations, and problems you may encounter during your practice as a Health Psychologist.

Any academic program that a potential Health Psychologist takes up typically requires two years of structured, supervised experience, such as an internship or practice placement. Assessment may include an oral exam and a portfolio proving your skills in health psychology.

You will gain optimal benefit from your tasks outside of the classroom when they line up perfectly with your lessons inside it on consultancy, professional practice, psychological interventions, research and teaching and training.

You may get to hear countless stories from more experienced professionals and obtain valuable hands-on experience when they manage to turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments. 

Very often, prospective Health Psychologists earn a master’s degree in counselling psychology and work in the field as a health counsellor or wellness coach to have a better chance of gaining acceptance to a coveted doctoral program.

The experience they gain as a trainee or assistant health psychologist under the supervision of a qualified senior will also stand them in good stead.

Any paid or voluntary experience gained from working in nursing, care work, mental health work, social work or services for individuals with disabilities will also prove advantageous. Experience as a research assistant is also relevant, as is a well-balanced experience in academic and applied health fields.

Medical and health centres and educational institutions prefer candidates with post-doctoral training in behavioural health and medicine. Check with individual educational institutions for information about the kind of experience expected.

Read about the profession and interview/shadow experts working in health psychology to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

As a rule, aspiring Health Psychologists should begin with an accredited four-year bachelor’s degree in psychology or social work.

A general understanding of the seminal concepts of human behaviour will prepare them for a certified master’s program offering comprehensive knowledge of abnormal behaviour, therapeutic techniques, research and health psychology.

The student can opt for a three- to five-year clinical, counselling or research-focused graduate track, which will pave the way for a doctorate program. 

A typically five-year-long doctoral study includes one year of supervised internship in the field and coursework in clinical health psychology, community health, occupational health, behavioural epidemiology and behavioural medicine.

At times, prospective employers prefer Health Psychologists with an MD degree from an accredited medical school followed by a licensing exam­ination and an internship/fellowship.

Medical school typically takes four years to complete; two years of classroom work followed by two years in a hospital or clinical setting with exposure to real-life medical issues.

Upon passing through the program, the freshly-minted MDs must complete a two- to four-year internship/fellowship in health psychology.

Take college preparatory courses in psychology in high school. English and speech classes will help you develop your research, writing, and oral communication skills.

Certification and licensure are not always mandatory but expand job opportunities. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Students who wish to obtain board certification in clinical health psychology must complete an accredited doctoral program in professional psychology and a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical health psychology. 

Where licensure is an essential prerequisite, as is the case with counselling services and independent practice, Health Psychologists must complete a specific period of supervised training and pass one or more examinations.

Requirements may vary by region; you must check with your education provider and prospective employer for exact details.

In some locations, Health Psychologists need to be registered with their local health and care professions council, which requires training at the postgraduate level.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of Health Psychologists.

After proving your worth in applied settings and managerial/supervisory roles, you may aspire to become a Principal Health Psychologist or Consultant Health Psychologist.

There are opportunities to specialise in specific health conditions such as eating disorders, drug abuse or addictive behaviours. You may support multiple teams or departments as a Consultant or focus on a particular concept such as pain management.

A career in academia is a viable option if you are keen on teaching and supervising trainee health psychologists and other healthcare professionals. Some Health Psychologists move from applied practice to a university if there is no option of a joint appointment between the university and health service entity.

Professionals so inclined work in public policy and address pressing issues in the healthcare sector. They advise stakeholders on essential measures such as improving access to underserved groups. They may need to lobby to get legislation passed that would improve the nation’s healthcare system.

Clinical work, which involves developing and implementing interventions or treatments, is another career option. Clinical Health Psychologists may conduct group therapy sessions for cancer patients, provide bereavement counselling for families or substance abuse counselling for individuals who have signed up for treatment.

Candidates with a PhD or an MD degree, certification in clinical health psychology and licensure have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential in the healthcare sector for public wellbeing and career progression. It embraces new learning objectives, methodologies, and novel technological developments, especially in education, management, and IT. 

CPD also helps you renew your certifications, licensure and registration with professional organisations. Presenting at and attending conferences, undertaking research, involvement in a committee, taking higher post-qualification courses, and personal-psychological counselling will enhance your professional practice.

Reflective learning, interaction with peer groups, comprehensive inclusion, workshops, and professional publications serve to educate, influence, support, and foster lifelong enlightenment in all career-grade Health Psychologists. 

Academicians will need to keep an active research profile and volunteer to take on different roles to progress their careers. You will also need to maintain an up-to-date and accurate record of your professional development activities to show their relevance to current or future practice and service users.

Health Psychologists who wish to focus on research can expect support and additional training from the academic institution or from Vitae, a non-profit global leader with over 50 years of experience in enhancing the skills of researchers.

In partnership with governments, funders of research, professional bodies, trusts & foundations, universities, and research institutes, Vitae offers training, resources, events, consultancy, and membership.

Helping Hands

Health Psychologists assist many fronts. Typical issues they treat include stress, weight, pain management, smoking cessation and reducing risky sexual or health-related behaviours.

They can help individuals recently diagnosed with a chronic medical condition come to terms with it and alter their lifestyle to manage the situation effectively.

A Fighting Chance

Currently, the most common causes of death are chronic diseases usually related to lifestyle choices or behaviours that can harm health. Health Psychologists use a biopsychosocial treatment model to help people control their behaviours, thereby promoting health and preventing illness or disease.

Across the Board

Regardless of their speciality, most therapists incorporate principles of health psychology into their work when they educate their patients on the consequences of physical health problems or how psychological factors can affect physical health.

The mind-body connection, which explores the link between an individual’s emotions and their behaviour (e.g. the emotions that trigger binge eating) and techniques such as biofeedback, are essential aspects of health psychology used by therapists across the board.

The Employment Setting Defines The Role

Health Psychologists who work in hospitals and clinics may design and develop programs that promote improved emotional stability of critically or terminally ill patients and their families. They focus on reducing stress and offer healthy options to deal with the stressors associated with significant illnesses.

In a research setting, they might study myriad health-related issues that run the gamut from the best way to promote healthy lifestyle choices to teens to studying the causes of diabetes, cancer or heart disease. They also strive to learn the best ways to inspire the public to seek medical or mental health treatment.

Potential Pros & Cons of Consulting vs Full-Time Employment

Consultant Health Psychologists have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.

On the other hand, a full-time Health Psychologist has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.

The Health Belief Model proposes that a person’s belief about the severity of an illness, their susceptibility to it and the presence of cues to action will decide whether they get vaccinated.

Health Psychologists use a judicious mix of holistic and occupational medicine to empower patients in maintaining physical and mental equilibrium in the face of chronic physical ailments as well as stress- and substance abuse-related health issues.

Seek and explore opportunities outside of psychology while in graduate school to learn other ways to apply your knowledge.