Psychologists

What Do Psychologists Do?

Psychologists study behavior, mental processes and emotions by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another and the environment. Psychologists concentrate on people’s behavior and, specifically, in the beliefs and feelings that influence a person’s actions.

Psychologists involved with research tend to look for broad patterns to help them understand and predict behavior using scientific methods, principles, or procedures that test their ideas. The results of research can be used to assess, diagnose, and treat mental illnesses in patients of all ages, using a variety of treatment methods. For example, therapy may be directed at individuals, couples, families or other groups. To help treat patients, psychologists may also collaborate with physicians and/or psychiatrists, who are able to prescribe medications. In some therapy and consulting contexts, psychologists may work with couples and families to help them improve their relationships, or with business people to help them improve communication skills and increase productivity. They may also work with athletes and performers to help them reduce stress and improve performance. Psychologists also work as teachers, trainers and mentors of college students and future psychologists.

Psychologists may specialize in a variety of areas:

Clinical psychologists assess, treat, and prevent mental illnesses. Some specialize in treating chronic or severe psychological disorders, such as schizophrenia and depression, while others help people deal with short-term personal issues, such as a divorce or the death of a loved one. Clinical psychologists often provide psychotherapy to create an opportunity for patients to talk and think about things that are confusing or worrying and offer patients different ways of interpreting and understanding problems and situations.

Neuropsychologists study the relationship between the brain and behavior, and typically work with patients who have sustained a brain injury or patients in stroke and head injury programs. Others may work as researchers and teachers.

Industrial-organizational psychologists study human behavior in the workplace and within organizations in the interest of improving the quality of work life and of the company itself. These psychologists are also involved in research about management and marketing.

Developmental psychologists study the physiological, cognitive, and social development that takes place throughout a person’s life. Some developmental psychologists specialize in behavior during infancy, childhood, and adolescence, or in changes that occur during maturity or old age.

Forensic psychologists apply psychological principles in the legal and criminal justice systems to help judges, attorneys, and other legal professionals understand the psychological findings of a particular case. Forensic psychologists are often designated as an expert witness and typically specialize in either family court, civil court, or criminal court. They may have earned a law degree in their training.

Social psychologists study how people relate to and influence the beliefs and behaviors of others. They explore how people’s mindsets and behavior are shaped by social interactions, and may investigate ways to improve negative interactions between individuals and groups. They less often work in consulting and therapy contexts.

Experimental psychologists study the behavior of human beings and animals, such as rats, monkeys, and pigeons, often at university and private research centers and in business, nonprofit, and governmental organizations. Experimental psychologists work to better understand thought functions such as motivation, attention, learning and memory, sensory and perceptual processes, effects of substance abuse, and genetic and neurological factors affecting behavior. Many of the topics they study are focused on mental processes, in an area of psychology known as cognitive psychology.

School and educational psychologists apply psychological principles and techniques to education-related issues. They may examine students’ learning and behavioral problems, evaluate students’ performance, and counsel students and families. They also may consult with other school-based professionals to suggest improvements to teaching, learning, and administrative strategies.

For more information about psychologists, go to:http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm. Emphasis here is placed on psychologists practicing in health care contexts, namely clinical, school, and counseling psychologists.

Where Do Psychologists Work?

Psychologists’ work environments vary greatly by specialty and place of employment. Many clinical and counseling psychologists have a private practices, where they have their own office and set their own hours. Others work in hospitals, nursing homes or other health care settings, which could include evening and weekend shifts. Some school psychologists have private practices too, although many work in educational settings such as schools and include regular daytime hours.

Most psychologists in government and industry have structured schedules. Psychologists employed as faculty by colleges and universities typically divide their time between teaching and research and may also have administrative responsibilities. Success in these contexts often requires many work hours. Some also have part-time consulting practices. Others may exclusively teach college courses.

How Much Do Psychologists Earn?

In 2022, the average annual income reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for clinical and counseling psychologists in the United States was $102,470. The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) reports that, in 2023, clinical and counseling in New York earned a median annual salary of $108,183 (clinical and counseling psychologists in the 25th percentile made approximately $68,069 while those in the 75th percentile made approximately $166,156).

Supply and Demand

The New York State Department of Labor projects that the number of jobs for clinical, counseling, and school psychologists in the state will increase by 14% between 2020 and 2030.

Employment for psychologists is projected to grow because of increased demand for their services in schools, hospitals, social service agencies, VA hospitals, mental health centers, substance abuse treatment clinics, consulting firms, and private companies.

Also spurring demand for psychologists will be the rising health care costs associated with unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking, alcoholism, and obesity, which have made prevention and treatment more critical. The growing number of elderly in the U.S. will also increase the demand for psychologists who can help people deal with the mental and physical changes that occur as individuals grow older. There also will be increased need for psychologists to work with veterans.

Job opportunities will be the best for psychologists with a doctoral degree in an applied specialty, such as neuropsychology, school psychology, or clinical psychology. Those psychologists with master’s degrees will also have good prospects as industrial-organizational psychologists.

For more information on employment projections of clinical, school, and counseling psychologists by New York labor regions, 2018-2028, click here.

Educational Requirements

A master’s or doctorate degree, and a license, are required for most psychologists. In New York, psychologists earn a doctorate degree in psychology from a program registered or accepted as equivalent by the New York State Education Department. Psychologists with doctorate degrees with the letters Ph.D., Psy.D. and Ed.D. have all met the same educational requirements. In addition, New York psychologists complete two years of supervised experience, including one year after the doctorate degree. They must also pass a national licensing exam.

Acceptance to graduate psychology programs is highly competitive. A doctorate degree (Ph.D.) generally requires about five years of full-time graduate study, culminating in a dissertation based on original research. A Doctor of Psychology degree (Psy.D.) is often based on practical work and examinations in lieu of a dissertation.

New York Licensure Requirements

In most states, practicing psychology or using the title of “psychologist” requires licensure or certification. This is also the case in New York, where licensure is necessary unless one works in an “exempt setting”. Exempt settings include chartered schools, settings operated by the government, and most colleges and universities; these tend to include those psychologists who focus on research and do not provide health care services to patients or clients. Psychotherapists are not necessarily licensed as psychologists in New York.

To be licensed as a psychologist in New York, an individual must have earn a doctorate degree in psychology from a program approved by the New York State Education Department, complete two years of supervised experience, including one year after the doctorate degree, and pass a national licensing test. This nationally recognized test is the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), developed by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB).

For more information on New York State licensure requirements, go to: https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/psychology/license-requirements.

For more information on the national licensing test for psychologists, go to: http://www.asppb.net/

Financial Support

Psychology students should check first with their college or university financial aid office to learn what scholarships, loans, and funding opportunities might be available.

Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology, offers updates on awards, grants, and scholarships available for psychology students. Check the Psi Chi Web site for information: http://www.psichi.org/Awards/

The American Psychological Association (APA) also has information about various types of awards and funding opportunities for psychology students on their Web site: http://www.apa.org/education/grad/funding.aspx.

Education Programs in New York (subject to change)

Additional Web Links

For more information on psychologists, go to:

American Psychological Association: http://www.apa.org/; or

New York State Psychological Association at: http://www.nyspa.org/.

For more information about psychology education programs and degrees or a career in psychology, go to the Psychology Career Center Web site: http://www.psychologycareercenter.org/
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