What Does A Clinical Psychologist Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Clinical Psychologists

Clinical Psychologists diagnose or evaluate mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests, and formulate and administer programs of treatment.

Salary
$89290
Becoming One
Very Hard
Education
Doctoral degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match


What they do

Clinical Psychologists diagnose or evaluate mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests, and formulate and administer programs of treatment.

  • Interact with clients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, or vocational development and adjustment.
  • Identify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, or reference materials.
  • Use a variety of treatment methods, such as psychotherapy, hypnosis, behavior modification, stress reduction therapy, psychodrama, or play therapy.
  • Counsel individuals and groups regarding problems, such as stress, substance abuse, or family situations, to modify behavior or to improve personal, social, or vocational adjustment.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Clinical Psychologists consult with or provide consultation to other doctors, therapists, or clinicians regarding patient care. They identify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, or reference materials.

A typical day for a Clinical Psychologist will also include:

  • Counsel individuals and groups regarding problems, such as stress, substance abuse, or family situations, to modify behavior or to improve personal, social, or vocational adjustment.
  • Write reports on clients and maintain required paperwork.
  • Discuss the treatment of problems with clients.
  • Interact with clients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, or vocational development and adjustment.
  • Use a variety of treatment methods, such as psychotherapy, hypnosis, behavior modification, stress reduction therapy, psychodrama, or play therapy.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Clinical Psychologists also consult reference material, such as textbooks, manuals, or journals, to identify symptoms, make diagnoses, or develop approaches to treatment. They may also maintain current knowledge of relevant research.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Clinical Psychologists refer clients to other specialists, institutions, or support services as necessary. They might also obtain and study medical, psychological, social, and family histories by interviewing individuals, couples, or families and by reviewing records.

In addition, they provide occupational, educational, or other information to individuals so that they can make educational or vocational plans.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them plan and develop accredited psychological service programs in psychiatric centers or hospitals, in collaboration with psychiatrists and other professional staff.

To some Clinical Psychologists, it is also their responsibility to develop and implement individual treatment plans, specifying a type, frequency, intensity, and duration of therapy.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Very High

Is this job meaningful

Very High

78% said they were satisfied with their job and 88% said they found their job meaningful.


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Pros

Suitable for people who like to solve problems mentally.

Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

Very good salary.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to follow routines.

It is very hard to get into this career. Extensive skills, knowledge, and experience are required for this career.

Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).

How much do they make

Average salary

$89290 per year

Average hourly wage

$43 per hour

Entry-level Clinical Psychologists with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $46,410 to $60,750 per year or $22 to $29 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $138,550 $67
Senior (Top 25%) $104,860 $50
Median $79,820 $38
Junior (Bottom 25%) $60,750 $29
No experience (Bottom 10%) $46,410 $22

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Clinical Psychologists based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Outpatient Care Centers $109100 $52.45
Child Day Care Services $105670 $50.80
Home Health Care Services $103520 $49.77
Offices of Other Health Practitioners $101860 $48.97
Junior Colleges $100470 $48.31
Offices of Physicians $99590 $47.88
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals $96930 $46.60
Management of Companies and Enterprises $96860 $46.57
Local Government $94790 $45.57
Scientific Research and Development Services $93640 $45.02

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Clinical Psychologists work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Clinical Psychologists including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Elementary and Secondary Schools 44970 $80960 $38.93
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 20060 $101860 $48.97
Offices of Physicians 6400 $99590 $47.88
Individual and Family Services 6070 $84000 $40.39
Outpatient Care Centers 5430 $109100 $52.45
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 4540 $96930 $46.60
State Government 3990 $90290 $43.41
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 3970 $75750 $36.42
Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals 3950 $90130 $43.33
Local Government 3640 $94790 $45.57

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
16%

40 hours
21%

More than 40 hours
63%

Working schedule

95%

5%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
23%

Every day
50%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
12%

Every day
88%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
1%

Every day
99%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
12%

Once a year
60%

Once a month
26%

Once a week
1%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
9%

Slightly competitive
40%

Moderately competitive
25%

Highly competitive
15%

Extremely competitive
11%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
1%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
99%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
60%

Once a year or more
29%

Once a month or more
4%

Once a week or more
6%

Every day
1%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
71%

Once a year or more
28%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
1%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
88%

Once a year or more
12%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
1%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Very Hard
You will need an extensive amount of skill, knowledge, and experience. Careers in this difficulty category usually require graduate school and more than five years of experience. These careers usually involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Similar careers include Pharmacists, Lawyers, Astronomers, Neurologists, and Veterinarians.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
0%

Post-Secondary Certificate
0%

Some College Courses
0%

Associate’s Degree or similar
0%

Bachelor’s Degree
0%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
16%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
62%

Post-Doctoral Training
22%

Relevant majors

Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy

A program that prepares individuals to practice the provision of psychoanalytic counseling to individuals and groups based on the psychodynamic principles evolved from authorities such as Freud, Adler, and Jung. Includes instruction in self-analysis, personality theory, dream analysis, free association and transference theory and techniques, psychodynamic theory, developmental processes, applications to specific clinical conditions, practice management, and professional standards and ethics.

