psychologist

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"Psychologist" is an academic, occupational or professional title^[1] describing individuals who are either:

• social scientists conducting research or teaching psychology in a college or university;
• employed by the government in psychology positions;
• professionals who apply psychological findings and ideas to "real-world" problems, questions and issues, most typically in health care services or in business and industry.

There are many different types of psychologists, as is reflected by the 56 different divisions of the American Psychological Association (the APA).^[2] Psychologists are generally described as being either "applied" or "research" oriented. This major division is also described as the difference between scientists and practitioners or scholars and professionals. The training models endorsed by the APA require that practitioners be trained as both scholars and professionals and to possess advanced degrees. ^[3]

Most typically, people encounter psychologists and think of the discipline as involving the work of clinical or counseling psychologists, professionals who are concerned with helping people live healthy and productive lives - professionals who help people solve problems of living or resolve mental health problems.^[4] Although clinical psychology is a commonly identified professional role, it remains a subset of the field of psychology. Scholars and academicians (conducting research and teaching in universities) constitute a substantial and foundational position in the definition of a "psychologist."

Professional licensing and the regulation of professionals/practitioner

United States and Canada

The American Psychological Association has issued a guideline that only those who hold a Ph.D. or Psy.D. degree in psychology or a closely related field should call themselves psychologists. This of course applies to both research psychology and applied psychology.

Outside of government and academia, a professional in the U.S. or Canada must also hold a psychology license to either practice psychology or use the title. ^[5] The most commonly recognized psychology professionals are clinical and counseling psychologists, those who provide psychotherapy and/or administer and interpret psychological "tests."

Licensed psychologists, in virtually every jurisdiction and state in Canada and the U.S., are required to have obtained academic doctoral degrees (typically a Ph.D. or Psy.D.). These academic programs typically take four to six years of postgraduate work to complete and offer some combination of rigorous training in scientific research and clinical practice. As part of this training, students contribute to the body of scientific knowledge in the form of a dissertation. In this sense, the Ph.D. in professional psychology is a hybrid academic/professional degree (with a greater focus on academics related to clinical practice), and university programs in professional psychology are not only academic but are also training programs typically characterized by rigor and intensity. A Ph.D. psychologist is trained to be both a scientist and practitioner of the profession. Some psychologists have a professional degree in psychology (Psy.D.), which focuses more on clinical practice, and includes similarly rigorous coursework, supervised professional training, internship, and developing the ability to conduct and interpret academic research. The majority of Psy.D. programs also require a dissertation, which can include quantitative or qualitative research, theoretical scholarship, program evaluation or development, critical literature analysis, or clinical application and analysis.

State-by-state exemptions

Similar restrictions apply across the United States, although application of these restrictions varies state-by-state. Most states include exemptions from licensing in order to use the title "psychologist" if they are teaching in universities, or if they are certified by the state's department of education as a school psychologist and are practicing psychology within the scope of their employment in a school district. In most states, self-employed psychologists offering services to the public, whether they are clinical, counseling, school, or industrial psychologists must be licensed, which usually requires an advanced degree, two years of supervised experience, and passing written and oral examinations. Psychologists must also complete one year of a clinical internship, either pre-doctoral or post-doctoral. After receiving the Ph.D. the psychologist must spend an additional year as a "Psychologist Resident" and work under the supervision of a licensed psychologist before they are able to take the written licensing examination. The licensing carries the title of licensed psychologist; Marriage and Family Therapist, or some other title depending upon the state or province, is usually reserved for those who have not obtained the doctorate in psychology and only hold a Master's degree in the fields of professional counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy.

Australia

The title 'psychologist' is restricted by law. Registration as a psychologist is governed by State and Territory Psychology Registration Board.^[6] The minimum requirements for registration as a psychologist is an approved four year bachelors degree majoring in psychology and either two years of further accredited study and/or two years of work supervised by a registered psychologist. In Western Australia, specialist title registration distinguishes between registered psychologists (i.e., four year trained), and specialist psychologists (i.e., with an approved Masters degree). Membership with Australian Psychological Society (APS) differs from registration as a psychologist. Full membership (MAPS) of the APS requires six years postgraduate study. Associate memberships and student subscriptions are available. Restrictions apply to all who want to use the title 'psychologist' in any form in all states and territories of Australia. However, the terms 'psychotherapist', 'social worker', and 'counselor' is currently self-regulated with several organizations campaigning for government regulation.^[7]

