1 of 10

What comes to mind when you hear “psychologist”? What do psychologists do?

2 of 10

What do psychologists do?

Psychological careers are varied!

Some work in clinical fields (*psychologists, *counselors, *school counselors) (*a protected term).
Some work in areas of research and/or in academics (yay)! Research in any arena (sport, medical, businesses, non-profits, community organizations).
Some work in both (professors who conduct research, any field). Some work in all: research, teaching, and clinical.
Some do applied work: consulting for example!
However, all people working in the field of psychology use empirically driven/supported (aka data-driven AKA) methods (or they really really should be)!

3 of 10

Note: The chart represents employment settings for those with recent doctorates in psychology. Totals amount to 97 percent due to rounding and exclusion of 17 "not specified" responses. Adapted from D. Michalski, J. Kohout, M. Wicherski & B. Hart (2011), 2009 Doctorate Employment Surve y (Table 3) (PDF, 33KB).

4 of 10

Spotlight on psychologists (1)

Meet Dr. Anthony Newton | Counselling Psychologist & Psychotherapist (youtube.com)

Meet Darla Capetillo, a clinical psychologist with The Polyclinic (youtube.com)

Meet Rehabilitation Psychologist, Tracy Shannon, PsyD (youtube.com)

SO many terms!

What similarities did you notice between the jobs the speakers in the videos shared?
What differences did you notice between the jobs the speakers in the videos shared?

How does a psychologist differ from a psychiatrist?

Counseling psychologist: help people adjust to life transitions or make lifestyle changes. Counseling psychologists conduct therapy and can provide assessment to individuals and groups. Usually takes a humanistic approach and is less likely to work in in-patient settings. More likely to use a biopsychosocial model over a purely medical model approach. More likely to work with people having adjustment issues (and/or the everyday client) rather than more serious psychopathology.

Clinical psychologist: help individuals, groups, and organizations in a mental health clinical capacity. Treats a wide range of disorders from adjustment to more seriously presenting psychopathology. Also likely to engage in research, teaching, and work in a large variety of settings: prisons, government, military, nonprofit organizations, universities, industries, etc.

*Ph.D.’s in counseling and clinical psychology train people in the scientist-practitioner model, trained as a clinician and researcher. The Ph.D. is awarded because of a completed dissertation, facilitating this scientist-practitioner role, a PsyD is a non dissertation track program, in which clinical work is the focus, and research is not.

Rehabilitation psychologist: researchers/practitioners who work with clients who have lost functioning after an accident, illness, or other event: medical rehabilitation, institution, or hospital. May also work in a medical school, university, state, or local vocational rehabilitation center.

5 of 10

Spotlight on “psychologists” (2)

Three examples of varied careers within the field:

Picture 1: Dr. Lindsey Blom (teaching, research, applied sport psychology, AASP president, coaching (she does a LOT).
Picture 2: Dr. Justin Lehmiller (research: sex psychology, Kinsey Institute fellow, author, podcast host, expert witness as of late).
Picture 3: Dr. Aaron Goodson (administration, counseling SEP).
Picture 4: Dr. Marlena Fraune (teaching/research, consultant for Amazon: IO psychology).

6 of 10

what about undergraduate psychology majors?

Great question! Psychology is a popular major, one of the most popular in the USA:

In 2021–22, postsecondary institutions conferred 1.0 million associate’s degrees in the USA. 6% of these were psychology degrees (National Center for Education Statistics).

92% of psychology majors study general psychology rather than a specialty within the field. Most specialized psychology programs become available at the graduate level (Forbes, 2024).
Psychology majors hold jobs in 88 of a broad set of 129 U.S. occupational categories from obtaining many different skills (APA, 2021).

6

7 of 10

working in the psychological world

Many people work within the psychological world WITHOUT obtaining a graduate degree.
How?

Behavioral health technician
Addictions counseling- Addiction Counseling at PCC

CADC-1 (associates)/11 (bachelors)/111 (masters)

Research assistant
Can teach psychology at the high school level!
The takeaway: there are MANY ways to do the work you want!

7

8 of 10

Psychological careers (lesser known, still cool)

Cognitive Psychologists: Focuses on thought processes: perception, language, problem solving, memory, judgement/decision making. Often works in academia, as an industrial consultant, or human factors specialist in education/business.

Developmental Psychologists: investigates change across the lifespan, including biological, psychological, cognitive, and social aspects of development. Usually specializes in child, adolescent, middle, or late adulthood. Research, teaching, government.

Community Psychologists: works with larger broad factors of mental health in community settings, rather than with individual or family clients, through an ecological approach. Builds preventative measures + crisis intervention. Works in federal/state/local departments of welfare/mental health/corrections, research/consulting/teaching, government/academia.

8

9 of 10

Psychological careers (lesser known, still cool)

Educational Psychologists: study the psychological processes of learning, how we learn in social and physical environments, creates strategies for for enhancing the learning process. Often works in academia (psychology or education department) or school district. What Is Educational Psychology? - Ed Psych Insight Ep. 3 (youtube.com)

School Psychologists: More applied work! Assessment and intervention for children in educational settings. Diagnose and treat cognitive, social, and emotional needs of children that influence their learning and overall school functioning. The Summit - Such Great Heights (youtube.com)

Forensic Psychologists: applies psychological principles to legal issues. Research/teaching/applied work related to public policies on mental health, aiding in investigations, consult on jury selection and deliberation processes.*What is a Forensic Psychologist? (youtube.com)

9

10 of 10

Discussion Questions:

What sounds the most interesting to you? Conducting research, teaching, clinical practice, or a combination?
What (if any) psychological career(s) sparks your interest?