Clinical / Counseling Psychologist

Assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. Help individuals with distress or maladjustment understand their problems through their knowledge of case history, interviews with patients, and theory. Provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment. May design behavior modification programs and consult with medical personnel regarding the best treatment for patients.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Case Manager; Clinical Psychologist; Counseling Psychologist; Counselor; Licensed Clinical Psychologist; Licensed Psychologist; LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor); Psychologist; Psychotherapist; Therapist

Tasks

• Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.
• Document patient information including session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatment plans.
• Identify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, or reference materials.
• Write reports on clients and maintain required paperwork.
• Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action 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.
• Collect information about individuals or clients, using interviews, case histories, observational techniques, and other assessment methods.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling or treatments and the accuracy and completeness of diagnoses, modifying plans or diagnoses as necessary.
• Use a variety of treatment methods, such as psychotherapy, hypnosis, behavior modification, stress reduction therapy, psychodrama, or play therapy.
• Develop therapeutic and treatment plans based on clients' interests, abilities, or needs.
• Develop and implement individual treatment plans, specifying type, frequency, intensity, and duration of therapy.
• Maintain current knowledge of relevant research.
• Obtain and study medical, psychological, social, and family histories by interviewing individuals, couples, or families and by reviewing records.
• Select, administer, score, and interpret psychological tests to obtain information on individuals' intelligence, achievements, interests, or personalities.
• Consult reference material, such as textbooks, manuals, or journals, to identify symptoms, make diagnoses, or develop approaches to treatment.

Knowledge

• Psychology
• Therapy and Counseling
• English Language
• Education and Training
• Customer and Personal Service
• Sociology and Anthropology

Skills

• Reading Comprehension
• Active Listening
• Writing
• Critical Thinking
• Speaking
• Active Learning
• Monitoring
• Learning Strategies

Abilities

• Oral Expression
• Written Comprehension
• Oral Comprehension
• Problem Sensitivity
• Written Expression
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity
• Fluency of Ideas
• Originality
• Information Ordering
• Category Flexibility
• Selective Attention
• Near Vision
• Flexibility of Closure