Germany

In Germany, the use of the title 'Diplom-Psychologe' is restricted by law. Only those are allowed to name themselves "Diplom-Psychologe", who hold the corresponding university degree "Diplom-Psychologe". The degree is equivalent to a master-degree in psychology and is offered after approximately five years full-time education. After the graduation psychologists who have specialised in clinical psychology are eligible to work in hospitals that provide psychological treatment. They are not allowed to offer psychotherapeutical treatment that is covered by compulsory health insurance funds. The offer of health-insurance covered psychotherapy, a specialized training that normally lasts between three and five years depending on the area chosen (behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis or psychodynamic psychotherapy). The training combines in-depth theoretical knowledge with supervised patient care and self-reflection units. After having completed the training requirements, psychologists take a state-run exam. The pass of the exam allows to hold the official title of a 'psychological psychotherapist' (psychologischer Psychotherapeut) which is exclusively attainable for university-educated psychologists who underwent the psychotherapeutical training named above.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, the use of the title 'psychologist' is restricted by law. Initially, only 'clinical psychologist' and 'registered psychologist' were restricted (to people qualified as such). However, in 2004, the use of psychologist is now limited to only those registered psychologists (including clinical psychologists). This is to prevent the misrepresentation of other psychology qualifications in the mental health field. Academic psychologists (e.g., social psychologists) are now only able to refer to themselves as 'researchers in psychology'.

Sweden

In Sweden the titles "psychologist" and "practiced psychologist" are restricted in law. It can only be used after receiving a license from the government. The basic requirements are a completed five years specialised course in psychology (equivalent of a Master's degree) and 12 months of practice under supervision. All other uses are banned, though often challenged. "Psychotherapist" follows similar rules but the basic educational demands are another 1.5 years (spread out over three years) at a specialised course in psychotherapy (that do vary a lot concerning theoretical footing), in addition to an academical level degree within a field concerning the treatment of people (psychologist, social worker, psychiatrist a.s.o.). Others than psychologist usually have to complete their education with basic courses in psychotherapy to meet the demands for the applied psychotherapy classes.

United Kingdom

In the U.K. the use of the title "chartered psychologist" is protected by statutory regulation. At present the registration in order to use the title 'psychologist', 'psychotherapist' or 'therapist' is voluntary, in other words it is not required by any Act of Parliament, but the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (U.K.C.P.) is campaigning with other related organizations for the statutory regulation of the 'talking therapy' professions. Only psychotherapists who meet the training requirements of U.K.C.P. and abide by its ethical guidelines are included on the U.K.C.P.'s register of psychotherapists. The Royal College of Psychiatrists and the British Psychological Society are special members of the U.K.C.P.

Contrast with psychiatrist

In most western countries - including the United States - licensed/registered psychologists hold a doctorate in their field, while licensed psychiatrists hold a medical degree with a specialty in psychiatry. Psychiatrists have earned an M.D., D.O. or MBBS doctoral level physicians degree, whereas psychologists have earned a doctoral degree Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D. Psychiatrists are fully trained in psychotherapies, although some focus mostly on psychopharmacology, and these psychopharmacology visits may require shorter periods of contact time with clients/patients ^[8] Conversely, clinical and counseling psychologists generally rely upon psychological assessment and the use of psychotherapy to relieve psychological distress. It is not uncommon for people suffering from mental illness to combine these services to maximize their impact. A few Psychologists in the U.S. military and two states (New Mexico and Louisiana) have prescription privileges, combining psychosocial and psychopharmacological interventions. Many psychologists conduct research-based, standardized cognitive and projective testing to guide the diagnosis of intellectual disabilities, behavioral/mood disorders, and personality disorders; these test results also inform treatment approaches. Administration and interpretation of the majority of these standardized test instruments require specialized Doctoral level training in psychology.^[9]

See also

• List of psychologists
• Psychiatrist
• Mental health professional
• Psychology
• List of psychological topics
• Psychotherapy
• List of Psychologists on postage stamps

References

External links

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• The National Psychologist, an independent bi-monthly newspaper for behavioral healthcare practitioners
• ThePsychologist.com Professional links for psychologists and students of psychology.
• Psychology terms

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