Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Clinical Psychologist
- Counseling Psychologist
- Psychologist
- Psychotherapist
Alternate Job Titles
- Applied Behavior Science Specialist (ABSS)
- Assessment Coordinator
- Behavior Analyst
- Behavior Specialist
- Behavior Therapist
- Behavioral Analyst
- Behavioral Health Specialist
- Behavioral Psychologist
- Behavioral Specialist
- Behavioral Therapist
- Case Manager
- Chemical Dependency Therapist
- Child and Adolescent Therapist
- Child Custody Evaluator
- Clinical Child Psychologist
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- Sociology and Anthropology
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Social Perceptiveness
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Service Orientation
- Complex Problem Solving
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Expression
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Fluency of Ideas
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Empathy
- Sincerity
- Integrity
- Attention to Detail
- Cooperation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Independence
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- eClinicalWorks EHR software
- Google Docs
- Google Sheets
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Teams
- Microsoft Word
- Zoom
Tools & Equipment
- Biofeedback equipment
- Desktop computers
- Laptop computers
- Personal computers
- Tablet computers
- Universal serial bus USB flash drives
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Sitting
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Freedom to Make Decisions
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $50,470 |
| Median | $95,830 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $170,150 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 72,190
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $60,060
Marriage and Family Therapists
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $63,780
Mental Health Counselors
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: Varies
Psychiatrists
Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Median Salary: >$239,200
Healthcare Social Workers
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $68,090
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.