Understanding Psychology: What Does a Psychologist Do?

Curious about “what does a psychologist do”?

A psychologist explores the human mind and its relationship to thoughts, feelings and behaviour to help people improve and manage their mental health. They diagnose and treat mental health disorders with various therapies and can be found in hospitals, schools and private practices.

This article covers a psychologist’s role, specialisations, work settings and the differences between psychologists and other mental health professionals. What does a psychologist do?

• Psychologists are mental health professionals who research and treat human behaviour and mental processes through research, assessments and therapy.
• There are many specialisations within psychology, including clinical, counselling, forensic, educational and sports psychology, each focusing on different aspects of mental health and behaviour.
• To become a psychologist you need extensive education and training including an undergraduate degree, an honours year in Psychology, postgraduate qualifications and registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.

Psychology is both a science and a profession and is the study of the human brain, human mind and human behaviour.

This discipline looks at many factors that influence human behaviour including cognitive processes and social interactions. As a regulated health profession in Australia psychology makes a significant contribution to mental health and wellbeing.

Psychologists are experts in human behaviour with advanced degrees that allow them to research, assess and deliver therapy and counselling.

They look at how people feel, behave and react and use this knowledge to help individuals and communities. Their work involves explaining human behaviour and mental processes, diagnosing and treating mental health conditions and developing individualised treatment plans.

In their work, psychologists:

• Monitor, interpret, and document cognitive, emotional, and social processes
• Use psychological tests and assessments to gain insight into an individual’s mental health
• Deliver evidence-based treatments
• Explore and resolve personal and social issues using scientifically validated methods
• Reduce distress and improve mental health

Psychology is a broad field with many specialisations, each focusing on different aspects of human behaviour and mental health.

From clinical, counselling and general psychologists to forensic, educational and sports psychologists each type of psychologist brings their own skills and perspectives to the table.

Understanding these specialisations will help you find the psychologist that’s right for you.

General and clinical psychologists diagnose and treat mental health conditions. They don’t have the authority to prescribe medication like medical doctors but use many forms of psychological therapy to support their clients.

They do comprehensive mental health assessments and develop individualised treatment plans.Common issues treated by clinical psychologists include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Trauma
• Addiction

They use various therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to address these mental health issues. Through evidence based treatments general and clinical psychologists aim to give their clients the tools and strategies to manage their mental health and improve their wellbeing.

General and clinical psychologists including those in private practice can work in hospitals or academic settings and provide mental health services to individuals of all ages and backgrounds.

Their expertise in psychology principles, research and therapy makes them a key part of the broader health system to improve mental health and wellbeing of their clients.

Counselling psychologists help individuals manage stress, life transitions and emotional challenges. Their approach is client centred and focuses on personal strengths and resources to build resilience and wellbeing.

This specialisation is useful for those dealing with relationship issues, career changes or other big life events.

Counselling psychologists support their clients to overcome life’s obstacles and build healthy coping strategies by using many different therapies.

Whether it’s managing stress, improving relationships or overcoming personal obstacles these professionals provide the support and guidance to improve mental health and overall wellbeing.

The field of psychology goes beyond clinical and counselling roles, and includes many other specialisations.

Forensic psychologists apply psychological principles within the legal system, working on cases involving criminal behaviour, custody disputes and more.

They provide psychological assessments and expert testimony in legal contexts.

Educational psychologists look at how people learn and often work in schools to improve educational outcomes and support student development.

Sports psychologists help athletes perform better and cope with the psychological demands of competition.

Each of these specialisations requires a lot of training and expertise and shows the many ways psychological knowledge can be applied.

Psychologists do many things as part of their work. One of the main things they do is conduct tests and assessments based on scientific research to assess their clients mental health and wellbeing.

These tests can give valuable information about how someone thinks, feels and behaves and help diagnose mental health conditions. Some of the tests and assessments psychologists use:

• Intelligence tests
• Personality assessments
• Neuropsychological tests
• Projective tests
• Diagnostic interviews
• ADHD Assessment Tests

These tools help psychologists gather information about their clients and develop effective treatment plans.

Another main responsibility is providing psychotherapy or talk therapy. This is building a talking relationship with clients to explore their feelings, thoughts and behaviours.

Through psychotherapy psychologists help clients manage mental health issues, improve overall wellbeing and develop strategies to manage life’s obstacles.

