Short description
Clinical psychology methods are used in classical medical practice. This area began to actively develop at the end of the 19th century and is closely related to psychiatry. There are several sections of clinical psychology: psychotherapy, neuropsychology, psychosomatics and others. Clinical psychologists have in-depth knowledge of anatomy and medicine. The direction is wide-ranging, because specialists are responsible for the harmonious development of the psyche, adaptation, psychological support and rehabilitation of patients.
Sections of medical psychology
Health psychology involves a number of areas of professional activity, for example:
- Clinical psychology. In this area, the work of specialists includes psychotherapy along with behavior modification and health education.
- Population health. People who work in this field are busy developing all kinds of preventive measures. Working with groups, they promote a healthy lifestyle.
- Psychology of public health. Such specialists engage in health research at the state population level and often provide advice and recommendations to health care workers, as well as government agencies.
What does it take to get a job as a medical psychologist?
Features of the profession
Clinical psychologists most often interact with people who experience difficulties in issues related to adaptation, self-realization, and personality development. These processes depend on the social, spiritual and physical state of the patient. Clinical psychologists use the following methods:
- conversations, observation;
- psychophysical, anamnestic, biographical, experimental and psychological methods;
- studying the products of activity and creativity.
A clinical psychologist at a university studies a whole range of natural science disciplines, as well as the anatomy of the central nervous system, neuropsychology and neurophysiology, psychodiagnostics, etc. Certified specialists perform the following types of work:
- collecting anamnesis, performing psychodiagnostics;
- development of measures aimed at correcting the patient’s psycho-emotional state;
- providing assistance in self-identification, social adaptation, and establishing family relationships;
- preparing a drug treatment regimen if necessary;
- conducting a psychological examination;
- social activities within the framework of assistance to vulnerable segments of the population: children, disabled people, etc.;
- drawing up conclusions based on the results of the work performed.
They work with different groups of people. They provide assistance to patients who have suffered psychological trauma, suffer from acquired or congenital diseases, and feel the need for social adaptation, for example, after serving a sentence in prison. Please note that clinical psychologists do not work with severe mental conditions: schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and others.
Modern methods of clinical psychology
The choice of methodology in clinical psychology is always associated with the task facing the specialist, the severity of mental disorders, the patient’s education and his mental state.
Properly selected methods make it possible to qualify pathologies and differentiate them. This is, first of all:
- The anamnestic method is the collection of necessary information about the causes of the disorder, its course and treatment.
- The biographical method is the study of the patient’s personality in a historical context, diagnosis and correction of his life path.
- Psychophysiological method - studying the connection between biochemical and physiological changes in the nervous system, the effect on memory, sleep and dreams, emotions.
- Analysis of creative products, art therapy;
- Experimental methods, hypnosis
- The use of body-oriented practices that exclude negative patterns from patients’ thinking.
- Observing the behavior of patients, the expression of their feelings and thoughts.
- Metaphorical images and symbol-dramas that allow you to abstractly express deep feelings and hidden intentions.
- Conversation.
Clinical psychology considers the problem as a correct definition of a mental norm or pathology and identifies only two possible states in a person - health and illness.
Pros and cons of the profession
pros
- Clinical psychology is a popular field; patients of any age are interested in the services of these specialists.
- A huge selection of forms of professional activity: private practice, corporate or scientific work, webinars, etc.
- High level of income, which directly depends on the activity and professionalism of the clinical psychologist.
- The profession is suitable for people with disabilities (impaired function of the upper and lower extremities), because services can be provided in the format of Skype conferences.
general information
In the 90s, medical and clinical psychology meant the same thing. Today these are still two different disciplines. They should not be confused with psychiatry. They have similar tasks, but different treatment methods. Psychiatry is aimed at eliminating pathologies and defects that require hospitalization or inpatient treatment. These diseases are schizophrenia, manic-depressive psychosis, epilepsy. Clinical psychology studies the problems of maladaptation and borderline mental states, when a person is not yet pathologically ill, but is no longer normal.
The distinction between pathology and norm is a rather complex process. At the moment, the corresponding norms for age-related development are divided; each period has its own criteria for feeling the world and relating to it. The psychologist assesses how harmoniously developed a person is - how he gets along with himself and others, whether he knows how to be flexible, the ability to think objectively, resistance to stress, the ability to plan and adjust his daily routine, and observe a work and rest schedule. The norm is how a person copes with life’s difficulties, enters society, works productively, and how critically he thinks.
When diagnosing, a clinical psychologist and psychiatrist use their personal experience, adhere to the recommendations of general psychology, as well as information from the ICD and the Handbook of Mental Disorders.
The subject of clinical psychology can be:
- Preparation and implementation of psychotherapy methods.
- Disturbances in mental development.
- The emergence of destructive changes in the psyche.
- The use of psychological techniques to influence the patient’s consciousness for the purpose of treatment and as prevention.
- Organizing research using specific tools and defining principles for this, methodology.
- Finding out how various disorders affect the patient’s psyche.
- The role of the psyche in the emergence, progression and prevention of disorders.
So, clinical psychology is a discipline that involves assessing mental health, planning and conducting research in the scientific field to diagnose and identify mental problems.
Psychologists develop and conduct psychocorrection and psychotherapy. They also explore issues of general psychology, compare normality and pathology, study the boundaries of the normal, determine how the social and biological relate in a person, and try to resolve the problem of mental decay.
Training to become a clinical psychologist
The profession cannot be mastered in courses or in college, so the path of an applicant who decides to study this branch of psychology lies in a university. It is worth making a choice in favor of the specialty “Clinical Psychology” (code: 05.37.01). To enter, you must pass the Unified State Exam in the following subjects:
- biology – specialized exam;
- Russian language – compulsory exam;
- social studies, mathematics, foreign language - at the choice of the university.
