Clinical Psychologist Career

There are a number of interesting and challenging careers in the field of medicine. One such fascinating job is that of a clinical psychologist. Many of the students these days are opting for a clinical psychologist career, due to a high demand for mental health care professionals. There are tremendous opportunities for a clinical psychologist, owing to the fact that people these days are highly stressed out due to competitions, personal and professional problems, peer pressure, unhealthy lifestyles, etc. A career in clinical psychology is one of the well-respected and challenging medical jobs. A clinic psychologist studies the mental process which affects the behavior of a human being. Let us take a look at the duties and responsibilities of a clinical psychologist, along with the information regarding how to become a clinical psychologist.

Duties of a Clinical Psychologist

The clinical psychologist job description includes work in hospitals, private clinic, government or military sectors and also in institutions that deal with mental health care. Some psychologists are self-employed and also setup a private practice after obtaining a license from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB). Before obtaining the license, the candidate should pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), after which he can set up a full-fledged practice.

• The duties of a clinical psychologist may be needed in government institutions, hospitals and also in some academic settings as a teacher or for research. In medical settings, the psychologist deals with emotional disturbances, various mental disorders, substance abuse and learning disabilities, etc. Some psychologists may deal with only a specific area like depression or schizophrenia.
• The psychologist should possess good communication and interpersonal skills as he may be required to deal with patients from different age groups. They may help the patient deal with the problem in a different approach by organizing psychotherapy sessions and implement treatment plans according to the complaint of the patient.
• After identifying the specific problem area of the patient, the psychologist may evaluate the diagnosis and provide accurate therapeutic treatment, which may be counseling. After discussing the treatment with the patient, the psychologist may implement them to provide relief from the problem. This may take a few sessions for the completion of the treatment and helping the patient come back to the normal state.
• A clinical psychologist not only deals with mental disorders, but also provides guidance in the field of educational and vocational counseling, so that the individual is able to choose an apt field, according to his preference.
• Though it is a completely satisfying vocation, a clinical psychologist career also has a few cons, in the long working hours and in some cases, the patients may be rigid and unwilling. However, overlooking these few negative aspects, this career option is one of the best and needs dedication and strong will power for a satisfying experience.

Clinical Psychologist Requirements

If you are choosing a career in psychology, then you must be aware of the needs of this specific field. Just like the rest of the jobs in the medical field, becoming a clinical psychologist needs a professional degree. Given here are some of the requirements needed for choosing a career in clinical psychology.

• As we all know, one of the basic clinical psychologist requirements is a bachelor's degree in psychology. Though most of the programs accept students from other streams, psychology students are usually preferred.
• After the completion of a four-year bachelor's degree, the candidate may opt for a master's degree program, which is either M.Sc or M.Phil. The duration of this program is 2 years, which includes a full-time study course with an internship in hospitals, health care centers, clinics, government institutions, etc.
• A doctorate in psychology is a must if you are planning to apply for a license as a practitioner. A Ph.D. and in some places a Psy.D. (Doctor in Psychology) degree is also encouraged if you want to work as a clinical psychologist in research or teaching. To earn a doctorate, you must have an extensive study for about 6 to 7 years, with internship for one year. After this you can become a licensed clinical psychologist.
• Depending on the setting and practice, the clinical psychologist salary range is about USD 50,000 to USD 85,000 calculated on an annual basis. This annual salary is based on the work setting of the psychologist and may differ from place to place.

Since it is one of the well paid jobs in the medical field, the clinical psychologist salary is quite attractive. Opt for a clinical psychologist career if you are keen in studying the processing of the mind and helping others solve their problems. All the best!