Clinical Psychology
A Clinical psychologist or the psychological specialty provides continuing and comprehensive mental and behavioral health care for individuals and families; consultation to agencies and communities; training, education and supervision; and research-based practice (APA, 2017). In order to become a Clinical psychologist, you will need a higher level of education to include a Master’s degree, certification, license, and Doctorates depending on the position one is trying to attain. Licensure differs according to the various states and their requirements according the position one is attempting to attain.
However, Clinical psychologist are required to have a Ph.D. in psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree,
…show more content…
I am honestly not too sure about furthering my education after completion of my Masters, and entering a Doctorates program at this particular moment in time is quite intimidating. There was nothing I read about this career that was particularly engaging for me to state that this is definitely the career path I am going to take. The job outlook, and salary depending on the industry you are employed in was intriguing and made this career choice something to consider. However, I am still quite unsure and this would definitely not be my number one career preference.
Counseling Psychology
Counseling psychology is a general practice and health service provider specialty in professional psychology that focuses on how people function both personally and in their relationships at all ages; while addressing the emotional, social, work, school and physical health concerns people may have at different stages in their lives while focusing on typical life stresses and more severe issues that people may struggle with as individuals, as a part of families, groups and organizations (APA, 2017). Individuals who are active as counseling psychologists assist improve individual’s overall well-being by evaluating their issues and providing treatment.
Additionally, those in this field are expected to have at least a master’s degree in psychology from an accredited program along with a license to practice, however, to be deemed the name
Abnormal psychology fascinates me, but little to no colleges offer a degree in that area. However, the study of mind and mental function also intrigues me, and many colleges offer degrees in cognitive science, a perspective of psychology dealing with mental processing and how humans perceive situations. Students learn about how the brain works and what impacts how human beings interpret situations. This degree program varies between colleges; some consider it a Bachelor of Science degree and some consider it a Bachelor of the Arts degree. In either case, calles call it Cognitive Science Bachelor Arts or Cognitive Science Bachelor of Science. Many students choose a cognitive science degree in preparation for a higher level degree. To become a psychologist, students would need to go on and get a Masters or a PHd; to become a psychiatrist, students would need to attend medical school and receive their MD. However, cognitive science degrees could also translate into working as a counselor or even turn into forensic studies, leading to a job working with police organizations, profiling
According to the American Psychological Association (APA) website “Psychologists who provide clinical or counseling services assess and treat mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. They integrate the science of psychology and the treatment of complex human problems with the intention of promoting change.” ("Pursuing A Career In Clinical Or Counseling Psychology", 2014).) In the simplest terms, “the study of individuals, by observation or experimentation, with the intention of promoting change.” (Compas, Bruce, & Gotlib, 2002) Clinical psychologist careers vary in industries such as research, integrated health care, teaching, public policy and professional practice. Some clinical psychologists work exclusively on specific mental, emotional, and behavioral issues. Relationship conflict and conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction are a few examples of areas of specialization for a clinical psychologist. According to the APA website (2014), in order to become a clinical psychologist the journey begins with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Next the student must obtain a graduate degree. Each graduate program determines its own entrance requirements. Some doctoral programs require their applicants to have a master’s degree in psychology. Other people enter doctoral programs with only a bachelor’s degree. Most doctoral degrees take five to seven years to complete. You must also
Another ethical issue is competence. A clinical psychologist must provide services for the area that he or she is specialized in. The psychologist must also maintain competence in whichever area they specialize. This means that the psychologist must stay up to date in their field and have appropriate training, skills, and continuing education (Plante, 2011).
NASP offers the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) exam and credential. The basic education requirement is at least 60 graduate semester hours in a school psychology program. Next, students must complete a supervised practicum, which is normally conducted in a lab or the field. Then, students must complete a rigorous 1,200-hour internship. Half of these hours must be completed in a school setting. Bear in mind that the internship must be proven through official.
