{"id":1281,"date":"2021-08-23T15:40:47","date_gmt":"2021-08-23T13:40:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expert.holanuna.com\/practika\/?p=1281"},"modified":"2021-08-23T15:40:47","modified_gmt":"2021-08-23T13:40:47","slug":"specialties-psychology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expert.holanuna.com\/practika\/specialties-psychology\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Specialty Areas to Launch Your Career in Psychology"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ever heard the saying \u201cjack of all trades but master of none\u201d? Well, it applies to psychology too. Specialties in psychology mean psychologists can direct their learnings in one particular area and establish themselves as experts rather than generalists.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Since psychology has become an increasingly diversified field, with more and more <\/span>specialty areas<\/span> for psychologists \u2013 and clients \u2013 to choose from, you\u2019ll want to narrow down and focus your efforts on particular <\/span>areas of psychology<\/span>, treatment populations, or <\/span>mental health<\/span> issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Finding the right <\/b>specialization<\/b> can supercharge your career path, showing you where to concentrate your training or where to aim your marketing efforts to <\/b>get more therapy clients<\/b><\/a> if you decide to go the <\/span>private practice<\/span> route.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Our guide makes the decision easier for aspiring practitioners starting their <\/span>psychology careers<\/span>. Use our overview to understand the ecosystem of <\/span>psychology specialties<\/span> and choose one that fits your skills, interests, and ambitions.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Specialties in psychology: the top 12 fields to choose from<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Clinical psychology<\/span><\/h3>\n

Clinical psychology<\/span> is the most popular area of <\/span>specialization<\/span> for psychologists according to the <\/span>Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/span><\/a>. The <\/span>American Psychological Association<\/span> (<\/span>APA<\/span>) provides the following definition: \u201c<\/span>clinical psychology<\/span> is the psychological specialty that provides continuing and comprehensive mental and behavioral <\/span>health care<\/span> for individuals and families; consultation to agencies and communities; training, education and supervision; and research-based practice\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Clinical psychologists<\/span> are highly trained specialists who diagnose and treat <\/span>mental illness<\/span>, often in clinical settings like hospitals or <\/span>mental health<\/span> centers but also in community settings, academic institutions, or <\/span>private practice<\/span>. Many <\/span>clinical psychologists<\/span> further specialize in <\/span>subfields<\/span> where they focus on treating particular <\/span>mental disorders<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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A day in the life of a <\/span>clinical psychologist<\/span> is varied: they\u2019ll interview patients, conduct diagnostic assessments, and provide <\/span>psychotherapy<\/span> to improve patient <\/span>wellbeing<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Aspiring <\/span>clinical psychologists<\/span> in the US usually need to get a <\/span>PhD<\/span> or Doctor of Psychology (<\/span>PsyD<\/span>)\u00a0 after their <\/span>bachelor\u2019s degree<\/span>, though some countries offer <\/span>master\u2019s degrees<\/span> in <\/span>clinical psychology<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Counseling psychology<\/span><\/h3>\n

Counseling psychologists<\/span> focus on providing treatment to patients with <\/span>mental health<\/span> issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Some of their work is similar to that of <\/span>clinical psychologists<\/span>: they assess, diagnose, and treat patients. However, they are less likely to perform clinical diagnostic tests, and they often treat less severe forms of <\/span>mental illness<\/span> than <\/span>clinical psychologists<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Counseling psychologists<\/span> offer <\/span>psychotherapy<\/span> based on evidence-driven <\/span>psychological principles<\/span>. They work with individuals who need help dealing with emotional problems or general issues like life transitions, relationships, or career development.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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To become a <\/span>counseling psychologist<\/span>, you will need a <\/span>bachelor\u2019s degree<\/span> followed by graduate studies (a <\/span>master\u2019s degree<\/span> and\/or <\/span>doctoral degree<\/span>). Many <\/span>counseling psychologists<\/span> work in <\/span>private practice<\/span> while others work in <\/span>health care<\/span> institutions or community clinics.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re starting out as a <\/span>counseling psychologist<\/span>, take a look at our guides on how to <\/span>start an online therapy practice<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>mistakes to avoid when starting a counseling practice<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Social psychology<\/span><\/h3>\n

