An Overview of Working as a Psychologist

Psychologists broadly study the mind and behavior, but since it’s such a diverse field, the work that individual psychologists do can vary. What a day in the life of a psychologist looks like also depends on whether they focus on a specific area of psychology.

Let’s look at the nature of psychology work and what it’s really like to work as a psychologist.

A Day in the Life of a Psychologist

There isn’t a typical day in the life of a psychologist. Some job duties and tasks are common for the profession, though the specifics of their day-to-day work depend on whether they work in clinical or non-clinical roles.

For example, psychologists in research settings spend a great deal of time developing hypotheses and collecting data. The research methods they use depend on what they're studying. For example, some psychologists do lab experiments, while others use naturalistic observation. Other methods used by research psychologists include questionnaires, clinical studies, surveys, and interviews.

Research psychologists also need to dedicate some time and resources to applying for grants to fund their work. They may also take on other roles, like teaching and mentoring.

Psychologists working in healthcare settings work directly with people. Their daily tasks may include assessing new patients, diagnosing mental health disorders, and offering psychotherapy. They frequently consult with other professionals, like healthcare providers, nurses, and therapists.

Depending on where they work, psychologists may also have other responsibilities, like managing a private practice, dealing with insurance companies, and coordinating care and resources for clients within the community.

Research vs. Applied Psychologists

Psychologists work in a variety of settings, including schools, universities, hospitals, private clinics, government offices, corporations, and small businesses.

In general, there are two types of work a psychologist can choose to focus on: research psychology or applied psychology (also called basic research and applied research).

Research Psychology

Research psychologists investigate the physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and biological bases of human thought and behavior. They do experiments and may work at a college or university, or for a business or government office.

Some research psychologists are called experimental psychologists. They research the behavior of humans and animals. These professionals often work at universities, private research centers, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Major areas of interest in experimental psychology include substance abuse, genetics, neuroscience, motivation, and cognitive processes.

Another example of research psychologists are social psychologists. These professionals focus on understanding how interactions with other people impact individual and group behavior. They often work in areas such as market research, organizational management, systems design, and other applied areas. Social psychologists may do studies on group behavior, leadership, attitudes, and perception.

Applied Psychology

Applied psychologists use their knowledge of human behavior to solve real-world problems or help people overcome psychological distress. They can work directly with patients in different settings, including a hospital, mental health clinic, or school. They may choose to open a private practice.

Other applied psychologists work in government, industry, business, or nonprofit settings. Besides applying their knowledge of psychology directly, applied psychologists can lead training, design products, create programs, or offer advice.

Counseling Psychology

Counseling psychology is a popular specialty area in psychology. These professionals do many of the same daily tasks as clinical psychologists but are focused on personal distress or social conflicts. For example, they can help people navigate challenges in their relationships or workplaces. A counseling psychologist also offers treatment for people experiencing mental health symptoms.

The Society of Counseling Psychology describes the field as "a specialty within professional psychology that maintains a focus on facilitating personal and interpersonal functioning across the lifespan. The specialty pays particular attention to emotional, social, vocational, educational, health-related, developmental, and organizational concerns."

Clinical Psychologists

There is a diverse range of specialties in psychology, but clinical psychologists are the largest specialty area. They assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions. Clinical psychologists often work in mental health centers or private practices, but they can also work in schools, prisons, or hospitals.

For example, one clinical psychologist might work in a hospital setting with patients who have brain injuries or neurological conditions. Another may work at mental health centers counseling patients or families who are coping with stress, psychiatric conditions, substance misuse, or personal challenges.

The daily tasks of clinical psychologists could include interviewing patients, doing assessments, ordering diagnostic tests, offering psychotherapy, and leading programs.

Clinical Psychology Subspecialties

Within the area of clinical psychology, there are subspecialties. Some professionals are generalists who work with a range of clients, while others specialize in treating certain psychological disorders or a specific age group.

Health Psychologists

Health psychologists focus on the intersection between psychology and physical health, such as how motivation can influence a person's outcomes in occupational therapy. They may also explore how physical illness and disability affect a person’s behavior and mental health.

Clinical health psychologists also have a keen understanding of the effect that cultural and social factors have on well-being. As part of their daily work, they may try to understand what factors are making it harder for a client to take their medication or follow a treatment plan to manage a chronic health condition.

Neuropsychologists

Neuropsychologists investigate the relationship between behavior and the nervous system (especially the brain). A clinical neuropsychologist understands and can diagnose and treat conditions that affect cognition, like diseases and injuries that affect the brain.

They work in a variety of settings with patients of all ages. For example, a day might involve assessing a child for autism spectrum disorder or helping an older person with dementia.

School Psychologists

School psychologists work in school settings and help students navigate challenges with academics, socializing, and behavior. They work alongside parents, teachers, and administrators to make school a safe, supportive place for children to learn and grow.

The daily tasks of a school psychologist may include helping teachers create supportive environments in their classrooms or developing specialized plans for students with unique learning needs.

Forensic Psychologists

Forensic psychologists work in a specialty area that deals with the intersection of psychology and the law. Forensic psychologists play an important role in custody disputes, insurance claims, and lawsuits.

Professionals working in family courts may offer psychotherapy services, do child custody evaluations, investigate reports of child abuse, and conduct visitation risk assessments.

When psychologists work in civil courts, their tasks can include competency assessments, giving second opinions, and counseling people affected by crime.

In criminal courts, forensic psychologists often do evaluations of mental competency, work with child witnesses, and perform assessments of juvenile and adult offenders.

What Field Is Right for Me?

If you're considering a career in psychology, think about how you'd like to spend your day, where you'd like to work, and what type of help you want to offer.

For example, if you want to work one-on-one with clients who are experiencing mental health symptoms or challenges in life, clinical or counseling psychology could be a great fit. If you have a particular interest or experience, you may choose to focus on a particular area, like school or sports psychology.

If you'd rather be in the lab doing research, a career as an experimental psychologist might be more engaging and a better fit for your skills.

Still not sure? This quiz can help you get an idea of what psychology career you may enjoy.