To become a clinical psychologist a student has to put in many years of hard work.

• A bachelor’s degree in psychology is the basic requirement to become an administrative assistant to psychologist.
• A bachelor’s degree in psychology with at least 24 semester hours in psychology or a mix of education and experience can also get them an entry level placement in the Federal government as this is the only place where they can be hired as psychologists with this qualification. Hence the competition is very fierce to get this position.
• With a master’s degree in psychology, a candidate can work as a psychology assistant and conduct research under the direct supervision of a doctoral level clinical psychologist.
• To achieve this master’s degree a student has to get 2 years graduate study. Usually they also need to have practical experience in an applied setting and a master’s thesis on an original research program.
• To independently practice as a clinical psychologist a doctoral degree i.e. a Ph.D or Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D) is required. With this degree they work in clinical positions or private practices but they can also conduct research, teach, or have administrative responsibilities.
• To get the doctoral degree requires a five year full time graduate study concluding with a dissertation based on original research. To obtain a Psy.D practical work and examination may be opted for instead of dissertation.
• For clinical psychologist an additional year of supervised post-doctoral experience could be required.
• Clinical psychologists in Louisiana and New Mexico who prescribe medicine to their patients require completion of a post-doctoral master’s degree in psychopharmacology and pass a National examination provided by the State Board of Examiners of psychology.

When science theory and clinical knowledge come together for the purpose of understanding, prevention, and relief of psychologically based dysfunction or distress which promotes personal wellbeing and development, it is known as clinical psychology. Clinical psychologist works in the areas of research, teaching, forensic testimony consultations programme development and administration, but they are largely focused on assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental disorders. Some Clinical psychologist specialize and treat patients who have severe clinical disorders such as schizophrenia and depression, while others may treat patients by helping them to cope with personal issues such as bereavement of a loved one or a divorce. They help people to talk and open up to them about their worries and the confusion they face in life and give them a different perspective in interpreting, inferring and understanding problems and situations.

To understand their patients, Clinical psychologist interview their patients in their own private offices and give them diagnostic and psychometric tests. They use different strategies to treat their patients and these approaches are according to the specialty they work in. They provide individual therapy or family or group psychotherapy by designing and implementing behaviour modification programs.

Clinical psychologist work in different settings such as hospitals where they work together with other specialists and physicians to design and put in practice treatments and intervention programs that patients are able to understand and abide by. Some Clinical psychologist work in universities where they teach graduate students behavioural medicine services and delivery of mental health. They also work in other different settings where they offer evaluation, therapy, remediation and consultation in work places such as crisis counselling services, mental health clinics or drug rehabilitation centres.

Clinical psychologist may further work in specialised fields and in areas of their specialization such as mental health, emotional disturbances, learning disability or substance abuse. These and other specialties have gained prominence due to the fact that more and more psychologists are focusing on special patient population.

When dealing with patients Clinical psychologist are often in consultation with other medical professionals to give the patient the best medical help, especially when the patient might require prescribed medication. Clinical psychologist are generally not allowed to prescribe medications in most of the states of USA, as only psychiatrist and other medical doctors can do so. There are two states viz. Louisiana and New Mexico which allow certain trained Clinical psychologist to prescribe medication within some limitations.

• The average salary across USA for a clinical psychologist inclusive of bonus is in the range of US $ 40,045 and $ 127,179.

• Salary According to Years of Experience

• Experience of less than one year the salary range is between $ 29,277 and $ 70,638.
• Experience between one to four years the salary range is between $ 34,533 and $ 83,404.
• Experience between five to nine years the salary range is between $ 43,284 and $ 101,398.
• Experience between ten to nineteen years the salary range is between $ 49,981 and $ 109,744.
• Experience of more than twenty years the salary range is between $ 59,556 and $ 129,182.

• Salary According to Industry

• Clinical psychologists working in the healthcare field draw an average annual salary range between $ 4,641 and $ 102,215.
• Clinical psychologists working independently draw an average annual salary range between $ 39,682 and $ 115,496.
• Clinical psychologists working in community mental health draw an average annual salary range between $ 38,851 and $ 85,424.
• Clinical psychologists working as a psychotherapist draw an average annual salary range between $ 35,674 and $ 124,270.
• Clinical psychologists working in the health care services draw an average annual salary range between $ 40,898 and $ 110, 520.
• Clinical psychologists working in counselling field draw an average annual salary range between $ 31,676 and $ 99,397.
• Clinical psychologists working in the healthcare field draw an average annual salary range between $ 34,765 and $ 99,965.

• Salary According to City

• Clinical psychologists working in Los Angeles, California earn an annual salary range between $ 4,275 and $ 103,243.
• Clinical psychologists working in New York, New York earn an annual salary range between $ #4,493 and $ 10,000.
• Clinical psychologists working in Atlanta, Georgia earn an annual salary range between $ 42,712 and $ 120,805.
• Clinical psychologists working in Boston, Massachusetts earn an annual salary range between $ 35,871 and $ 118,498.
• Clinical psychologists working in Chicago, Illinois earn an annual salary range between $ 30,856 and $ 102,115.
• Clinical psychologists working in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania earn an annual salary range between $ 36,492 and $ 92,412.

Job prospects are best for people with a doctorate degree from a leading university. Psychologists with experience in computer science and quantitative research method will have a favourable advantage over those who do not have this.

• Clinical psychologists require being emotionally stable, mature, and having people skills.
• They should be sensitive and compassionate.
• Coming in contact with patients require good communication skills, and the ability to lead and inspire others.
• For research work they should have an eye for details and be able to work autonomously and as a team.
• They should have loads of patience and be persevering which are qualities required as solutions for dealing with psychological problems and treating them sometimes takes a long time to achieve.
• Sustained and intense concentration is required for the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management of patients.
• Should have a thorough knowledge both theoretical and practical of specific psychological therapies when it comes to treating difficult groups such as those who have personality disorder, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc.
• Keeping up to date with the legislation and policies and applying good practice and principles of valuing people.
• Should have formal training in the supervision of other psychologists.

A Clinical psychologists primary duty is towards their patients and for the well being of the patients they chalk out a plan. The plan involves assessing the patient’s condition, diagnosing the patient’s problem and treating the symptoms and root problem.

Duties of a Clinical psychologists

• Assessment:

• Interview the patient and directly observe the behaviour of the patient.
• Use of psychometric and diagnostic tests.
• If the patient has been to other doctors/psychologists, peruse their records.
• Refer to text books and other reading materials such as medical journals and manuals.

• Diagnosis:

• Based on the assessment and referring to his notes pertaining to the patient, diagnose what the patient is suffering from.
• Review all symptoms and disorders and refer to manuals such as Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
• Reach a correct diagnosis for the patient as there might be many other underlying problems which would have come out during the interview and tests.

• Treatment:

• On the basis of the diagnosis devise and monitor the appropriate plan for treatment.
• The plan could be therapy, counselling and advice and is generally in consultation with other colleagues.
• Get patient involvement at every stage of the treatment as without the patient’s willingness no treatment can work.
• Use a variety of treatment methods such as psychotherapy, behaviour modification, hypnosis, role play therapy and psychodrama.
• Whenever required refer the patients to other specialists, support services or institutions.
• Write reports on their patients and maintain complete records about them.

Responsibilities of a Clinical psychologists

• Keep in touch with the current knowledge of relevant research.
• To work in tandem with the team and within the professional guidelines and overall framework of the team’s policies and procedures.
• To make use of the research skills for audit, service development and research.
• Write a perfect and objective analysis of the effectiveness of the counselling and treatment of the patient.
• Write papers regarding the research and work that they have done on a patient.