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Of all the different types of psychology that mental health
care providers may practice, clinical psychologists make up
the greatest number in the field. Clinical psychologists meet
with patients who have any number of problems, from developmental
disabilities and injuries, to trouble coping with a death
or divorce. After making a diagnosis, a clinical psychologist
will then recommend a course of treatment which may include
medication, therapy, or both.
Practice
Just as there are many types of problems clinical psychologists
deal with, there are a number of different approaches to practicing
psychology and administering treatment. Because only a psychiatrist
can prescribe medication, a clinical psychologist may work
with a team of other health care providers to give a patient
complete care.
Depending on a clinical psychologist's field of study, interests,
and personal beliefs about the most effective means to treat
disorders, therapy can take any number of paths. Some counsel
on the individual level, while others work with families or
groups. Many focus on behavior modification, while others
focus on addiction and the recovery process. Still other clinical
psychologists work in hospital settings to help patients cope
with pain or neurological injuries. Some clinical psychologists
do research through universities and work with large numbers
of test subjects.
Education
While there are job opportunities for people who have associate
and bachelor's degrees in psychology, working with patients
in a clinical setting requires a master's degree or a doctorate.
Many clinical psychologists choose to specialize in their
studies so they may enter a specific field upon graduation.
Specializations
To address the growing elderly population, the relatively
new field of geropsychology has emerged to deal with the unique
mental health problems of the elderly.
Health psychology is another branch of clinical psychology,
and it deals mainly with how various factors come together
to determine overall health. They generally take a more community-oriented
approach to psychology and study things like the correlation
of homelessness and schizophrenia and may work toward creating
outreach programs to help at-risk populations.
Neuropsychologists are interested in the hard-wiring of the
brain and how it makes us behave. They may work with patients
to help them cope with neurological effects of things like
stroke, cancer, or head trauma, or they may conduct research
on the physical workings of different parts of the brain.
Salary and Job Prospects
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job outlook
for psychologists is higher than average through 2016, with
a projected 15% growth rate. The most successful job applicants
in this field will have doctorate degrees and doctoral specializations.
Many clinical psychologists end up opening their own practices
after working in schools, hospitals, or group practices. A
whopping 34%of all psychologists are self-employed. Don't
let this scare you, though. In 2008, the average annual salary
for a clinical psychologist was of $70,190.
Many schools offer programs in psychology, and it's even
possible to earn your master's or doctorate in psychology
through an online college. For a list of schools, check out
the Psychology
Schools directory to see what's available.
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