CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY Even though not all psychologists do counseling or therapy, many

psychologists do. Clinical psychology is the most similar of the areas to psychiatry in that
professionals with this focus traditionally work with individuals with more serious forms of mental
illness. It is also the area of specialization with the largest number of psychologists. Clinical
psychologists, like psychiatrists, diagnose and treat psychological disorders in people. However, the
clinical psychologist cannot prescribe drugs or medical therapies (with the exceptions discussed
earlier, of course) but instead relies on listening or observing the client’s problems, possibly
administering psychological tests, and then providing explanations for the client’s behavior and
feelings or directing them in specific actions to make positive changes in his or her life.

COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY Counseling psychology is similar to clinical psychology in that this type of
psychologist diagnoses and treats problems. The difference is that acounseling psychologist usually
works with relatively healthy people who have less severe forms of mental illness or problems, such
as adjustment to college, marriage, family life, work problems, and so on.

DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY Developmental psychology is an area that focuseson the study of

change, or development. Developmental psychologists are interested in changes in the way people
think, in how people relate to others, and in the ways people feel over the entire span of life.

EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY Experimental psychology encompasses several different areas such as

learning, memory, thinking, perception, motivation, and language.
The focus of these psychologists, however, is on doing research and conducting studies and
experiments with both people and animals in these various areas

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY Social psychology is an area that focuses on how human behavior is affected by
the presence of other people. For example, social psychologists explore areas such as prejudice,
attitude change, aggressive behavior, and interpersonal attraction. Although most social
psychologists work in academic settings teaching and doing research, some work in federal agencies
and big business doing practical (applied) research. In fact, many social psychologists are
experimental psychologists who perform their experiments in real-world settings rather than the
laboratory to preserve the natural reactions of people.

PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY Personality psychology focuses on the differences in personality among

people. These psychologists may look at the influence of heredity on personality. They study the
ways in which people are both alike and different. They look at the development of personality and
do personality assessment. They may be involved in forming new theories of how personality works
or develops.

PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY Physiological psychology is an area that focuses on the study of the
biological bases of behavior. Many professionals now refer to this area as behavioral neuroscience or
biopsychology. Physiological psychologists study the brain, nervous system, and the influence of the
body’s chemicals, such as hormones and the chemicals in the brain, on human behavior. They study
the effects of drug use and possible genetic influences on some kinds of abnormal and normal
human behavior, such as schizophrenia or aspects of intelligence.

NEUROPSYCHOLOGY Neuropsychology is an area within the field of psychology in which professionals

explore the relationships between the brain systems and behavior.
Neuropsychologists may be engaged in research or more focused on the assessment, diagnosis,
treatment, and/or rehabilitation of individuals with various neurological, medical,
neurodevelopmental or psychiatric conditions.

PSYCHOLOGY AND HEALTH

Health psychology focuses on the relationship of human behavior patterns and stress reactions to
physical health with the goal of improving and helping to maintain good health while preventing and
treating illness. For example, a health psychologist might design a program to help people lose
weight or stop smoking. Stress management techniques are also a major focus of this area. Health
psychologists may work in hospitals, clinics, medical schools, health agencies, academic settings, or
private practice.

PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATION

Educational psychology is concerned with the study of human learning. As educational
psychologists come to understand some of the basic aspects of learning, they develop methods and
materials for aiding the process of learning. For example, educational psychologists helped to design
the phonics method of teaching children to read. This type of psychologist may have a doctorate of
education (Ed.D.) rather than a Ph.D. and typically works in academic settings.

PSYCHOLOGY AND SPORTS

Sports psychology is a relatively new and fast-growing field in which the main focus is on helping
athletes and others involved in sports activities prepare mentally, ratherthan just physically, for
participation in sports. The idea behind this field is that a superior physical performance is not
enough to guarantee success; rather, the mind must be prepared for the activity by setting clear,
short-term goals, holding positive thoughts, using visualization of the goal, stopping negative
thoughts, and other techniques based primarily in the cognitive perspective. For example, a sports
psychologist might have a golfer, who has been having trouble with the accuracy of his drives,
perform visualization exercises, mentally seeing himself hit the ball down the fairway again and
again. Sports psychologists work in athletic organizations and may have a private practice or do
consulting work.

PSYCHOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Another broad area in which psychological principles can be applied to solve practical problems is
the area of managing the environment. Environmental psychology is an area that focuses on the
relationship between human behavior and the environment in which the behavior takes place, such
as an office, store, school, dormitory, or hospital. Because the concern of researchers in this field
deals directly with behavior in a particular setting, research is always conducted in that setting rather
than in a laboratory. Environmental psychologists may work with other professionals such as urban
or city planners, economists, engineers, and architects, helping those professionals to plan the most
efficient buildings, parks, housing developments, or plants.

PSYCHIATRISTS A psychiatrist has a medical doctorate (M.D.) degree and is a medical doctor who has
specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders. Like any other medical doctor
who may specialize in emergency medicine, treating the diseases of the elderly, treating infants and
children, or any other special area of medicine, psychiatrists are able to write prescriptions and
perform medical procedures on their patients. They simply have special training in the diagnosis and
treatment of disorders that are considered to be mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression,
or extreme anxiety. Because they are medical doctors, they tend to have a biopsychological
perspective on the causes and treatments for such disorders.

PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKERS A psychiatric social worker is trained in the area of social work and
usually possesses a master of social work (M.S.W.) degree and may be licensed in the state they work
as a licensed clinical social worker (L.C.S.W.). These professionals focus more on the social conditions
that can have an impact on mental disorders, such as poverty, overcrowding, stress, and drug abuse.
They may administer psychotherapy (talking with clients about their problems) and often work in a
clinical setting where other types of psychological professionals are available.
PSYCHOLOGISTS A psychologist doesn’t have medical training but instead undergoes intense
academic training, learning about many different areas of psychology before choosing an area in
which to specialize. Psychologists may have either a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) or doctor of
psychology (Psy.D.) degree. (People who hold a Master of Science or M.S. degree are not usually
called psychologists except in a few states. They can be called therapists or counselors, or they may
be teachers or researchers.)