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Each psychologist may decide to specialize in a particular area of practice.
Clinical psychologists work directly with individuals (children, adults and seniors) or groups, using a wide range of assessment and intervention methods to promote and restore mental health.
The psychologist's first step in working with a patient is assessment to determine the nature of the problem, taking into account the biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors affecting the individual. For a more rigorous evaluation, the psychologist may use tools such as psychometric tests, specific questionnaires, and interview techniques.
On the basis of the assessment, the psychologist can propose a treatment plan based on scientifically and professionally recognized methods. Clinical psychologists' primary method of intervention is psychotherapy. Its goal is to promote meaningful change in the client's cognitive, emotional, and behavioural functioning, interpersonal system, personality, and state of health.
Health psychologists deal with behaviours and lifestyles that affect physical and psychological health. They work in areas such as health promotion and maintenance, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, identification of biopsychosocial factors that affect health, and improvement of the health care system and health policy.
Some psychologists are called on to testify in court to issue their professional opinion regarding a specific case. They are called upon because of the specialized knowledge they possess, their training, or their skills and experience in one or more fields relevant to the case at hand. These might include child protection and juvenile delinquency; child access and custodial rights in cases of divorce and parental separation; or the assessment of disabilities resulting from accidents, illness or injuries.
By interacting with children, their parents, and their educators, school psychologists help to treat and prevent various problematic situations experienced in school and elsewhere. They work in schools to help students with personal or social problems such as adjustment and learning problems, attention and hyperactivity problems, or problems with bullying or violence.
Work and organizational psychologists deal with the organizational development and change, human resources selection, worker training and guidance, performance and skills appraisal, occupational health and safety, and employee assistance programs. Psychologists may work as consultants or be employed by a corporation.
Neuropsychologists are psychologists who assess how the functioning of the central nervous system affects how we think, feel and behave. In cases where the functioning is abnormal or problematic, psychologists may intervene to help patients live and go about their daily activities as adequately as possible.
Neuropsychological assessment may be useful for persons who have or are suspected of having one of various brain disorders that manifest themselves as behavioural, emotional or memory problems, intellectual or cognitive functioning problems, or problems performing day-to-day tasks.
Social and community psychology focuses on the individual in his or her environment and on his links with the community and society. This specialty recognizes that individuals' mental health problems are influenced by social and other external factors. This method of psychological practice seeks to identify the social determinants of individual and community well-being in order to act in the community to encourage change that promotes psychological health.
Psychologists working in university psychology departments generally teach and perform research. Research psychologists study fundamental psychological processes such as sensation and perception, learning, memory, cognition, motivation and emotion. Their work is carried out mainly in the laboratory and may involve human subjects or animals. The work carried out by research psychologists is important because is enables us to better understand human beings and develop effective intervention strategies for solving a wide range of problems.
Family mediator psychologists work with couples undergoing divorce. Family mediation is based on conflict resolution; accordingly, the psychologist remains impartial, and the process aims to lead the two parties to agree on the terms and conditions of their separation.
