Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. Help individuals with distress or maladjustment understand their problems through their knowledge of case history, interviews with patients, and theory. Provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment. May design behavior modification programs and consult with medical personnel regarding the best treatment for patients.
What you’d do
- Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.
- Document patient information including session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatment plans.
- Identify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, or reference materials.
- Write reports on clients and maintain required paperwork.
- Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans.
- Interact with clients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, or vocational development and adjustment.
- Collect information about individuals or clients, using interviews, case histories, observational techniques, and other assessment methods.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling or treatments and the accuracy and completeness of diagnoses, modifying plans or diagnoses as necessary.
Skills that matter
- Reading Comprehension
- Social Perceptiveness
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Speaking
How to get there
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Also called
- Clinical Psychologist
- Counseling Psychologist
- Psychologist
- Psychotherapist
- Case Manager
- Counselor
Related careers
See all careersMental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs.
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Marriage and Family Therapists
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family…
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Mental Health Counselors
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Counsel and advise individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health, with an emphasis on prevention.
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Psychiatrists
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Diagnose, treat, and help prevent mental disorders.
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Healthcare Social Workers
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses.
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
School Psychologists
Diagnose and implement individual or schoolwide interventions or strategies to address educational, behavioral, or developmental issues…
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher