Psychology Doctorate Degrees There are a number of different types of psychologists. Still, the one most people think of is actually the clinical psychologist. The mass populace can't be blamed for this; they are the most common practitioners in the field.
That doesn't mean there still aren't a lot of misconceptions about psychology. First of all, it is a science. For instance, it works off of the principles of testing for certain results, and then repeating those tests to see if one gets the same results. The science is a part of the healthcare field, concentrating on mental illnesses instead of physical. Most importantly, modern psychology is well over a century old, and to practice it a psychologist must meet a number of highly rigorous standards.
As defined by its main professional organization, the American Psychological Association, a clinical psychologist concentrates on the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. They are trained to help patients through not just severe conditions such as extreme schizophrenia or bipolar disorders, but also to help people who have undergone such milder traumas as divorce, a death in the family or the loss of a job. They have a number of different disciplines they can draw from, ranging anywhere from the teachings of Freud to behaviorists like Skinner.
Those interested in the field, should be strong in such academics as the humanities and life sciences. They should also have very strong communications skills and be a, no kidding, very stable personality. There are an incredible number of good on-campus and online colleges that teach the subject. It is also considered a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) career, so is accessible to more than just the standard federal grants such as the Pell.
Undergraduate studies tend to be a general introduction to the basics of health care and the major branches of psychology. Students really only start specializing when they enter graduate school. Clinical psychologists will not only have to decide if they want to focus on fields ranging anywhere from child, geropsychology (older adults) or some other form, but also about how to work with other doctors on potential cures.
Education is not complete until a student gets their Doctorate, either a PhD or in Psychology. They must also eventually be certified by the American Psychology Association to work in many areas. One of the main ways a student gets through this six or more year process is, after getting their Bachelors degree, to find employment at a clinic or hospital and continue their education online.
At present, there are currently slightly over 150,000 practicing clinical psychologists in the U.S. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there will be a need for approximately 16,000 more over the next decade, which is about the average for the country. Approximately one third of all practicing clinical psychologists operate their own practice.
| Still a very dynamic and growing field, clinical psychology is still evolving and growing. When exploring colleges psychology, you will find that even though it's over a century old, many a psychologist will tell you there is still a lot more to be known. You can explore an introductory course at a college for free and find out if this field, in all its various forms, may be right for you. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kayla_Russell | |
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