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Specialized Fields in Psychology: The Health Psychologist

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psychologistIs A Career as a Health Psychologist in Your Future?

If a career in psychology is on your agenda, but you have not decided what field of psychology you want to enter, you may want to consider a health psychology career. The psychologists in this field study how social, biological, and physiological aspects affect the physical well-being of an individual. Here is some information you may need if this field of psychology peaks your interest.

Duties of a Health Psychologist

As a health psychologist, you will perform many different tasks, depending on the type of specialty and where you work.

  • Clinical- In a clinical setting, such as a hospital or doctors office, you will most likely work directly with doctors and other medical professionals. You will be expected to conduct interviews, do psychological assessments, perform personality tests, and may even be involved in interventions for patients who need help overcoming obstacles like smoking, drinking, and drugs.
  • Public Awareness- In some cases, health psychologists work with private or governmental agencies to help raise awareness of public policies regarding health. You may have to speak to government official about new and old health care policies, lobby for new health care policies, or take care of inadequacies in the health care system.
  • Research- In the area of research, you will most likely conduct studies regarding the prevention, causes, and treatment of health problems.

Where Are The Best Places to Pursue Your Career as a Health Psychologist?

Health Psychologists can work in a variety of different places, including:

  • Hospitals
  • Doctor’s offices
  • Government agencies
  • Colleges and Universities
  • Rehabilitation centers
  • Mental health centers
  • Private psychology practices

Earning a Health Psychology Degree

If you wish to work in the health psychology field, you need to earn the right degree. Most health psychologists have a doctorate degree in psychology. In many cases, employers will only hire on health psychologists with this type of degree. Sometimes, though, an employer will only require you to possess a bachelor’s or master’s degree in health psychology. These lower degrees may limit you in terms of employment opportunities and salary, and your work may be closely monitored by a licensed psychologist.

Most of these psychologist study general psychology in an undergraduate program. After completing these courses, the psychologists will move on to graduate school, where they will specialize in the field of health psychology.

Pay Rate for Health Psychologists

The American Psychological Association states that psychologists who are employed specifically for direct human services earn about $80,000 a year. They also estimate that 13 percent of the psychologists working for direct human services are health psychologists. Of course, this estimation of pay may reflect more advance psychologists. Those who are just starting out in the field may earn significantly less.

If a career as a health psychologist isn’t right for you, check out the other psychology specialized fields on our site.

 

If you are interested in a career in psychology, you may want to consider becoming a health psychologist. In this field, you will have the opportunity to work in many different areas, performing various tasks to help determine the prevention, causes, and treatment of health problems.

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