Psychologist

Overview and Key Facts

What Do They Do?

A psychologist could...

Overview Listen to this section

Why people take certain actions can often feel like a mystery. Psychologists help solve these mysteries by investigating the physical, cognitive, emotional, or social aspects of human behavior and the human mind. Some psychologists also apply these findings in order to design better products or to help people change their behaviors.

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Psychologist?

1. Social Perceptiveness: ? Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
2. Active Listening: ? Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
3. Speaking: ? Talking to others to convey information effectively.
4. Critical Thinking: ? Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
5. Service Orientation: ? Actively looking for ways to help people.

6. Writing: ? Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
7. Active Learning: ? Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
8. Complex Problem Solving: ? Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
9. Reading Comprehension: ? Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
10. Judgment and Decision Making: ? Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Psychologist might do:

• Collect information about individuals or clients, using interviews, case histories, observational techniques, and other assessment methods.
• Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans.
• Document patient information including session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatment plans.
• 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.
• Develop therapeutic and treatment plans based on clients' interests, abilities, or needs.
• 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.
• Write reports on clients and maintain required paperwork.
• Consult with or provide consultation to other doctors, therapists, or clinicians regarding patient care.
• Obtain and study medical, psychological, social, and family histories by interviewing individuals, couples, or families and by reviewing records.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling or treatments and the accuracy and completeness of diagnoses, modifying plans or diagnoses as necessary.
• Select, administer, score, and interpret psychological tests to obtain information on individuals' intelligence, achievements, interests, or personalities.
• Advise clients on how they could be helped by counseling.
• Develop and implement individual treatment plans, specifying type, frequency, intensity, and duration of therapy.
• Consult with other professionals, agencies, or universities to discuss therapies, treatments, counseling resources or techniques, and to share occupational information.
• Refer clients to other specialists, institutions, or support services as necessary.
• Maintain current knowledge of relevant research.
• Consult reference material, such as textbooks, manuals, or journals, to identify symptoms, make diagnoses, or develop approaches to treatment.
• Observe individuals at play, in group interactions, or in other contexts to detect indications of mental deficiency, abnormal behavior, or maladjustment.
• Provide consulting services, including educational programs, outreach programs, or prevention talks to schools, social service agencies, businesses, or the general public.
• Provide occupational, educational, or other information to individuals so that they can make educational or vocational plans.
• Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.
• Prepare written evaluations of individuals' psychological competence for court hearings.
• Supervise and train interns, clinicians in training, and other counselors.