It’s a common misconception that psychologists only provide therapy or assessments to patients. In reality, psychologists are responsible for numerous tasks, and they specialize in various disciplines based on their expertise. They work in several sectors, including private practice, schools, healthcare organizations, research institutions, government agencies, and major corporations.
Clinical Psychologists
Clinical psychologists diagnose, assess, and treat psychiatric conditions. They typically use evidence-based models, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical-behavior therapy (DBT), psychodynamic therapy, and interpersonal therapy to support their patients. They may work with individuals, couples, or families. They might also facilitate various support or psychoeducation groups.
Clinical psychologists engage in some or all of the following responsibilities:
- Conducting psychiatric assessments to discern various psychiatric or neurodevelopmental diagnoses, including autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and ADHD.
- Providing short-term and long-term therapy to patients
- Offering wraparound clinical care in conjunction with therapists, social workers, psychiatrists, and other healthcare professionals
- Engaging in relevant clinical studies or psychiatric research
You might consider pursuing this career path if you:
- Value blending scientific research with practical application
- Enjoy data and testing procedures
- Seek to work with a wide range of patients with different presenting concerns
- Seek to deeply understand the nuances of mental health and human behavior
Clinical psychologists must obtain a doctoral degree in clinical psychology. The doctoral degree can either be a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD). Aspiring psychologists must also complete a dissertation, finish a set number of clinical hours, and pass their required board exams to become licensed. Some clinical psychologists also become board-certified through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)1
School Psychologists
School psychologists work within educational facilities to support students with various learning and behavioral needs. They are employed in all types of schools, ranging from the K-12 school district to colleges and universities. School psychologists often work alongside other education professionals, including teachers, administrators, and school counselors.
School psychologists engage in some or all of the following responsibilities:
- Facilitating psychological assessments to discern behavioral issues or learning disabilities
- Creating and implementing intervention plans for students and their families
- Offering brief counseling to support students experiencing emotional distress or academic concerns
- Conducting workshops or training programs for other educators or students
You might consider pursuing this career path if you:
- Feel passionate about the benefits of education
- Value themes of inclusivity, advocacy, and mental health awareness
- Enjoy connecting and building a genuine rapport with youth
- Desire to be part of creating systemic or structural changes within educational settings
Every state has different education requirements for school psychologists. However, most states require that professionals have a graduate-level degree in school psychology. These degrees typically include a master of education (M.Ed), education specialist (Ed.S), or specialized doctor of education(Ed.D). School psychologists then need to complete a designated number of fieldwork hours and complete any necessary board exams to obtain state licensure.
Forensic Psychologists
Forensic psychologists specialize in integrating psychological principles into criminal justice. They are typically employed by law enforcement agencies and within the court and prison system. Forensic psychologists aim to bridge the gap between an individual’s psychological state and the welfare of a community.
Forensic psychologists engage in some or all of the following responsibilities:
- Offering expert witness testimony when a patient is sentenced to court
- Conducting various psychological tests to determine one’s competency to stand trial
- Overseeing and developing court-based rehabilitation programs
- Aiding law enforcement in discerning criminal behavior or various correctional needs
You might consider pursuing this career path if you:
- Seek to understand the connection and nuance between mental health and the law
- Enjoy working in high-stakes, high-pressure situations
- Feel comfortable regularly engaging in strong critical thinking and analytical skills
- Value working with both legal professionals and a variety of patients
There is no universal requirement for becoming a forensic psychologist. However, jobs tend to be highly competitive, and many employers prefer to hire candidates with a doctoral degree in either counseling, social, or clinical psychology. Many private universities also offer specific degrees in forensic psychology.
Counseling Psychologists
Counseling psychologists specialize in providing therapeutic services to individuals, couples, families, and children experiencing mental health concerns. They can work in numerous settings, including private practice, community health clinics, schools, nonprofit centers, and rehabilitation agencies.
Counseling psychologists engage in some or all of the following responsibilities:
- Structuring and providing evidence-based therapy to treat specific mental health conditions
- Supporting patients in improving their overall emotional well-being and resilience
- Offer immediate crisis intervention and wraparound crisis support for patients experiencing acute distress
- Coordinating care with other healthcare professionals, including psychiatrists, medical doctors, therapists, and social workers
You might consider pursuing this career path if you:
- Feel passionate about connecting with people and offering direct support
- Value utilizing skills rooted in empathy and active listening
- Seek to provide patients with a roadmap for coping with everyday stressors
- Have a deep curiosity for human behavior
Counseling psychologists also need a doctoral degree in psychology. Psychologists will either hold a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) with a specialization in counseling psychology. Like other psychology professions, aspiring counseling psychologists need to accrue counseling hours and pass state board exams to obtain licensure.
Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychologists
Industrial-organizational psychologists specialize in applying psychological theory and principles to corporate infrastructure. These types of psychologists support business executives and major corporations improve their overall workflow, employee satisfaction, and company morale.
Industrial-organizational psychologists engage in some or all of the following responsibilities:
- Assisting with employee recruiting, onboarding, hiring, and training
- Auditing and revising workplace policies adhering to the company’s mission
- Supporting management through organizational shifts or restructures
- Conducting analyses on workplace trends, consumer behavior, or employee needs
- Developing specific training programs to improve workplace performance
You might consider pursuing this career path if you:
- Enjoy the intersection between psychology and business
- Value working within a team setting and collaborating with executives
- Have a desire to strengthen workplace morale and employee satisfaction
- Seek to learn more about what makes business settings successful
While there isn’t a specific education requirement for industrial-organizational psychologists, most positions require a dedicated master’s or doctoral degree in the industrial-organizational psychology field.2 Successful I/O psychologists typically gain experience through various practicum or internship settings. Some will seek additional professional association memberships through resources like the Academy of Management or the Society of Psychologists in Licensure.
