Careers in Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychologists are becoming more in demand in almost every field. Awareness on all fronts may be a reason for this as more people realize that the health of their mind is as important as their body’s health. Academic institutes feel a need to provide counseling services to their students to promote a healthy frame of mind as do employers for their employees. The taboo that previously prevented many people from visiting psychologists is now fading fast.
Clinical psychologists provide counseling and self-help treatments to their clients. They may work with individuals for one-to-one counseling, or groups and even whole families.  While they will also be dealing with people with serious mental conditions such as schizophrenia or clinical depression, they are not licensed to prescribe drugs for treatment and have to refer their client to a psychiatrist for that. They are, however, allowed to recommend some over-the-counter drugs in controlled quantities.

Available Programs:

As far as salaries are concerned, there is a large variation based on where a clinical psychologist chooses to work. Providing counseling services in a school, while being a very emotionally rewarding experience, may not pay very highly. On the other hand, psychologists who run their private practices may charge, and therefore, earn exuberantly. According to a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2010, the average annual salary of a clinical psychologist is $ 77,800. It varies by years of experience and choice of work setting. Psychologists newly entering the work force may earn $ 51,309 and those with 30 years or more experience in the field may be earning $ 92,582 per annum. Also, median annual salaries for those working in hospitals would be $ 64,611 while those working with the federal government may be earning around $ 81,840. However, these salaries represent income from one source only while in reality many psychologists prefer to work in many places at the same time.
Clinical psychologists may work to cater to a broad variety of individuals or narrow down their field of expertise. Some common fields of clinical psychology are:

• Child mental health
• Learning Disabilities
• Adult mental health
• Substance Abuse
• Psychological disorders
• Geropsychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Military Psychology
• Neuropsychology

The main employers for clinical psychologists are enlisted below:

• Hospitals
• Non-profit organizations
• College/ University
• Schools
• Private company
• Self (private practice)

A bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology does not make a person eligible to work as a counselor but it may lead to careers as research associates, assistants to other practicing psychologists or careers in Human Resources in many companies. Needless to say, it is highly recommended to continue studies to start practicing. A master’s degree is considered to be the minimum degree for practicing counseling. Further diplomas and postgraduate studies will allow clinical psychologists to narrow down their field of interest. Each state may have its own licensing criteria and exam which should be met to obtain a license before starting a career in clinical psychology.