Psychologists Articles

Medically Reviewed By: Aaron Horn, LMFT, MA

What is a Psychologist?

Practicing psychologists have doctorate-level education and clinical skills that help individuals cope with their lives. Psychologists can diagnose and treat mental illnesses and mental disorders. They’ve gone to school for many years and have completed extensive training. After hundreds of hours of supervised training, they obtain a license to practice psychology and conduct assessments and evaluations. Psychologists use a variety of different techniques to treat the individuals that they see. Depending on what their client's goals and concerns are as well as the mental state that a client is in, a psychologist can determine the best way to treat them.

Psychologists Education

Psychologists have graduate-level educations and doctoral levels degrees, such as a Ph.D., PsyD, or EdD. They have one of the highest levels of knowledge of any role in the mental health profession. They spend over seven years in academia receiving their degrees, and according to the American Psychological Association (APA), over 105,000 licensed psychologists are working in the United States treating people and providing mental health services. 

What Psychologists Do

You might be wondering what a psychologist does? Clinical psychologists support and help a variety of different people with mental health problems and mental illnesses. A person might speak to a psychologist if they’re having symptoms of Depression, PTSD, anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, an eating disorder, or any other mental health condition. You can see a clinical psychologist in a private practice setting, a low-cost clinic, or in a residential treatment center. People might have a short-term issue that they can pursue in therapy, such as grieving the loss of a loved one or going through a divorce. Psychologists’ help people cope with the stress in their lives and manage their mental health concerns. 

Assessments and evaluations

One of the things that psychologists are well-versed at is administering assessments and evaluations to determine a client’s individual needs. Psychologists have the training needed to deliver these assessments so that they can diagnose a particular mental health condition. When a psychologist conducts an assessment or evaluation, they are assessing the way a person thinks or behaves so that they can treat them effectively. They want to develop a solid treatment plan for each client that takes into account their strengths, weaknesses, cognitive function, and characteristics of their personality. Assessments can reveal a lot about an individual and contribute to their treatment plan. When you know what a client’s problems are, you can develop a comprehensive treatment approach to move towards wellness. Assessments and evaluations are tools that psychologists use so that they can assist their clients in the best way possible. 

How psychologists help people 

A clinical psychologist can treat people using various forms of therapy.

Clients can address their mental health concerns with their psychologist. Common types of psychotherapy include CBT or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, person-centered therapy, psychoanalysis, psychodynamic therapy, Gestalt therapy, EMDR therapy, or DBT (dialectical behavior therapy). There are other forms of treatment that are more obscure such as hypnotherapy, which can also be used in treating a variety of mental health issues. Some psychologists run therapy groups, such as a DBT group. In the case of some clients, therapy is combined with medication for the best outcome. For example, if someone is suffering from panic attacks as a result of PTSD or another mental health diagnosis, they might see a psychiatrist in addition to a psychologist for medication management.

How Psychologists Are Trained

It’s a long road to becoming a psychologist. If a person is interested in pursuing this line of work, they will have many years of higher education. In becoming a psychologist, you need to have a doctoral degree, which means 4-6 more years of studying after the completion of your undergraduate degree. Psychologists will have completed courses such as abnormal psychology and statistics as well as courses focused on human behavior and psychological assessment and theory. They’ll learn how to practice therapy on both an individual level and a group level. In graduate school, psychology students conduct research and teach. They participate in a year-long internship where they are closely supervised to obtain their license and are required to pass a national exam to get their license in the state where they will work. In North America, there are some states where psychologists can prescribe medication, but it depends on what advanced licensure courses they take. They would need a Master’s degree in psychopharmacology as well.

Where Psychologists Work

Clinical psychologists can work in a private office, a low-cost clinic, a community clinic, or they might work in a location with a group of healthcare providers. You can also find psychologists in k-12 schools, universities, and community colleges, as well as prisons and hospital environments. You can also find psychologists working at retirement centers, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes. It all depends on what their specialty is and the population that they’re treating.