Health Psychologists
Health psychologists focus on the various sociocultural, biological, and psychological variables impacting individual health.3 These psychologists work in several settings, including universities, government agencies, healthcare facilities, and private practice. They support individuals and communities in improving their overall health.
Health psychologists engage in some or all of the following responsibilities:
- Engaging in relevant research based on existing or past health trends
- Developing individual or community-wide health initiatives
- Getting involved in public policy or healthcare legislation
- Designing education and training protocols rooted in modern health research
- Collaborating with various medical professionals, including medical doctors, psychiatrists, and therapists.
You might consider pursuing this career path if you:
- Enjoy the interconnected relationship between physical health and psychology
- Feel passionate about improving health on both a micro and macro level
- Want to directly affect public health policy
- Enjoy reviewing and conducting psychological research
Health psychologists can work within some disciplines, including research and behavioral analysis, with a master’s degree. Doctoral-level health psychologists can work independently and tend to work directly with patients or major communities.
Cognitive Psychologists
Cognitive psychologists assess human behavior, focusing on how people learn process information, and engage in critical thinking. They often conduct research and then apply their data to various disciplines, including behavioral health, education, technology, and more. These psychologists often work in research centers, rehabilitation centers, healthcare facilities, and private practice.
Cognitive psychologists engage in some or all of the following responsibilities:
- Reviewing and conducting cognitive-based research focused on memory and learning
- Developing and testing cognitive models
- Applying cognitive theory to various disciplines, including corporate and healthcare settings
- Collaborating with other professionals, including medical doctors, technology professionals, and neuroscientists
- Testing interventions to apply for various cognitive disorders
You might consider pursuing this career path if you:
- Have a significant desire to strengthen how the human brain works
- Enjoy analyzing and facilitating research studies
- Seek to advance the field of cognitive psychology
- Value studying the relationship between neuroscience and human behavior
Cognitive psychologists may begin working in various research labs or universities with a master’s degree. However, independent research or clinical application entails a doctorate degree (either a PhD or PsyD). Doctoral programs typically entail a combination of a dissertation, teaching assistantship, and postdoctoral research.
Military Psychologists
Military psychologists specialize in assessing, understanding, and treating the mental health needs of military personnel and their families. They tend to be well-versed in the specific stressors veterans face, including combat stress and PTSD, and they may also directly support individuals with deployment, reunion, and reintegration.
Cognitive psychologists engage in some or all of the following responsibilities:
- Facilitating psychological assessments for military recruits and current personnel
- Providing crisis-based counseling and evidence-based techniques to support emotional well-being
- Developing training and resilience programs rooted in mental health principles
- Supporting leadership with recruitment, training, and military life optimization
- Assisting with mental health advocacy for family members
You might consider pursuing this career path if you:
- Have a vested interest in improving the emotional well-being of military personnel and their families
- Feel comfortable adhering to various military protocols and regulations
- Enjoy cross-interests in forensic and industrial-organization psychology
- Value working in high-stakes, high-pressure settings
Military psychologists typically hold a PhD or PsyD in clinical or counseling psychology. However, master’s-level clinicians may also be employed. Many programs require their psychologists to receive specialized clinical training through military treatment programs or within the VA setting. Military psychologists in active-duty rules must adhere to their designated service commitment, although it is also possible to hold a civilian or contracted position.
Social Psychologists
Social psychologists focus on how people think, feel, and relate to one another. Social psychology is a broad field that entails numerous topics like communication, prejudice and bias, interpersonal connection, critical thinking, and social consumer behavior. Social psychologists can be employed in several settings, including research facilities, universities, government agencies, marketing firms, and private practice.
Social psychologists engage in some or all of the following responsibilities:
- Assessing and conducting studies on social attitudes and behaviors
- Examining how cultural and sociopolitical factors impact social behavior
- Becoming involved in advocacy and awareness rooted in social justice
- Integrating social psychological principles into various disciplines, including education, marketing, and healthcare
- Coordinating with other professionals, including executives, politicians, and healthcare staff to emphasize social needs
You might consider pursuing this career path if you:
- Enjoy studying the numerous variables that shape human interaction and connectivity
- Like reviewing and conducting psychological research
- Seek to integrate psychological theory into real-world application
- Feel motivated to work in educational settings, public policy, or in healthcare
Social psychologists have a strong background in research methods and statistics. A master’s degree in this discipline can open career paths in research analysis, human resources, and marketing. However, most social psychology jobs require a PhD or PsyD in social psychology. These programs typically entail completing a coursework curriculum, dissertation, teaching assistantship, and postdoctoral fellowship.
Final Thoughts
Psychology is a varied and broad field with numerous types of specializations. Understanding the different types of psychologists can support you in making an informed decision about your career path. If you’re considering a psychology-related career, start by reflecting on your specific strengths and values to begin narrowing down your options.
Sources
- https://www.cmich.edu/blog/all-things-higher-ed/how-to-become-a-clinical-psychologist
- https://extension.harvard.edu/blog/building-a-career-in-industrial-organizational-psychology/#:~:text=Regardless%20of%20job%20title%20or,to%20work%20as%20a%20consultant.
- https://www.apa.org/education-career/guide/subfields/health