Applied Behavior Analysis

A program that focuses on the application of principles of learning and behavior to enhance the development, abilities, and choices of children and adults; and that prepares individuals to address the behavioral needs of individuals, especially those with developmental disabilities and autism. Includes instruction in behavior analysis and learning, behavioral and functional assessment, developmental psychology, applied behavioral analysis in developmental disabilities and autism, applied behavioral analysis in mental health and aging, research methods, evaluation of interventions, and professional and ethical issues.

Family Psychology

A program that prepares individuals to provide therapeutic, evaluative, and research services to families and individuals in the family unit context. Includes instruction in natural and family systems theory, family and group rituals, family evaluation and assessment, marital and couples therapy, sex therapy, parenting, interviewing techniques, genogram construction, family sculpting, diversity issues, family violence, family law, and professional standards and ethics.


Health/Medical Psychology

A program that focuses on the psychological study of health and illness, and recovery, from the perspective that these phenomena arise from a combination of physical, behavioral, and social conditions. Includes instruction in abnormal and social psychology, psychophysiology, psychopharmacology, learning processes, clinical and behavioral therapies, biopsychosocial modeling, clinical procedures and assessment, preventive education, psychotherapy, rehabilitation processes, and research methods.

Geropsychology

A program that focuses on the psychology of aging and of elderly individuals and populations, with reference to growth and decline across the life span. Includes instruction in gerontology, developmental and adult psychology, age-related development and decline of cognitive processes, age-related psychological and neurological disorders, social and personality development in aging populations and individuals, and applications to the clinical treatment and care of older adults.

Clinical Child Psychology

A program that focuses on the developmental processes of children and associated disorders and that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of clinical child psychology. Includes instruction in developmental neuropsychology, child psychopathology, testing of children and adolescents, pediatric psychology, psychosocial variables in child development, clinical skills, family therapy, behavioral assessment and intervention, clinical skills, consultation, professional standards and ethics, and applications to topics such as infancy, childhood, and adolescence.


Counseling Psychology

A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of psychological counseling, involving the rendering of therapeutic services to individuals and groups experiencing psychological problems and exhibiting distress symptoms. Includes instruction in counseling theory, therapeutic intervention strategies, patient/counselor relationships, testing and assessment methods and procedures, group therapy, marital and family therapy, child and adolescent therapy, supervised counseling practice, ethical standards, and applicable regulations.

Clinical Psychology

A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of clinical psychology, involving the analysis, diagnosis, and clinical treatment of psychological disorders and behavioral pathologies. Includes instruction in clinical assessment and diagnosis, personality appraisal, psychopathology, clinical psychopharmacology, behavior modification, therapeutic intervention skills, patient interviewing, personalized and group therapy, child and adolescent therapy, cognitive and behavioral therapy, supervised clinical practice, ethical standards, and applicable regulations.

Developmental and Child Psychology

A program that focuses on the scientific study of the unique stages of psychological growth and development of individuals from infancy through childhood. Includes instruction in cognitive and perceptual development, emotional development, personality development, the effects of biological maturation on behavior, theories of cognitive growth and related research methods, testing and assessment methods for different age levels, research on child and adolescent behavior therapy, and the psychology of aging.


Psychology

A general program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and collective behavior, the physical and environmental bases of behavior, and the analysis and treatment of behavior problems and disorders. Includes instruction in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods.

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
0%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
2%

6 months to 1 year
0%

1 to 2 years
52%

2 to 4 years
11%

4 to 6 years
22%

6 to 8 years
2%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
11%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
20%

1 month
23%

1 to 3 months
12%

3 to 6 months
0%

6 months to 1 year
20%

1 to 2 years
15%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
10%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Thinker

People with this personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.

The Builder
24%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
95%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
71%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
86%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
38%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
24%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
81%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
79%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
76%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
95%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
43%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
86%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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