Different Kinds Of Psychologists

There is not just one type of psychologist. There are many different kinds. Psychologists can help us when it comes to diagnosing and treating mental illnesses and mental disorders. They can assist people with other issues as well. There are many different kinds of psychologists. Here are some common types of psychologists that you might come across:

Clinical Psychologist

A clinical psychologist is someone who has extensive training in administering assessments, diagnosing mental health conditions, and treating mental illnesses or disorders. They have completed thousands of hours of training while under the supervision of a licensed supervisor. They are well-versed in understanding mental health conditions, and they’ve researched their expertise in their field. They can work in private practices, clinics, or residential treatment centers.

School Psychologists

One of the most common types of psychologists is a school psychologist. School psychologists help children deal with complex emotional, academic, and social issues in a school environment. During the day, a school psychologist might see a child for acting out in the classroom or help a student by advising them about college plans. School psychologists are an integral part of the academic world. They speak with teachers, parents, and other staff members who help children get the most out of their education. They consider the school and home environments when working with a student who is having any emotional concerns at school. A school psychologist can provide intervention when there is a mental health concern with a student. They can give outside referrals for the student to get services such as individual therapy. Some school psychologists conduct group therapy in an academic setting.

Biopsychologists

Biopsychologists are also called “biological psychologists” or “physiological psychologists.” A biopsychologist can perform research on the human brain, and they understand human behavior. They examine behavior based on biology and how people act, think, and feel. This kind of psychologist might try to investigate injuries and diseases as well.

Cognitive Psychologists

Psychology is the study of human behavior. Cognitive psychologists specialize in observing how people behave depending on what’s happening to them. They look into human behavior, how people think, decision-making processes, and the way that somebody solves a problem. They study problem-solving in human beings and try and understand how people recognize and can have internalizing behavior when using information to solve problems.

Community Psychologists

Community psychologists are psychologists that research community health issues. There could be an epidemic that’s causing people to act in a particular way. You can find them working in a university setting and community organizations. Community psychologists are policy advisors, and they are also skilled researchers. These individuals are valued members of the community and help people understand how to combat a variety of issues plaguing the population.

Developmental Psychologists

Developmental psychologists have an interesting job. They help us understand how people grow from infancy into adulthood. These mental health professionals research human development and development from a child into an adult. They investigate issues such as aging, cognitive changes, language skills, and declining faculties. A developmental psychologist is invested in understanding issues that arrive throughout our lives.

Educational Psychologists

Educational psychologists look at our social, cognitive, and emotional factors, and identify issues in these areas. This kind of psychologist examines potential problems with learning and academic progress. They can assist a child who is struggling with academic concerns by conducting research and providing interventions.

Forensic Psychologists

You may have heard of forensic psychologists in relation to crimes. They look at the connection between psychology and the law. A forensic psychologist might be a consultant on a criminal case, or they might assess if somebody is at risk of reoffending. Using their knowledge and training, they try to catch criminals in the act. They’re useful in court cases and have worked to understand the mind of an individual who commits a crime.

Social Psychologists

Social psychologist study groups of people and their behaviors. Social psychology aims in bridging the gap between sociology and psychology. These psychologists examine relationships between people. Social psychologists examine different factors that might influence groups of individuals such as prejudice, interpersonal relationships, aggression, and persuasion. A social psychologist uses the scientific method.

Military Psychologists

Military psychologists are those that practice psychology in a military environment such as an army or navy base. They are essential in these areas since soldiers can experience a variety of mental health issues during combat, and may also have pre-existing conditions. A military psychologist can treat soldiers who have a variety of mental health conditions. They dedicate their careers to researching various aspects of the military lifestyle so they can serve their community best. One of the things that military psychologists help with is supporting soldiers transition back into civilian life.

A Day In The Life Of A Psychologist

Psychologists have incredibly demanding jobs. However, they also have rewarding occupations. A psychologist studies the cognitive and emotional processes of people. They conduct their research through therapy and observing human behavior. After reviewing how a person behaves, they can make an accurate diagnosis and develop a treatment plan for that person. They take note of how a client reacts in their environment and aims to understand the relationships with the important people in their lives. A psychologist makes an effort to understand their client's emotions and asks follow-up questions.

