The Nature of Psychology Work

The Nature of Psychology Work Student Resources Careers Print An Overview of Working as a Psychologist By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Updated on August 05, 2019 Alain SHRODER / ONOKY / Getty Images More in Student Resources Careers APA Style and Writing Study Guides and Tips Broadly speaking, psychologists study the mind and behavior, but because psychology is such a diverse field, the work that individual psychologists do can vary dramatically. They often specialize in a specific area, for example, and there are myriad of psychology specialties. Heres an overview of the ways in which a psychologist might funnel his or her expertise into a career. Two Types of Psychology Work Psychologists may work in a wide variety of settings, including schools, universities, hospitals, private clinics, government offices, corporations, and small businesses. Psychologists primarily work in one of two broad areas: research psychology or applied psychology. Research psychologists investigate the physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and biological bases of human thought and behavior. They often conduct experiments and may work at a college or university, or be employed by a business or government office. Applied psychologists use their knowledge of human behavior to solve real-world problems or help people overcome psychological distress. Applied psychologists may work directly with patients in a healthcare setting, such as in a hospital, mental health clinic, school, or private practice. Other applied psychologists may work in government, industry, business, or nonprofit settings. In addition to applying their knowledge of psychology directly, these professionals also may perform research, offer training, design products, create programs, or provide psychological advice. A Day in the Life of a Psychologist Psychologists employed in research settings often spend a great deal of time developing hypotheses and collecting data. The exact research methods they use depend largely on the topic theyre studying. For example, some psychologists might perform research using lab experiments, while others might use naturalistic observation. Other methods commonly used include administering questionnaires, clinical studies, surveys, and interviews. Psychologists employed in health care settings often spend a considerable amount of time working directly with clients. This might involve conducting assessments of new patients, diagnosing mental disorders, and performing psychotherapy. Psychologists also frequently consult with other health professionals, including doctors, nurses and other therapists. Specialty Areas in Psychology Here are some examples of the richly diverse specialties that make up the field of psychology. Clinical psychologists  make up the single largest specialty area in psychology. Clinicians are psychologists who assess, diagnose, and treat mental illnesses. They frequently work in mental health centers, private or group practices, or hospitals. Within the area of clinical psychology, there also are a number of sub-specialty areas. Some professionals are generalists and work with a wide range of clients while others specialize in treating certain types of  psychological disorders  or a certain age group. For example, some clinical psychologists might work in a hospital setting with individuals suffering from brain injuries or neurological conditions. Other clinical psychologists might work in mental health centers to counsel individuals or families coping with stress, mental illness, substance abuse, or personal problems. Clinical psychologists usually perform a broad range of tasks on a daily basis, such as interviewing patients, conducting assessments, giving diagnostic tests, performing  psychotherapy,  and administering programs. They might work in a hospital, school, university, prison, mental health clinic, or private practice. There also are a number of different sub-specialty areas within clinical psychology, including  health psychology, neuropsychology, and geropsychology. According to the  Occupational Outlook Handbook, health psychologists are focused on promoting healthy behaviors. Neuropsychologists focus on investigating the relationship between the brain and behavior. Geropsychologists specialize in treating the special concerns of elderly populations. Counseling psychologists  make up another large specialty area in psychology. These professionals perform many of the same tasks that clinical psychologists do, but counseling psychologists tend to work with clients suffering from less severe forms of mental illness. Counseling psychology focuses on providing therapeutic treatments to clients who experience a wide variety of symptoms. The Society of Counseling Psychology describes the field as a psychological specialty [that] facilitates personal and interpersonal functioning across the lifespan with a focus on emotional, social, vocational, educational, health-related, developmental, and organizational concerns. Experimental psychologists  (or research psychologists) conduct research on the behavior of humans and animals. They often work at universities, private research centers, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Some major areas of research include substance abuse, genetics, neuroscience, motivation, and cognitive processes. Forensic psychologists  work in the specialty area that deals with the intersection of psychology and the law. Forensic psychologists are often involved in custody disputes, insurance claims, and lawsuits. Some professionals work in family courts and offer psychotherapy services, perform child custody evaluations, investigate reports of child abuse and conduct visitation risk assessments. Those working in the civil courts often assess competency, provide second opinions, and provide psychotherapy to crime victims. Professionals working in the criminal courts conduct evaluations of mental competency, work with child witnesses, and do  assessments of juvenile and adult offenders. Social psychologists  are focused on understanding how interactions with other people impact individual and group behavior. These professionals often work in areas such as market research, organizational management, systems design, and other applied areas. Prominent areas of study include group behavior, leadership,  attitudes, and perception.