Psychologists hold doctoral degrees in psychology and are typically licensed to provide mental health services. A psychologist may practice in various subspecialties, such as clinical, educational, or experimental psychology. Depending on their education and training, they may offer direct mental health treatment for different conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, and other personal challenges.
What Is a Psychologist?
Licensed psychologists provide various mental health treatment and assessment services, such as psychotherapy and psychological testing. Often, licensed psychologists primarily providing treatment have a specialized degree from programs focused on evidence-based approaches to diagnosable conditions.
Psychologist Vs. Clinical Psychologist
The difference between psychologists and clinical psychologists lies in their specific postgraduate training. All psychologists have doctorate degrees and undergo rigorous academic programs and training. While a psychologist can focus on many areas, such as child development, sports, or education, a clinical psychologist focuses on assessing and treating mental health problems.
Is a Psychologist a Doctor?
Psychologists earn a doctorate degree (PsyD or PhD). Psychologists assess, diagnose, provide therapy, and often administer testing for mental disorders. However, they do not have a medical degree and cannot treat medical conditions. They also cannot prescribe psychiatric medications, with some exceptions in certain states.
Psychologists Vs. Other Mental Health Professionals
Various types of licensed providers can offer mental health treatment. Approaches vary considerably based on credentials, educational background, clinical experience, and level of training.
Psychologists Vs. Psychiatrists
The primary difference between psychologists and psychiatrists is education and training. Psychologists are experts in human behavior and hold doctoral degrees, while psychiatrists hold medical degrees and have expertise in treating mental health disorders with medication.
Psychiatrists primarily work with individuals experiencing symptom-level mental health concerns that respond well to medication, such as persistent depression, generalized anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia.
Some psychological concerns may respond better to psychotherapy than medication or a combination of both. As such, licensed psychologists and psychiatrists often collaborate in hospital or outpatient settings.
Psychologists Vs. Therapists
Therapists, marriage and family therapists, and clinical social workers typically have a two-year master’s degree. Unlike psychologists, these providers do not possess the same medical education and training.
Complex cases, mental health concerns fitting the medical model, and symptom-heavy presentations may benefit more from treatment by licensed psychologists. However, licensed psychologists also work with people on personal growth and life satisfaction issues.
What Does a Psychologist Do?
Psychologists are trained professionals who study the mind and human behavior. They work in various settings, including universities, organizations, hospitals, legal and criminal justice facilities, and private practices. Psychologists work with individuals, groups, and families to help them manage psychological issues and optimize their mental and emotional health.
Below are conditions a psychologist may treat:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Anger issues
- Body issues and dysmorphia
- Eating disorders
- Addiction
- Grief and loss
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Specific phobias
Psychology Specialties & Subcategories
Psychologists can specialize in different areas of practice, populations, and concerns. Their roles include conducting research, teaching, assessments, and clinical practice. Jobs vary by the setting, goals, concerns addressed, and demographics.
Below are common specialties in psychology:
- Child psychology: Child psychologists specialize in childhood and adolescent psychological, emotional, and behavioral needs. This field may include specialties in play therapy, child development, pediatric mental health disorders, or school psychology.
- Clinical psychology: Clinical psychologists study, assess, diagnose, and treat mental health disorders, often through therapy, testing, or psychiatric hospital care.
- Counseling psychology: Counseling psychologists provide mental health therapy in various settings, such as agencies, organizations, or private practices.
- Sport psychology: Sports psychologists work with athletes, coaches, and teams to improve the emotional and mental aspects of athletic performance. They may focus on mental toughness, mindset, goal setting, and overcoming anxiety.
- Rehabilitation psychology: Rehabilitation psychologists work with individuals with disabilities or chronic health concerns. These psychologists help clients adapt to their condition, cope with emotional stressors, and improve their physical and emotional well-being.
- Brain and cognitive psychology: Brain and cognitive psychologists study neuroscience to understand how the brain, cognitive functioning, and behavior connect. They work to understand how brain anatomy, injury, and other factors impact human behavior.
- Developmental psychology: Developmental psychologists study the stages of human development throughout the lifespan, including cognitive, social, and identity development.
- Experimental psychology: Experimental psychology, otherwise known as neuroscience, focuses on the human brain and behavior using scientific methods and controlled experiments. These psychologists design, conduct, and analyze experiments to advance the study of human psychology.
- Forensic psychology: Forensic psychologists work in legal and criminal settings. Their roles include criminal profiling, victim services, and expert testimony.
- Health psychology: Health psychology focuses on the intersection between the mind and body. Health psychologists help people improve their mental, emotional, and physical health.
Psychologist Training & Education
An applicant must meet rigorous educational, experiential, and testing requirements before becoming a psychologist. Psychologists must earn doctoral degrees, pass the Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP), pass a state licensure exam, and complete 1,500 to 6,000 hours of supervised professional training.1
Where to Find a Psychologist
The versatile nature of a degree and license in psychology allows psychologists to work in various settings and roles. A single psychologist may have multiple professional roles, such as providing direct clinical services to patients, conducting research, writing scholarly articles, and teaching courses. Some, instead, prefer to keep their role focused on one endeavor.
Below are locations where a psychologist may offer treatment:
- Private and group practices: Licensed psychologists may work in private practice where they schedule their hours, establish office policies, and focus on specific treatment specialties. They may also work in a group practice where they share space and administrative functions with other mental health professionals.
- Hospitals: Licensed psychologists often have leadership positions in mental health departments at the hospital level. They may supervise students in master’s and doctoral level programs or work alongside a psychiatrist or administrator.
- Organizations and businesses: Industrial-organizational psychologists use their training to work in corporate, business, and non-profit settings to improve workplace harmony, solve complicated interpersonal and human resources problems, provide testing to job applicants, and many other functions.
- Prisons: Licensed psychologists specializing in forensics may work in prison settings, rehabilitation centers, or for the court. They typically provide assessment in terms of competency to stand trial, personality testing, and witness testimony.
- Universities: Licensed psychologists with an academic focus may be university professors at the undergraduate or graduate level, and they will likely conduct research in their department.
How to Find & Choose a Psychologist
Your doctor, therapist, or other healthcare professional can provide a referral when looking for a psychologist. An online therapist directory can help you search by specialization to locate the best fit for your specific concerns.
Final Thoughts
Psychologists are highly trained mental health professionals equipped to assess, diagnose, and treat many clinical, mental, and behavioral concerns. Finding a psychologist can be well worth the time, money, and effort to help you meet your goals
For Further Reading
What Is a Psychologist Infographics
