If you’re seeking a job revolving around helping people, here’s some background on the 7 types of psychologists in health and social care.
History tells us that psychology was initially a branch of philosophy and later broke out as an independent branch of scientific study.
Psychology has progressed by leaps and bounds in the past few years. Today it covers numerous subfields.
The science of the human mind and its effect on behaviors seem fascinating to people. They want to learn more about it.
In fact, psychology is now a highly popular academic discipline and a blooming profession.
On the other hand, the stigma around mental health issues has diminished down. Although there is still a long way to go, many people have started acknowledging psychological issues. They do not brush mental problems under the carpet. Instead, they seek professional help.
Often when someone mentions a psychologist, you picture a person sitting in a comfortable room, scribbling notes, and listening to intimate confessions. While many psychologists indulge in talk therapy, psychologists also do various other things.
As you might know, I’m a bestselling author of a range of books which help people to live their happiest lives – like my bestseller Happy Habits.
But you might not know…because I love psychological research and supporting people, there was a time I thought about becoming a psychologist. For this reason, I’m highly aware of the different types of psychologists that are out there in both health and social care.
Oh – and by “health care” I’m referring to diagnosing medical problems, treating diseases, and enhancing people’s health.
And when I say, “social care” I’m referring to practices which provide support to vulnerable people and those who got embroiled in abusive situations.
Psychologists work in many different settings. The following are some types of psychologists in health and social care.
Pursuing a career in clinical psychology has become more and more popular. Clinical psychologists diagnose and devise treatment plans for individuals going through mental disorders and psychological distress. They often work alongside other healthcare workers in hospitals and clinics. Plus some choose to practice privately.
People need to earn a degree in psychology to work as a psychologist. In the contemporary world, many choose to opt for e-education. They can enroll in an online bachelors in psychology and get an insight into the science behind the human mind and behaviors. Clinical psychologists perform therapy and plan sessions as per clients’ conditions. They treat clients through sessions and are not allowed to prescribe medicines.
As the name implies, social psychology involves the social behavior of individuals. Social psychologists use research and other scientific techniques to understand the mental workings of human beings. They love to dig into social interactions etc. Social psychology covers leadership, conformity, group behavior, aggression, prejudice, and social perception.
Plus social psychology strongly influences people’s understanding of mental well being. Social psychologists can work in an array of settings. Some choose to work in an educational institute where they teach and run social psychology laboratories. Others find jobs in healthcare facility centers, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, or private organizations.
Behavioral neuroscience is another name for biopsychology or psychology. They study and dive deep into the human brain and research behaviors. By researching and examining the neural foundation of behavior, bio psychologists can determine many factors that impact people’s thinking, emotions, and actions.
In some cases, they also study how people’s behaviors change because of a neuro disease or a head injury. Their findings can determine different ways of preventing and managing neuro illnesses and mental traumas.
If you’re a health psychologist, you study the relation of mental and physical health and the effect of one on the other. These types of psychologists evaluate social, emotional, psychological, and biological aspects of human behavior on health.
In particular, health psychologists promote wellness by applying research and devising techniques to prevent illnesses. They work with individuals and groups and motivate them to leave unhealthy habits, like smoking, drugs, unhealthy food, lack of sleep or physical activity, etc. Plus they help people modify their lifestyles. They’re known to encourage people to live a healthy lifestyle.
If you’re a cognitive psychologist, you study the science behind human mind processes. These types of psychologists focus on the internal mental processes. In particular they love to learn about all the things that go inside the human brain.
For example: perception, memory, thought processes, attention, and learning.
Cognitive psychology’s practical applications help clients enhance decision-making, cope with memory disorders, and recover from brain injuries.
Plus cognitive psychologists often practice privately. However they can also work in hospitals, government organizations, rehabilitation facility centers, or universities.
Many aspects of human emotions, thoughts, and behaviors are universal. In contrast, several factors are developed due to cultural influences.
Cultural background can lead to stark differences in how people think, feel, and behave. Cross-cultural psychologists investigate and determine the changes in people’s behavior because of cultural differences.
Many things which are acceptable in one culture are often frowned at in another. Cross-cultural psychologists work to identify the basis of these behaviors.
If you’re an educational psychologist, you investigate how social, emotional, and cognitive factors impact the learning processes. These types of psychologists are committed to examining how people learn new things and retain information. Educational psychology is a multidisciplinary area. It incorporates other psychology fields.
For example: behavioral psychology, cognitive psychology, and developmental psychology.
Numerous educational psychologists choose to master identifying potential problems that may become obstacles in children’s and adults’ learning.
Health and social care are critical elements of society. The communities that take care of both aspects prosper. And their people lead quality lives. Physical, mental, social, and emotional health are interrelated. They affect each other. Each of these 7 kinds of psychologists are passionate about exploring how thought processes work and helping people to improve their overall well being.
Read my bestseller Happy Habits.
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