Social psychologists<\/span> conduct research<\/span> to understand how people interact with one another, and how interpersonal environments affect individual and group behavior.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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They run research studies and analyze data according to <\/span>psychological principles<\/span> to provide insights into <\/span>human behavior<\/span>. <\/span>Social psychologists<\/span> often study behavioral change, personality theories, prejudice formation, why and how people form relationships, and group dynamics.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Social psychologists<\/span> can operate in universities but they are also popular in the corporate field for market research, as well as in civic institutions, architectural, and engineering companies.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The path to becoming a <\/span>social psychologist<\/span> usually begins with a <\/span>bachelor\u2019s degree<\/span> in psychology followed by further specialized study, typically a <\/span>master\u2019s degree<\/span>, <\/span>PhD<\/span>, or <\/span>PsyD<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Organizational psychology<\/span><\/h3>\n

Organizational psychology (also known as <\/span>industrial-organizational psychology<\/span>) is a fast-growing specialty that focuses on the relationship between people and work.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Organizational psychologists apply evidence-based <\/span>psychological principles<\/span> to the workplace to improve organizational structure, employee productivity and satisfaction, recruitment, and consumer behavior.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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As well as conducting generalized research on these topics, organizational psychologists engage in problem-solving to find solutions for common workplace issues like low motivation, bullying, or poor employee <\/span>mental health<\/span>. They typically work closely with management in corporate settings.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Aspiring organizational psychologists should enroll in bachelor\u2019s-level <\/span>psychology programs<\/span> followed by a <\/span>master\u2019s degree<\/span>, and look for experience in the field. Some <\/span>industrial-organizational psychologists<\/span> choose to get a <\/span>PhD<\/span>, but industry experience is often more important.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Developmental psychology<\/span><\/h3>\n

Developmental psychologists<\/span> investigate how people grow and change across the <\/span>lifespan<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Developmental psychology<\/span> aims to explain the process of human development and show how it can be optimized. <\/span>Developmental psychologists<\/span> are especially interested in behavioral changes, emotional development, learning and <\/span>cognition<\/span>, socialization, and deviations from standard behavioral or developmental patterns.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Often, they focus on development in childhood, but <\/span>developmental psychology<\/span> can be applied across the entire <\/span>lifespan<\/span>, from newborn children to those in old age.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Developmental psychologists<\/span> with a <\/span>PhD<\/span> often work in academic institutions, while others are employed in school systems, <\/span>government agencies<\/span>, clinics, and childcare settings.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Educational psychology<\/span><\/h3>\n

Educational psychologists<\/span> apply <\/span>psychological principles<\/span> (including principles drawn from <\/span>developmental psychology<\/span>) to study how people learn and improve teaching and learning practices.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Educational psychologists<\/span> design appropriate curriculums for each developmental stage and advise on best practices in teaching. <\/span>Educational psychologists<\/span> or <\/span>school psychologists<\/span> who work in educational settings may also diagnose childhood disorders (including ADHD, autism, and OCD) and treat children or adolescents whose <\/span>mental health<\/span> issues create problems with their school learning. <\/span>Educational psychology<\/span> is also concerned with learning and development in the family.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Usually, a <\/span>master\u2019s degree<\/span> is the minimum qualification required to be an <\/span>educational psychologist<\/span> or <\/span>school psychologist<\/span>, though many practitioners also choose to pursue a <\/span>doctoral degree<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Forensic psychology<\/span><\/h3>\n

