Psychologist, Clinical

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Work Tasks

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS assess and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders of individuals from short-term crises such as adolescent rebellion, to more severe, chronic conditions such as schizophrenia. They treat patients to modify their behavior using psychotherapy, psychological testing, hypnosis, and other techniques. They observe patients in play or other situations and use various tests to diagnose disorders and plan treatment. They conduct counseling or therapeutic interviews to help individuals gain insight into their personal problems and define goals. They help people deal with personal crisis such as divorce or the death of a loved one.

Salary, Size & Growth

• $88,000 average per year ($42.25 per hour)
• A medium occupation (100,700 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (1.1% per year)

Entry Requirements

All states require CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS in independent practice or who offer any type of patient care to be licensed. Licensing usually requires a doctoral degree in psychology, completion of an approved internship, 1 to 2 years of experience, and passing a written exam. A doctoral degree usually takes 5 to 7 years of graduate study. The American Board of Professional Psychology awards diplomas in clinical, health, family, behavioral, school, counseling, forensic, and industrial psychology, as a mark of achievement to those meeting certain criteria.