British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy
Health psychologists study the various reactions of individuals when diagnosed with a particular disease, as well as factors that affect their treatment choices. They assist patients through chronic disease care, such as diabetes or substance abuse, and encourage a healthy lifestyle.
5 Steps to Become a Health Psychologist Step 1: Bachelor’s degree in psychology . A bachelor’s degree is the foundation for a career in health psychology . Step 2: Master’s degree in psychology . Step 3: Doctorate in psychology . Step 4: Licensure. Step 5: Board certification in clinical health psychology .
Health psychology focuses on how biological, social and psychological factors influence health and illness. Health psychologists study how patients handle illness, why some people don’t follow medical advice and the most effective ways to control pain or change poor health habits.
The main difference between health psychology and clinical psychology is that health psychology focuses on the health of clients and patients, while clinical psychology focuses on mental illnesses (i.e. psychological disorders, abnormal behaviors, and psychiatric illnesses).
Goals of Health Psychology preventing illness. investigating the effects of disease. providing critical analyses of health policies. conducting research on prevention of and intervention in health problems.
Clinical psychologists often work in hospitals , private practice, or academic settings. Some specialize in treating certain psychological disorders while others work with clients experiencing a wide variety of problems. Clinical psychologists also treat psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and depression.
What You Can Earn. Salaries for health psychologists depend on geographic location, work setting, educational background and job experience. The American Psychological Association’s 2009 salary survey found that health psychologists working in direct human services earned an average of $80,000 per year.
No, of course not. Assuming you have no prior education, you should count on earning a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degree in Psychology . Of course, beginning at age 40 will shorten your career, by 20 or 25 years compared with others in the field who began much earlier.
Payscale.com reports the average salary for clinical psychologists and hospital psychologists is $77,500 per year, with a range between $49,000 and $111,000. (Payscale.com).
Counseling psychologists focus on facilitating personal and interpersonal functioning across the lifespan. Health psychologists use the science of psychology to promote health , prevent illness and improve health care. They get to the root of people’s emotions to help them make healthy choices.
Overall, psychologists assess, diagnose, and treat the psychological problems and the behavioral dysfunctions resulting from, or related to physical and mental health . In addition, they play a major role in the promotion of healthy behavior, preventing diseases and improving patients’ quality of life.
Actions that can be classified as health behaviors are many; examples include smoking, substance use, diet, physical activity, sleep, risky sexual activities, health care seeking behaviors , and adherence to prescribed medical treatments.
The 9 Highest Paying Psychology Careers Psychiatrist . Average Salary: $216,090 per year. Industrial-Organizational Psychologist . Average Salary: $102,530. Neuropsychologist . Average Salary: $90,460 per year. Clinical Psychologist . Engineering Psychologist . Counseling Psychologist . Forensic Psychologist. School Psychologist .
A master’s degree in health psychology prepares students for entry-level careers in the field, including positions as research assistants and behavior specialists. A master’s in the field also prepares students to teach college courses in psychology .
Clinical health psychology is a professionally recognized specialty that investigates and implements clinical services across diverse populations and settings to promote health and well-being and to prevent, treat and manage illness and disability.