Forensic psychologists<\/span> work at the intersection of psychology and law, considering issues in the criminal justice system from a psychological perspective.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Forensic psychologists<\/span> conduct research<\/span> on topics like jury selection, courtroom dynamics, and prison rehabilitation. They also play an important role during trials, evaluating the mental state of defendants and their fitness to stand trial.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Forensic psychologists<\/span> may provide expertise to help a judge to make decisions around the psychological damage sustained by a victim or which parent should be granted custody of a child. Some <\/span>forensic psychologists<\/span> work directly in prisons or law enforcement settings, counseling inmates, while others help victims of crimes to recover their <\/span>well-being<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Forensic psychologists<\/span> usually have a <\/span>master\u2019s degree<\/span> in a clinical, counseling, experimental, or <\/span>social psychology<\/span>. Many also hold degrees in law, though this is not always necessary \u2013 plenty of graduates find opportunities to gain legal knowledge in their <\/span>bachelor\u2019s degree<\/span> or <\/span>master\u2019s degree<\/span> or through work experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Neuropsychology<\/span><\/h3>\n

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Neuropsychology<\/span> (or psychobiology) is a psychological <\/span>subfield<\/span> in which clinicians investigate the link between the brain and <\/span>nervous system<\/span> and behavior.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Neuropsychologists<\/span> conduct important research that explains how actions, <\/span>cognition<\/span>, and psychological states are affected by the central <\/span>nervous system<\/span> (and vice versa). They also diagnose and treat specific neurological impairments like Alzheimer\u2019s diseases, epilepsy, and autism as well as patients recovering from <\/span>brain injuries<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Many clinical <\/span>neuropsychologists<\/span> work directly with patients who experience dysfunctions of the central <\/span>nervous system<\/span> to improve their functioning through cognitive retraining among other psychological techniques.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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To become a <\/span>neuropsychologist<\/span>, you\u2019ll need to start with a <\/span>bachelor\u2019s degree<\/span> in <\/span>neuroscience<\/span>, psychology, pre-med, or biology, and continue with graduate studies. It\u2019s possible to work as a <\/span>neuropsychologist<\/span> with a <\/span>master\u2019s degree<\/span>, but most aspiring <\/span>neuropsychologists<\/span> acquire a <\/span>PhD<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Behavioral and <\/span>cognitive psychology<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

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Behavioral and <\/span>cognitive psychology<\/span> is a joint <\/span>specialization<\/span> whose practitioners make connections between people\u2019s feelings and the way they behave.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Behavioral and cognitive psychologists help individuals and groups to maintain positive behavior patterns and discourage problematic behaviors using techniques like applied behavior analysis, cognitive-behavioral therapy, social learning theories, and emotional processing theories.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The <\/span>subfield<\/span> of behavioral and <\/span>cognitive psychology<\/span> is based on an experiment-clinical approach. Some behavioral and cognitive psychologists conduct experiments and research to better understand <\/span>human behavior<\/span> and cognitive patterns, while others treat clients through a combination of behavioral and cognitive interventions.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Usually, behavioral and cognitive psychologists will need to earn a <\/span>PhD<\/span> or <\/span>PsyD<\/span>, though in some locations you may be able to practice cognitive-behavioral therapy as a counselor with a <\/span>master\u2019s degree<\/span> in psychology.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Health psychology<\/span><\/h3>\n

Health psychologists<\/span> help patients to improve their mental and physical health.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Research in <\/span>health psychology<\/span> focuses on how health-related behaviors are affected by\u00a0 <\/span>cognitions<\/span>, emotions, social interactions, and memory. They also study psychological factors in treatment and recovery from physical illness.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Applied <\/span>health psychologists<\/span> design and lead programs based on <\/span>psychological principles<\/span> to help people to lose weight, stop smoking, and improve physical fitness.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Health psychologists<\/span> may work in medical settings like hospitals or clinics, <\/span>private practice<\/span>, or in <\/span>government agencies<\/span> where they work to improve public health policy and health systems.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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To work in this <\/span>subfield<\/span>, after your <\/span>bachelor\u2019s degree<\/span>, you\u2019ll need to get a <\/span>master\u2019s degree<\/span> focused on <\/span>health psychology<\/span>. Most <\/span>health psychologists<\/span> then progress to doctoral studies.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Choosing the right specialties in psychology<\/span><\/h3>\n

Working in psychology is an exciting career path with a broad range of specialties to suit your interests and needs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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To home in on the right <\/span>subfield<\/span> for you, think about:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n