The area of training has many profiles: “Pathopsychological diagnosis and psychotherapy”, “Clinical and social rehabilitation and penitentiary psychology” and others. The duration of training is 5 years; the profession does not require further residency training. Documents can be submitted to medical or multidisciplinary universities that offer the program in question.
Universities
Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov
Clinical psychology (Faculty of Psychology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University)
Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin
Clinical psychology (Ural Humanitarian Institute, UrFU)
Chelyabinsk State University
Clinical psychology (Faculty of Psychology and Pedagogy)
Russian State Humanitarian University
Clinical psychology (Institute of Psychology named after L.S. Vygotsky Russian State University for the Humanities)
First Moscow State Medical University named after. I.M.Sechenova
Clinical psychology (I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University)
Where can such a psychologist work?
Clinical psychologists are in demand in medical institutions, clinics and rehabilitation centers. The level of people suffering from one or another emotional disturbances is growing every year. This means that the demand for professionals in this field increases in direct proportion. At the same time, a person can get a job in both public and private institutions. This question depends on the preferences and capabilities of the future employee. Or you can organize your own business by creating an individual entrepreneur. For example, by opening a clinic to provide appropriate assistance and diagnostics.
The minimum wage at the entry level is 15,000 rubles. The average for the Russian Federation is 35,000.
Work experience for an employee in the field of clinical psychology plays an important role. Since it is this that demonstrates professional competence and allows you to gain respect and trust from patients. Thanks to experience, the client base increases. As the practice grows, so does the salary. The maximum salary for a clinical psychologist is 115,000 rubles. If you wish, you can increase your income by seeing patients at home. For some, this is something like an additional means of obtaining cash equivalent.
Psychiatric health professionals must follow a set work schedule. Free attendance is not allowed. Sanitary and hygienic requirements for employees oblige them to carry out job duties in a special medical uniform. This means that there is a certain dress code for appearance. The employer provides employees with paid leave, a full benefits package and, of course, decent wages. Some organizations provide incentives in the form of bonuses or allowances.
A clinical psychologist can work in a hospital
Clinical psychology opens up the field of earning money from freelancing. This is achieved through technologies developed in our time. For example, a psychologist can consult a patient remotely via video communication. Only for this you need special equipment that can provide good quality video and sound. And to attract customers, you will have to find additional employees who will deal with advertising and dissemination of information on the Internet. If you take into account all the points and prepare in advance, then this type of income can become the main one.
The range of activities of a psychologist is wide. A beginner can realize himself in various fields: defectology, family counseling, pedagogy, rehabilitation and others. Therefore, there are no problems with finding a job. But you shouldn’t count on high wages at the entry level. The first working months are paid 15-20 thousand rubles. But with increasing work experience this will change. You can start your professional activity in various fields and organizations. In this matter, you have to focus only on personal preferences. Most often, vacancies are provided by medical institutions, so the search starts from there.
A clinical psychologist can build a career as a family psychologist
Advanced training for a clinical psychologist is a good opportunity to gain additional knowledge that will be useful as you continue to grow in your career. Such courses will allow the employee to gain the right to work in areas related to his discipline. Employers are interested in highly qualified professionals. For this reason, they quite often send employees for promotion training at their own expense. In this case, you will not have to spend money directly on the profession. Additional education increases the value of an employee and gives him an advantage over his colleagues.
Numerous professional competitions are organized in the field of psychology. This allows you to gain additional experience and get acquainted with the working methods of other professionals. The winners, of course, receive rewards and incentives. They are associated with a monetary equivalent or a grant for one or another type of education. The certificate of participation is also valuable. Such documents indicate that the employee is interested in professional activities, is ready to learn and actively work in the life of the company or organization. Thus, professional competitions for a psychologist are a great way to realize themselves and try their hand at various branches of psychology.
Professional competitions are regularly held for psychologists
A profession in the field of psychology opens up horizons abroad. The demand for employees is growing everywhere in Europe, China, and Belarus. This means that you can choose any of the directions. The main thing is pro-level knowledge of the language. This is a mandatory condition when applying for a job, since you will have to consult directly with citizens of the country to which the person is moving. Of course, employers give preference to those who have work experience and a base of professional practice. Therefore, it is worth considering this point when trying to find work abroad.
Psychology is closely related to many other disciplines. It is needed in any situation that in one way or another will be connected with the interaction of people. Therefore, by studying as a clinical psychologist, you can get an education in related areas. Such professions include pedagogy, defectology, management and others. If the second diploma is obtained on the basis of the first one, it will take from two to three years.
Psychologists can receive a second education in a related profession
Place of work
Clinical psychologists will be able to find work in clinics, rehabilitation or specialized centers, and trust services. Hospices, orphanages, as well as correctional colonies, crisis centers, government agencies, etc. are interested in them. Often specialists are engaged in private practice, in which case they can serve as corporate or family psychologists, conduct webinars, Skype conferences, group trainings.
Education Requirements
Most graduates in this profession have a doctorate in psychology. They often earn a bachelor's degree first and then begin to specialize in medical psychology in graduate school. The actual direction of the training programs may vary. Some areas prepare personnel for clinical work, while others prepare personnel for research activities.
Anyone wishing to obtain a license to practice clinically or in counseling must complete an internship within one year of completing their doctoral degree. Medical psychologist vacancies fill very quickly.
If you have a bachelor's degree, employment opportunities are limited, although some often find work in correctional organizations. Those professionals who obtain a master's degree typically work under the supervision of licensed psychologists.