During a day on the job, a psychologist may conduct therapy sessions, assessments, evaluations, and interview clients. They take note of the client’s cognitive functioning, their behavior, and identify patterns in a client’s behavioral patterns that need to change. They diagnose and treat a mental disorder, set up treatment plans, and make outside referrals to specialists for their clients. Some psychologists focus primarily on research. These individuals spend their days conducting research, writing papers and articles that will be published in journals. Psychologists (no matter what type) make it a point to continue their education long after school, and value learning.

A psychologist can evaluate a patient’s behavior using talk therapy, assessments or evaluations. They may conduct aptitude or personality assessments to determine what’s happening with the client. They don’t always get the answers they need, and if that’s the case, they will refer a client to an outside specialist, as mentioned above. Psychologists study typical and atypical mental states of human beings. Those are cognitive, emotional, and social processes. Psychologists can take a multitude of paths after their degree, such as opening a private practice, conducting research, and diagnosing and treating psychological conditions. Unlike psychiatrists, psychologists usually cannot prescribe medication. They can however, determine what a person’s mental illness is, and guide them toward a psychiatrist who can prescribe medication.

Psychologists are diagnosticians, but they are so much more. They help people examine their problems and cope with extremely challenging life circumstances. People who go into the field of clinical psychology genuinely care about others and are fascinated with human behavior. Some psychologists focus on researching behaviors, and others who work directly with people in their private practices. Wherever a psychologist is working, they have the same goal, which is helping understand human actions and guide people toward a healthy life.

Different Psychologists Degrees And What They Mean

Have you ever wondered what the letters after a psychologists name means? Psychologists have one of two degrees that determine what those letters are: they’re either a PsyD or a Ph.D. They can research in academia, or they can practice as a therapist. PsyD’s and PhDs are both prepared to diagnose and treat individuals with mental disorders; however, they are different. A Ph.D. program in clinical psychology focuses on research and data analysis, whereas a PsyD in clinical psychology focuses more on the application of their studies, like working in a clinical setting. A psychologist can pursue a myriad of options. They can teach and give professional presentations, conduct research, provide psychotherapy, and they can administer assessments or testing. There are different kinds of psychology, such as:

• Abnormal Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Child and Adolescent Psychology
• Child and Adolescent Psychology
• Health Psychology

Psychologists can specialize in different areas of psychology, including but not limited to the options above.

Psychologists vs. Psychiatrists

Clinical psychologists can diagnose mental illnesses, whereas psychiatrists can both diagnose mental illnesses and prescribe medication to treat a diagnosis. Psychiatrists have MD’s, as opposed to psychologists who have PsyD or Ph.D. Psychologists focus on the behavior of an individual, while a psychiatrist will combine the person’s actions with their biochemistry to come up with a treatment plan. You generally won’t receive medicine from a psychologist, but you will get practical guidance regarding your life problems. They’re there to help you navigate difficult emotions and learn coping mechanisms so you can soothe your pain without resorting to self-destructive behaviors. A psychologist works with their patients to understand their behavior so that they can develop an accurate treatment plan. They care about helping people learn what’s troubling them and develop a plan to solve their issues.

Psychologist vs. Counselor

The fundamental difference between a clinical psychologist and a counselor is the amount of education they receive. Both can diagnose and treat mental health disorders or mental illnesses, but a psychologist sometimes has more “tools” in their toolbox. It’s crucial to know what you’re looking for when seeking mental health treatment. If you’re interested in getting therapy, it’s essential to research the degree that a person has. 

Online Therapy

Online therapy is an excellent form of treatment where a person can get treatment from a licensed mental health professional who also could be a clinical psychologist. It’s worth investigating working with an online provider if you’re curious about bettering your mental health. You don’t have to suffer alone. There are mental health professionals who care about your wellbeing. If you’re struggling with a mental health issue or going through a life transition, consider talking to an online therapist. Search the extensive network of counselors and therapists at BetterHelp and find one that works for you and your personal needs.

If you're still wondering if therapy is right for you, please contact us at contact@betterhelp.com or check us out online at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, & Pinterest.

If you need a crisis hotline, please see below:

RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) - 1-800-656-4673

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255

National Domestic Violence Hotline - 1-800-799-7233

NAMI Helpline (National Alliance on Mental Illness) - 1-800-950-6264