Psychologists

Psychologist is an academic, occupational or professional title used by individuals who are either:

• Social scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college or university;
• Academic professionals who apply psychological research, theories and techniques to "real-world" problems, questions and issues in business, industry, or government.
• Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts (contrast with psychiatrists, who typically provide medical interventions and drug therapies, as opposed to analysis and counseling).

There are many different types of psychologists, as is reflected by the 56 different divisions of the American Psychological Association (APA). Psychologists are generally described as being either "applied" or "research-oriented". The common terms used to describe this central division in psychology are "scientists" or "scholars" (those who conduct research) and "practitioners" or "professionals" (those who apply psychological knowledge). The training models endorsed by the APA require that applied psychologists be trained as both researchers and practitioners, and that they possess advanced degrees.

Most typically, people encounter psychologists and think of the discipline as involving the work of clinical psychologists or counseling psychologists. While counseling and psychotherapy are common activities for psychologists, these applied fields are just one branch in the larger domain of psychology. Research and teaching comprise a major role among psychologists.

Licensing and regulation

United States and Canada

Full membership with the American Psychological Association in United States and Canada requires doctoral training (except in some provinces like Alberta where a master's degree is sufficient.) Associate membership requires at least two years of postgraduate studies in psychology or approved related discipline. The minimal requirement for full membership can be waived in certain circumstances where there is evidence that significant contribution or performance in the field of psychology has been made.

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 "psychologist". The exception to this is the profession of a school psychologist who can be certified by boards of education to practice and use the title "psychologist." The entry level degree for a school psychologist is a Masters or Education Specialist (Ed.S). The most commonly recognized psychology professionals are clinical and counseling psychologists, those who provide psychotherapy and/or administer and interpret psychological "tests." There are state-by-state differences in requirements for academics in psychology and government employees.

Psychologists in the United States have campaigned for legislation changes to enable specially trained psychologists to prescribe psychiatric medicine. New legislation in Louisiana and New Mexico has granted those who take an additional masters program in psychopharmacology permission to prescribe medications for mental and emotional disorders in co-ordination with the patient's physician. Louisiana was the second state to provide such legislation. This legislation has not come without considerable controversy. As of 2009, Louisiana is the only of the United States where the licensing and regulation of the practice of psychology by medical psychologists who prescribe medications is regulated by those in medicine (i.e., Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners). While other states have pursued prescriptive privileges, they have yet to be successful. Similar legislation in the states of Hawaii and Oregon passed through the legislative House and Senate and by the Governor.

Australia

The title 'psychologist' is restricted by law. Registration as a psychologist is governed by State and Territory Psychology Registration Board. From July 1, 2010 psychologists must be registered with the Australian Psychology Board.

The minimum requirements for registration as a psychologist is an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited four year bachelors degree majoring in psychology and either a two year masters program or two years of work supervised by a registered psychologist.[1]

In Western Australia, specialist title registration with the Psychologists Board of Western Australia distinguishes between registered psychologists (i.e., four year trained), and specialist psychologists (i.e., with an accredited masters degree in an area such as Clinical, Neuropsychological, Organisational, Forensic, or Educational Psychology).[2]

Membership with Australian Psychological Society (APS) differs from registration as a psychologist. The standard route to full membership (MAPS) of the APS technically requires a masters degree in psychology in an accredited course. An alternate route is available for academics and practitioners who have gained appropriate experience and made substantial contribution to the field of psychology. Association membership requires four years of APAC accredited undergraduate study.

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.

Belgium

In Belgium, the title "psychologist" is protected by law since 1993. It can only be used by people who are included as such on the list of a national government commission. The minimum requirement is a completed five years university training in psychology (Master's degree or equivalent). The title of "psychotherapist" is not legally protected (yet).

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 a 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).Template:Copy edit 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 UK the following titles are restricted by law "registered psychologist" and "practitioner psychologist"; in addition the following specialist titles are restricted by law: "clinical psychologist", "counselling psychologist", "educational psychologist", "forensic psychologist", "health psychologist", "occupational psychologist" and "sport and exercise psychologist" . The Health Professions Council (HPC-UK) is the statutory regulator for practitioner psychologists in the UK. In the UK the use of the title "chartered psychologist" is also protected by statutory regulation. The title "chartered psychologist" simply means that the psychologist is a chartered member of the British Psychological Society but it does not necessarily signify the psychologist is registered with the HPC-UK. It is an offense for someone who is not in the appropriate section of the HPC-UK Register to provide clinical psychology services, counselling psychology services, educational psychology services, forensic psychology services, health psychology services, occupational psychology services or sport and exercise psychology services. The threshold level of qualification for entry to the Register for clinical, counselling and educational psychologists is a professional doctorate (and in the case of the latter two the British Psychological Society's Professional Qualification which meets the standards of a professional doctorate). The title ‘psychologist’ is not protected on its own.. Also the title of "neuropsychologist" is not protected at present The British Psychological Society is working with the HPC-UK to ensure that the title of "neuropsychologist" is regulated as a specialist title for practitioner psychologists; one of the options could be the use of post-doctoral level registers.

Employment

In the United States the vast majority of 170,200 psychologist jobs, 152,000 are employed in clinical, counseling, and school positions, 2300 are employed in industrial-organizational, and 15,900 in "all-other" positions. The median salary for 2008 for clinical psychologists was US$64,140 and the median salary for organizational psychologists was US$77,010.

Contrast with psychiatrist

Although clinical psychologists and psychiatrists can be said to share a same fundamental aim—the alleviation of mental distress—their training, outlook, and methodologies are often quite different. Perhaps the most significant difference is that psychiatrists are licenced physicians. As such, psychiatrists often use the medical model to assess mental health problems and rely on psychotropic medications as the chief method of addressing mental health problems—although many also employ psychotherapy as well. Psychiatrists and medical psychologists (clinical psychologists that are also licensed to prescribe) are able to conduct physical examinations, order and interpret laboratory tests and EEGs, and may order brain imaging studies such as CT or CAT, MRI, and PET scanning.

Psychologists generally do not prescribe medication, although there is a growing movement for clinical psychologists to have limited prescribing privileges. The predominant intervention technique of psychologists is psychotherapy (typically clinical psychologists are trained in a number of psychological therapies, including, behavioural, cognitive, humanistic, existential, psychodynamic, and systemic approaches). In some US states, specifically New Mexico and Louisiana, some psychologists with post-doctoral pharmacology training have been granted prescriptive authority for certain mental health disorders upon agreement with the patient's physician.

See also

• List of psychologists
• Mental health professional
• List of psychological topics
• List of psychologists on postage stamps

External links

• European Federation of Psychologists' Associations
• The National Psychologist, an independent bi-monthly newspaper for behavioral healthcare practitioners
• ThePsychologist.com Professional links for psychologists and students of psychology.
• Psychology terms
• Psychology Careers Blog Articles and other great content on Careers in Psychology
• American Psychological Association

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