What is the Career Outlook for Clinical Psychologist?

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When pursuing a career as a clinical psychologist, one must look to the future for many aspects of security and advancement. Clinical psychology is a specialized form of psychology that deals with all ages and offers a framed solution for scattered problems. Direct patient care for people with mental disorders, emotional problems, stress and anxiety issues, are only a few of the areas where these professionals find themselves in service to others.

Career Model

As we look at the career model of the clinical psychologist, we see a grounded individual who wants to earn decent wages for helping people who really need direction, instruction, and guidance in long term care plans that will relate new coping skills and bring the patient to clarification in stressed areas. Clinical psychologists may help patients realize their full potential and be able to encourage and reward progress. When assessing one’s own ability to stay focused in the field, one must realize that dealing with people with mental problems all day long can be draining and detrimental to the practitioner. It is recommended that much consideration be given to selection of a career as a clinical psychologist.

Duties of the Clinical Psychologist

The clinical psychologist will be responsible for keeping accurate and excellent records of the findings with each individual patient, and assessing for treatment. Sitting for a length of about an hour per client, the psychologist will help uncover the ailment that has the client bound in whatever symptom is occurring at the time. Mental illnesses like depression, emotional stress and strain, and behavioral disorders are often diagnosed in the office of the clinical psychologist. He or she may, however, recommend specific special testing and will later sit down with the patient to discuss the results of testing and talk about a solution (or several ideas) that will help with the problem. The course of action is extremely important to move the client into better mental health.

Prescriptions

Most clinical psychologists are not authorized to prescribe medications for emotional disorders. With exceptions of Louisiana and New Mexico, no other states allow for this course of action. Usually, the clinical psychologist will gather information, form a diagnosis, and if medication is thought to be a credible solution, the patient is then referred to a practicing psychiatrist. This professional may communicate with the patient’s medical doctor to check for possible medication conflicts and then the appropriate medications will be prescribed.

Education

Most clinical psychologists need a doctoral degree (PhD). Doctoral degree programs usually require prerequisite credentials like master’s degree in psychology or a bachelor’s degree, majoring in psychology. Licensure is a prerequisite to practice. Continuing education is utmost important to maintain credibility with peers and continuity in the professional treatment of patients. Supervised experience, internship and a residency program are also expected courses of study.

Job Market

Employment of psychologists is projected to grow at 12 percent from 2012 to 2022, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Job prospects should be best for those who have a doctoral degree in an applied specialty and those with a specialist or doctoral degree in school psychology.

A career as a clinical psychologist pays pretty well ranging from $65,000 to $75,000 per year, depending on your location. Most jobs available are full time, rather than part time. It may be beneficial also for these individuals to get into or form a group, and share expenses, information and even clients if someone has to be out for emergency.