What Does a Psychologist Do?
A psychologist is an individual that practices psychology, which is the study of human behavior. In order to practice, a psychologist must have a doctorate degree in psychology and be licensed within their state of practice. When practicing, psychologists tend to treat people who show signs of poor mental health and help them to regain balance in their lives. When not practicing, psychologists can be found doing research and teaching. Below are the four main areas of practice or work for psychologists:
- Child
- Clinical
- Forensic
- School
Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist
Psychologists and psychiatrists are similar in that they both have the goal to improve a patient’s mental and emotional well being. The largest difference is that psychologists are trained on how the mind functions, whereas psychiatrists are trained in medicine and how it can improve mental health and human behavior. When a patient seeks to be evaluated, the patient will first see a psychologist to get an idea as to what could be wrong. If the patient needs to be prescribed medicine for their symptoms, such as an anti-depressant or some form of mind-altering drug, that patient will be assigned to a psychiatrist for further evaluation. If a patient is showing extreme signs of abnormal behavior, that patient may end up seeing a psychiatrist right away.
Psychologist Near Me
When seeking a psychologist, it’s assumed that you are looking for a practicing psychologist that treats patients rather than a psychologist doing research or teaching. Practicing psychologists typically work at hospitals, private practices, health clinics (both in and outpatient), and nursing homes. To best find a psychologist nearest to you, use Google Maps while using the search term “Psychologist Near Me”.
Psychologist Salary
There are currently over 110,000 practicing psychologists in the United States. Top earning psychologists on average make $132,670 dollars per year while those starting out in the field on average make around $45,240 dollars per year.