Clinical psychologist are not like ordinary people, they are benevolent and placid people. Psychologist observe others behavior, brain functions, talk with clients, and diagnose disorders. The reason I chose this career is because I would love to help people overcome difficulties in their life and to be there for the people that need someone to listen. Psychologist are not only there to listen but they also give advice to others. They give them exercises and other ways to help fix a problem they could be having. It is important to understand education or training requirements, skills or talents needed, salary and benefits offered, and the duties for a particular career when making this decision
“Clinical psychology- clinical psychology is the area of psychology that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and other problematic patterns of behavior,” (Spielman, 2014, p.24).
The counseling profession is a complex and constantly changing field. This field contains several unique subcategories that can be intriguing and difficult to understand. However, I believe that if an individual has a strong professional identity, they can achieve a lot in their chosen field.
There are many professional pathways within psychology that an individual may apply themselves to for their career. These include: clinical, forensic, health, and educational psychology. The professional career pathway within applied psychology which will be discussed in this essay is the field of clinical psychology. Clinical psychology aims to reduce the amount of psychological distress an individual experiences and enhance the promotion of psychological well-being. Clinical psychologists attend to both mental and physical health problems including addiction, anxiety, depression, learning difficulties and relationship issues in order to help individuals resolve their problems. Clinical psychologists predominantly work within hospitals, mental health groups and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Clinical | Careers, 2016).
They can have a master’s or a doctorate in clinical, educational, counseling, or research psychology (NAMI, 2013).
Extensive schooling, mental and emotional preparation, and personal dedication are the aspects required to becoming successful in this career. Psychology is a hard study to master, and depending on what field of psychology a person may want to go into can make the task even more
Coursework along this path demands both education and psychology due to the nature of the work. There are mental health components and educational aspects. The masters degree in psychology requires at least two years of full-time graduate study and usually includes practical experience in an applied setting and a thesis based on personal research that is original. Getting accepted into graduate programs for psychology can be full of competition. School psychologists must meet credential and licensing requirements for individual states. These vary state by state. The licensing varies by type of position and is based on professional competence through training and experience. Some states require continuing education for renewal of licenses. According to Landrum and Davis (2009) “right now twenty-nine states recognize the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) designation on a national level” (p.73). Credentials transfer from state to state in this case and new credential exams do not have to be taken when moving from one of these states to another. Requirements for the NCSP include completion of sixty graduate semester hours in school psychology, a twelve hundred hour internship (six hundred hours in school setting), and a passing score on the National School Psychology exam.
Clinical psychology is just one of the many subfields that psychology has to offer. Those who choose to enter clinical psychology aim to help people with addiction, emotional stress, mental illness, or any other type of mental problems. Knowing what a clinical psychologist does in their practice is important in understanding their profession. A clinical psychologist's education is the most prominent part of their career; without it, they cannot be considered a psychologist. The process and requirements of employment for psychologists are scattered, varying from state to state, as well as their salary and where they may be employed. The future and growth of clinical psychology can only be
With being a psychologist, there are many different careers to choose from within this profession (Explore Health Careers). The first type of psychologists to choose from is a clinical psychologist. Clinical psychologists help people with counseling and psychotherapy. They work with people who have all around life problems, such as new adjustments in life. Clinical psychologists also help people who have emotional disorders or
Psychology is diverse, and there are many diverse specialty areas available to individuals seeking a career in the field of psychology. Most Psychologists choose to specialize in subfields that focus on specific subjects. Obtaining a profession in any of the specialty areas would require graduate study in that area of interest. Some professionals have a broad general knowledge, are skilled in several areas, and work with a range of clients. Some are specialist in treating a specific type of psychological disorder, or work with a specific age group. For those interested in specializing in a psychology career, developmental Psychology is one of the many fields available.
A defining moment in clinical psychology training occurred during the Vail Conference in 1973 with the approval of a different training model. In addition to the Boulder model, the Vail model, referred to as the scholar-practitioner model, was approved. This version proposed that clinical training would stress providing professional psychological services while focusing less on training in research. Additionally, the symposium confirmed the concept that graduate education need not take place only in the leading