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Advances In Biomedical Science And Technology Science Essay Because of the advances in biomedical science and innovation, mammalian cloni...

Sunday, August 9, 2020

Careers in Clinical Psychology

Careers in Clinical Psychology Student Resources Careers Print Careers in Clinical Psychology By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Updated on October 12, 2019 Carmen MartA-nez BanAs / Getty Images More in Student Resources Careers APA Style and Writing Study Guides and Tips Clinical psychology is concerned with the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders. While professionals in this field often work in medical settings, clinical psychologists are not medical doctors and do not prescribe medications in most states. Clinical psychology also represents the single largest subfield of psychologists. While all clinical psychologists are interested in mental health, there are actually a wide variety of sub-specialties within this field. Some of these specialty areas include child mental health, adult mental health, learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, substance abuse, geriatrics, and health psychology. What Clinical Psychologists Do Clinical psychologists often work in hospitals, private practice, or academic settings. Clinicians are trained in a range of techniques and theoretical approaches. Some specialize in treating certain psychological disorders while others work with clients suffering from a wide variety of problems. Clinical psychologists also treat psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and depression. In addition to working with clients, clinical psychologists have to keep detailed records of client assessment, diagnosis, therapeutic goals, and treatment notes. These records help clinicians and clients track progress and are often needed for billing and insurance purposes. Salary As of May 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the mean annual salary for clinical psychologists was $85,340. Learn more about the typical salaries for clinical psychologists. The U. S. Department of LaborĂ¢€™s Occupational Outlook Handbook reports that employment in psychology is expected to grow faster than the average. The rising need for qualified mental health care professionals will contribute to a demand for clinical psychologists. A 2012 CNN Money report suggested that the median annual salary for experienced clinical psychologists was $83,500 and that the top pay for professionals in this field was $169,000. The report ranked clinical psychology as #55 on their list of Best Jobs in America, and indicated that there were currently nearly 154,300 jobs in clinical psychology with a projected growth of 21.9 percent through the year 2022. Quality of life ratings offered by clinicians gave the career top marks in terms of personal satisfaction and benefit to society. However, it ranked more stressful than some other professions. Degree Options While some individuals find work with a masterĂ¢€™s degree, most positions require a doctoral degree in clinical psychology. Some graduate programs accept applicants with undergraduate degrees in other disciplines, but most encourage students to get a bachelorĂ¢€™s degree in psychology before pursuing graduate study in clinical psychology. There are two major training models for doctoral degrees. The traditional Ph.D. in Psychology (or Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology) emphasizes the role of the research and science. The Psy.D. degree (Doctor of Psychology) is primarily focused on clinical and practitioner work. Psy.D. programs are attractive to many students because they typically take a year less time to complete than a Ph.D. On the other hand, Ph.D. programs tend to provide better funding for graduate students. Is a Career in Clinical Psychology Right for You? Clinical psychologists need to have excellent communication skills. It is also important to be creative when developing treatment plans and approaches. Benefits Helping people overcome problems can be extremely rewarding. Differing client needs and challenges allow clinicians to search for creative solutions. Opportunities for self-employment. Downsides Insurance companies require that clinicians keep extensive client records, so there is a considerable amount of paperwork. There is a risk of burnout due to the demanding nature of therapy. Clinical psychologists often work long hours with clients who can be demanding, argumentative, or unstable. Before you decide on a career in clinical psychology, contact local human services providers about volunteer opportunities that may be available. Clinical psychology can be both a demanding and deeply rewarding field and volunteer experiences can help you decide if a career in clinical psychology is right for you.

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