Aspiring psychologists, whether immersed in clinical or counseling studies, share one key component in common: they want to help people. These are scholars who fundamentally crave an understanding of the minds that make up our world and strive to assist in addressing problematic behaviors.
In terms of the soft-skills required for the profession, these are insightful people who can compose themselves in stressful situations, adapt well, and can predict behaviors based on scientific information and cases they have studied. For clinical psychology students, this typically means working with individuals challenged by serious mental illness.
The work of a clinical psychologist tends to overlap with psychiatrists. This began as a post-World War II effort to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in returning troops and evolved the branch into a profession that broadly centers around mental illnesses that range from major depressive disorders to schizophrenia.
Significantly, this time period saw the movement of psychologists from private practice to clinical settings. Their work is rooted in the natural sciences of psychoanalysis, humanistic psychotherapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. They treat primarily by instilling resilience in the people they meet with; neither clinical psychologists nor counseling psychologists prescribe medication.
In practice, they work in hospitals and clinics, or in private practice. Some will go on to work in clinical counseling settings in the field of social work. Counseling psychologists often work with psychologically stable individuals seeking to alleviate stressors in their life: social anxieties, emotional duress, inability to sleep, and more.
They work with leaders and managers to improve the quality of work life and solve problems in the workplace. Rehabilitation Psychologist. Similar to a rehabilitation counselor, rehabilitation psychologists work with individuals with physical or developmental disabilities to help these individuals manage their conditions. Pursuing a career in mental health can be a challenging and rewarding decision. By choosing to become a counselor or a psychologist, you can have a real impact on both individuals and their communities in a variety of settings.
This exciting program helps prepare working professional students for rewarding careers in community and social services.
Skip to main content. What Is a Counselor? Here are some of the common career paths that may be available to counseling students: Addiction Counselor. What Is a Psychologist? Get Program Details. Apply Now. Psychologists do a lot of research. They also administer and assess psychological tests such as those that measure IQ or neurological functioning.
Their clients often have serious mental illnesses, and psychologists can prescribe medications to help in treatment. Counselors sometimes administer tests as well, but they are more limited in the ones they use and in their assessment. They work with people who are dealing with temporary challenges and, according to an article on the Counselor License. They cannot prescribe medication. Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees.
Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today. In general, Psychologists must have a doctoral degree to practice. Primarily treat clients with serious mental health conditions as well as pursue research and teaching. One of the major differences between the professions is educational and training requirements. Counselors typically hold a minimum of a master's degree in either counseling or psychology.
To become a licensed professional counselor LPC , an individual must pass a national professional exam and complete a specified number of supervised hours in the field. Counseling programs require less time to complete than a doctorate, allowing students to enter the workforce faster. Some master's programs allow for part-time study, making it possible for students to remain employed in their current job while they earn their degree.
Many of these programs are also available partially or completely online. The education for counseling psychologists generally has a greater focus on research than master's level counseling programs do. These doctorate programs typically take at least five years to complete. The first four years are spent on required courses, research, clinical experiences, and a dissertation; a supervised internship in the field is completed during the fifth year. Counseling psychology and counseling degree programs are sometimes housed within a university's College of Education.
Both programs receive accreditation from different accrediting bodies in the United States. In the U. Both counselors and psychologists must also be licensed to practice within the state where they work.
To become licensed, counselors and psychologists must meet specific education, training, and testing criteria established by the state. The requirements typically include meeting a minimum education level, completing required supervised experience hours, and passing state certification exams. Another key difference between counselors and counseling psychologists is in the type of duties they typically perform.
Counseling psychologists often conduct psychological assessments and administer diagnostic tests to clients, while counselors tend to focus less on using these tools. Additionally, state laws can dictate the types of assessments a counselor can offer and may require that administration of these tests be supervised by a psychologist. Counseling psychologists typically work with clients who have serious mental health conditions. Both professionals provide important mental health services that are designed to help people overcome challenges and optimize their well-being.
Counselors and psychologists can both choose to specialize in a particular area, which can be related to the setting they practice in or the type of clients they work with. Specializing generally requires additional education, training, and licensure, and may require research, internships, or fieldwork.
0コメント