Career Research Paper: Clinical Psychology 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 determined by the success of this career today. My purpose for this paper is to research the education, the process and requirements of employment, plus the salary and places for employment for psychologists. Clinical psychologists can treat a wide range of patients, from mental disorders to emotional problems. To get an easier and simpler idea of what a clinical psychologist does, Ferguson's Career Guidance Center's definition gives a good picture of a clinical psychologist’s job description, “Clinical psychologists concern themselves with people's mental and emotional disorders. They assess and treat problems ranging from normal psychological crises, such as adolescent rebellion or middle-age loss of self-esteem, to extreme conditions, such as severe depression and schizophrenia.”According to Careers in Psychology, a clinical psychologist has three main jobs, to assess the patient, diagnose disorders, and recommend a possible treatment. When a clinical psychologist assesses a patient it usually involv... ... middle of paper ... ...ion listed was cited from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Clinical psychologists have the option of later teaching at colleges and universities. A career in clinical psychology is one that will be promising for anyone seeking to pursue this career. A clinical psychologists’ educational training is a dead-ringer for success, if completed with a doctorate. A doctorate for a clinical psychologist is the best way to get ahead and have the upper hand in this field. A clinical psychologist’s salary is one that will be growing steadily along with the number of growing demands for psychologists. Anyone who chooses to pursue clinical psychology, that fits the profile for the job, will be set and secure. Clinical psychology is a bright career that I hope to someday enter into, following the pathway that my research has yielded; with that, I may begin my journey.
Kuther, T. L., & Morgan, R. D. (2013). Careers in psychology: opportunities in a changing world. (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning/Wadsworth. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning/Wadsworth.
"Career Info for School Leavers." Careers Info for School Leavers. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
A health psychologist has a substantial functions including primary care programs, inpatient medical units, and specialized health care programs such as pain management, rehabilitation, women 's health, oncology, smoking cessation, headache management, and various other aspects of health (APA Division 38, 2015). This is an important subfield of psychology with a vast majority of health psychologist working with federal agencies, colleges and universities. Health psychologists focuses on cognition, feelings, and actions that effect social issues, that are important to human health as a whole (APA Division 38, 2015). Career prospects in this area of psychology have expanded with positions available in many employment areas
Many associate psychology with sitting in a chair in a small office as someone taking notes, asking how you feel about a certain event or feeling, analyzing your deepest secrets and memories. However, it branches off into many other fields. A clinical psychologist’s main job is “to reduce the distress and improve the psychological wellbeing of clients” (Bond). This can include anything from depression, eating disorders, and addiction, to mental illness, family and personal relationships, and learning disabilities (Bond). A clinical psychologist usually will choose to have an emphasis in a certain field such as children and learning disabilities and work in schools or social work facilities, or mental illness and work in a hospital (Bond). According to Vicki Cohen, people “typically are referred or come to therapy because they have a symptom”. These are defined by emotional, social, and or physiological.
This field is founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful lives, to find what is best within themselves and to enhance their life experiences. As a result this following paper gives examples of educational requirements, salary, travel, and retirement funds and plans. Psychologist are necessary because people deserve to be heard, therefore, one should consider looking at the education salary, travel opportunities and etc. to join this career.
My interest in pursuing a doctorate degree in counseling psychology has been influenced by a combination of life experiences and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Though the path which has led me to this destination is complex, the journey has provided me with the clarity and insight necessary to understand human behavior from a holistic perspective. As I approach the completion of my masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, I am faced with the unsettling realization that I have more questions than I do answers. This has fueled my innate desire and motivation to continue challenging myself by attaining a doctorate degree from the University of North Texas.
Kuther, T. L., & Morgan, R. D. (2013). Careers in Psychology: Opportunities in a Changing World (4th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection
Wegenek, Amira & Buskist, William 2010 The Insiders Guide To The Psychology Major: Everything You Need To Know About The Degree And The Profession APA
One of my visions as a psychology practitioner scholar is becoming a clinical counselor. My purpose in psychology is to help people understand their life in a clear distinct way. I specifically want to target children and, help them grow and be more than they have the potential to be. I want to focus on the child development of children based on their environment. I want to be able understand children react the way they do in certain situations. Children have a way of not being able to express themselves fully so being able to help them understand their emotions.
Lawrence gave a great example of what you can do with your psychology degree, whatever you want to do within that field, never give up and push toward your goals as a counseling psychology, social psychology, or even a Cognitive Neuropsychology. While doing the interview with Lawrence, he really does appreciate his job and the studies he had done changed him to have a better view of becoming a counseling psychology. I learned that here in Hawaii, it takes awhile to be licensed in psychology since you need the amount of hours; however, as what Lawrence said, sometimes you are not able to the hours if they are not many clients coming into therapy, and the therapist only cover a few hours a day or even once a
The brain can bring untold mysterious in the world. Imagine someone that could somehow solve the puzzle of the brain. A clinical psychologist is someone who dedicates his or her career to bringing these pieces together. With knowledge of each puzzle piece, a clinical psychologist works among people with emotional health to physical health ‒ using various methods to construe the puzzle. Becoming a clinical psychologist can be a rewarding career, both for the psychologist and the patient, despite the highly competitive and intense educational program.
The career of Psychiatry is an interesting career because of how extensive the aspects of the mind are. This research will describe the career of Psychiatry, what is required to become a successful Psychiatrist, and the impact this career has on society.
The course Psychology 361: Introduction to Clinical Psychology served as an introduction to the profession and personal life of clinical psychologists. We discussed the ethical and legal issues, the importance of the client-therapist relationship, the rights and responsibilities of the client and the therapist and the different types of therapy within this field of practice. However, after evaluating these concepts in depth, I have come to find some of the material surprising, interesting and difficult to understand. After recognizing my interests and conflicts within clinical psychology, I was able to evaluate myself and determine this profession would not suit me as an individual.
Research is a necessary skill in the Psychology field because it is the key to observing, diagnosing, and treating clients with psychological problems. “Among the health care professions clinical psychology is one of few to provide extensive research training.” (Howes, 1996) Clinical Psychologist uses the scientific method as the procedure for research. Psychology is the only mental health discipline that has its roots in academic research rather than in practice. “Research is the foundation of all Clinical Psychology activities.” (Plante, 2005)
The complexities of the human mind, how it works, why it works, and why it deviates sometimes, were the factors that drew me towards the field of psychology. I was born in India and as I was growing up I realized that psychological problems were not discussed in public. The mystery and intrigue surrounding the disorders further instilled in me the need to understand them in detail. As I continue my academic journey I wish to delve into the depths of Clinical Psychology in order to understand psychopathology better and use my knowledge and skills to create customized intervention plans and to facilitate a harmonious living environment.