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Career Details : Clinical Psychologists

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Description

Diagnose or evaluate mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests, and formulate and administer programs of treatment.

Experience

A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Education

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Training

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Tasks

  • Observes individual at play, in group interactions, or other situations to detect indications of mental deficiency, abnormal behavior, or maladjustment.
  • Analyzes information to assess client problems, determine advisability of counseling, and refer client to other specialists, institutions, or support services.
  • Develops treatment plan, including type, frequency, intensity, and duration of therapy, in collaboration with psychiatrist and other specialists.
  • Develops, directs, and participates in staff training programs.
  • Provides psychological services and advice to private firms and community agencies on individual cases or mental-health programs.
  • Directs, coordinates, and evaluates activities of psychological staff and student interns engaged in patient evaluation and treatment in psychiatric facility.
  • Plans, supervises, and conducts psychological research in fields such as personality development and diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders.
  • Provides occupational, educational, and other information to enable individual to formulate realistic educational and vocational plans.
  • Assists clients to gain insight, define goals, and plan action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment.
  • Consults reference material, such as textbooks, manuals, and journals, to identify symptoms, make diagnoses, and develop approach to treatment.
  • Plans and develops accredited psychological service programs in psychiatric center or hospital, in collaboration with psychiatrists and other professional staff.
  • Utilizes treatment methods, such as psychotherapy, hypnosis, behavior modification, stress-reduction therapy, psychodrama, and play therapy.
  • Selects, administers, scores, and interprets psychological tests to obtain information on individual's intelligence, achievement, interest, and personality.
  • Interviews individuals, couples, or families and reviews records to obtain information on medical, psychological, emotional, relationship, or other problems.
  • Responds to client reactions, evaluates effectiveness of counseling or treatment, and modifies plan as needed.
  • Conducts individual and group counseling sessions regarding psychological or emotional problems, such as stress, substance abuse, and family situations.

    Related Careers

    Important Abilities

    General Work Activities

    Important Skills

    Frequent Work Context

    • Job-Required Social Interaction
    • Consequence of Error
    • Objective or Subjective Information
    • Provide a Service to Others
    • Importance of Being Sure All Is Done

    Related Majors

    Major Add to MyFSA
    Applied Behavioral Sciencesadd Applied Behavioral Sciences to MyFSA
    Applied Psychologyadd Applied Psychology to MyFSA
    Applied/Clinical Psychologyadd Applied/Clinical Psychology to MyFSA
    Behavioral Scienceadd Behavioral Science to MyFSA
    Behavioral Sciencesadd Behavioral Sciences to MyFSA
    Behavioral/Emotional Disturbancesadd Behavioral/Emotional Disturbances to MyFSA
    Behavioral/Social Sciencesadd Behavioral/Social Sciences to MyFSA
    Biology/Psychologyadd Biology/Psychology to MyFSA
    Business Administration/Behavioral Scienceadd Business Administration/Behavioral Science to MyFSA
    Career Development/Community Counselingadd Career Development/Community Counseling to MyFSA
    Clinical Developmental Psychologyadd Clinical Developmental Psychology to MyFSA
    Clinical Psychologyadd Clinical Psychology to MyFSA
    Clinical/Community Psychologyadd Clinical/Community Psychology to MyFSA
    Clinical/School Psychologyadd Clinical/School Psychology to MyFSA
    Community Psychologyadd Community Psychology to MyFSA
    Computer Science/Psychologyadd Computer Science/Psychology to MyFSA
    Conflict Transformationadd Conflict Transformation to MyFSA
    Counseling Adolescents/Adultsadd Counseling Adolescents/Adults to MyFSA
    Counseling Children/Adolescentsadd Counseling Children/Adolescents to MyFSA
    Counseling Psychologyadd Counseling Psychology to MyFSA
    Counseling Psychology/Human Servicesadd Counseling Psychology/Human Services to MyFSA
    Counseling/Clinical Psychologyadd Counseling/Clinical Psychology to MyFSA
    Counseling/Educational Psychologyadd Counseling/Educational Psychology to MyFSA
    Counseling/Psychological Servicesadd Counseling/Psychological Services to MyFSA
    Dispute Resolutionadd Dispute Resolution to MyFSA
    Education/Psychologyadd Education/Psychology to MyFSA
    General/Experimental Psychologyadd General/Experimental Psychology to MyFSA
    Health Psychologyadd Health Psychology to MyFSA
    Human Development Counselingadd Human Development Counseling to MyFSA
    Human Learning/Developmentadd Human Learning/Development to MyFSA
    Marital/Family Therapyadd Marital/Family Therapy to MyFSA
    Marriage/Family/Child Counselingadd Marriage/Family/Child Counseling to MyFSA
    Philosophy/Psychologyadd Philosophy/Psychology to MyFSA
    Pre-school Educationadd Pre-school Education to MyFSA
    Psychological Counselingadd Psychological Counseling to MyFSA
    Psychologyadd Psychology to MyFSA
    Psychology/Biologyadd Psychology/Biology to MyFSA
    Psychology/Clinical Practiceadd Psychology/Clinical Practice to MyFSA
    Psychology/Educationadd Psychology/Education to MyFSA
    Psychology/Human Servicesadd Psychology/Human Services to MyFSA
    Psychology/Personnel/Human Resources Managementadd Psychology/Personnel/Human Resources Management to MyFSA
    Psychology/Physical Therapyadd Psychology/Physical Therapy to MyFSA
    Psychology/Religionadd Psychology/Religion to MyFSA
    Psychology/Researchadd Psychology/Research to MyFSA
    Psychology/Sociologyadd Psychology/Sociology to MyFSA
    Psychology/Sociology/Anthropologyadd Psychology/Sociology/Anthropology to MyFSA
    Psychology/Special Educationadd Psychology/Special Education to MyFSA
    Sociology/Psychologyadd Sociology/Psychology to MyFSA
    Spanish/Psychologyadd Spanish/Psychology to MyFSA
    Theology/Psychologyadd Theology/Psychology to MyFSA
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