Additionally, psychologists are tasked with:

• Developing treatment plans tailored to the individual needs of their clients
• Conducting ongoing psychological research to understand behavioural patterns
• Developing evidence-based strategies for treatment

This continuous research is vital for advancing the field and ensuring that psychological practices remain effective and relevant.

Psychologists work in many different settings each with their own opportunities and challenges. 28% of psychologists were self employed in 2022 and often work in private practice.

Private practices allow psychologists to offer one on one services and build long term relationships with clients.

Clinical psychologists work in hospitals and nursing homes providing mental health services to a diverse patient population.

In these health care settings psychologists may work shifts including nights and weekends to ensure 24/7 patient care.

Psychologists also work in academic settings such as schools, community colleges and universities to provide services, teach or conduct research.

Beyond these traditional settings, psychologists also work in:

• Research laboratories
• Community health centres
• Prisons
• Corporate offices

Those in government or business settings typically have more predictable schedules that align with normal daytime hours. The diverse work environments reflect the versatility of psychology and its wide-reaching impact on society.

To become a psychologist you need to complete extensive education and training.

The journey starts with an undergraduate degree in fields such as Arts, Biomedicine or Science. Then you need to complete an honours year in Psychology to get professional accreditation.

These first steps are the foundation for further study.

Postgraduate qualifications are required to specialise in areas of psychology. Graduate programs such as a Master’s or combined Master’s and PhD are common pathways.

For example a Master of Professional Psychology is a pathway to register as a general psychologist.

Alternatively graduates may do a Master of Applied Psychology but this does not lead to professional registration.

To practice as a registered psychologist you must:

• Be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia which is endorsed by the Australian Psychological Society and follows the standards of the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council
• This registration can be general or specific to an area of practice such as clinical, health or sport and exercise psychology
• Additionally, supervised practice is a crucial component of the training process, ensuring that new psychologists gain practical experience under the guidance of experienced professionals.

Continuing education is important for psychologists to keep their skills up to date.

This ongoing learning ensures psychologists are current with the latest research and best practice in their field.

Overall the education and training for psychologists is extensive and reflects the complexity and importance of the work.

Both psychologists and psychiatrists aim to improve mental health but there are big differences between the two.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have completed specialisation in psychiatry and can prescribe medication. Psychologists are not medical doctors and can’t prescribe medication.

Both professionals use therapy including counselling and psychotherapy to help with mental health issues.

But psychiatrists can admit patients to hospital if needed which is not part of the scope of practice for psychologists.

For severe mental health conditions such as bipolar or schizophrenia seeing a psychiatrist may be necessary.

Psychologists work in many different settings including:

• Schools
• Community health services
• Businesses
• Clinical settings

They diagnose and treat mental health disorders including mental illness through therapy and behavioural interventions and also consider the impact on physical health.

Understanding these differences can help individuals choose the right type of mental health professional for their needs.

Knowing when to see a psychologist can make all the difference to your mental health.

Psychologists can help with anxiety, depression and other life stressors. If you are feeling persistently sad, worried or stressed see a psychologist.

For those with behavioural health issues like drug and alcohol abuse or eating disorders, then psychologists can provide support and treatment. They help you understand and change harmful behaviours and find healthier ways to cope.

Major life events such as financial stress, relationship breakups or grief can also be reasons to see a psychologist.

They do assessments and develop treatment plans to help you navigate these tough times.

Seeing a psychologist can give you the tools and support to improve your mental health and overall wellbeing.

Psychologists are key to understanding mental health. They study human behaviour, conduct research, and provide therapy to help people with mental health issues.

From clinical, general and counselling psychologists to forensic and sport psychologists, each specialisation brings something unique to the table.

The education and training to become a psychologist is extensive and reflects the complexity and importance of the work.

Whether you are feeling anxious, depressed, or experiencing major life challenges, seeing a psychologist can be of great help and provide effective treatment.

Knowing the different roles and specialisations in psychology can help you make informed decisions about your mental health care. So, what does a psychologist do? They play a crucial role in diagnosing, treating, and improving mental health and overall well-being.

Ready to take the next step in your mental health journey? Book an appointment with our experienced psychologist Melissa from Fortitude Wellbeing today and start your path to better mental health.