Careers inCareers in CLINICAL CLINICAL
PSYCHOLOGYPSYCHOLOGY
Veronica Hutchings, PhDVeronica Hutchings, PhDRegistered Psychologist Registered Psychologist
Capital District Health AuthorityCapital District Health AuthorityQueen Elizabeth II Health Queen Elizabeth II Health
Sciences CentreSciences Centre
How did I become interested in How did I become interested in Psychology?Psychology?
I hated needles…I hated needles…
Why is Psychology so fascinating?Why is Psychology so fascinating? If you like/are interested in If you like/are interested in
something, you can study it in something, you can study it in psychology!psychology!
SomeSome Areas in Areas in PsychologyPsychology
HealthHealth DevelopmentalDevelopmental MathematicalMathematical CognitiveCognitive SocialSocial BiologicalBiological LearningLearning Evolutionary Evolutionary ForensicForensic
Educational / SchoolEducational / School AbnormalAbnormal Testing & Testing &
MeasurementMeasurement PersonalityPersonality CounselingCounseling SportsSports Industrial/Industrial/
OrganizationalOrganizational Sensation / Perception Sensation / Perception Positive Positive
The Clinical The Clinical PsychologistPsychologist
Clinical Clinical Psychologist Psychologist vs. vs. PsychiatristPsychiatrist
Academic degree Academic degree (Ph.D. or masters*)(Ph.D. or masters*)
Don’t prescribe meds Don’t prescribe meds (this (this mightmight change) change)
Psychotherapy (i.e., Psychotherapy (i.e., “talk” therapy), p & p “talk” therapy), p & p teststests
Treat problems within Treat problems within a wide range of a wide range of severityseverity
Usually set hoursUsually set hours
Medical Degree (M.D. Medical Degree (M.D. psychiatric residency)psychiatric residency)
Usually prescribe Usually prescribe meds meds
May conduct May conduct psychotherapypsychotherapy
Treat those with Treat those with severe mental health severe mental health issuesissues
On callOn call
The path to becoming a The path to becoming a clinical psychologist – step clinical psychologist – step
11The Honours Degree (BA or BSc; 4 years) The Honours Degree (BA or BSc; 4 years) Gives you a broad base in psychologyGives you a broad base in psychology
E.g., developmental, social, personality, abnormal, E.g., developmental, social, personality, abnormal, learning, cognition, bio/neuropsychological, learning, cognition, bio/neuropsychological, history of psychology, statistics, research design, history of psychology, statistics, research design, emotions, etc.emotions, etc.
Volunteer in research labsVolunteer in research labs Gets you experience and letters of ref!!!Gets you experience and letters of ref!!!
Conduct Honours ThesisConduct Honours Thesis your very own research project …YAY!your very own research project …YAY!
The path to becoming a The path to becoming a clinical psychologist – step clinical psychologist – step
22The Masters Degree (MA or MSc; 2 years)The Masters Degree (MA or MSc; 2 years)Advanced Courses in: Assessment, Advanced Courses in: Assessment,
Interventions, Psychopathology, Ethics, Interventions, Psychopathology, Ethics, Research Methods & Design, and Research Methods & Design, and StatisticsStatistics
Clinical Experience PracticaClinical Experience Practica Assess / Treat real people with real problemsAssess / Treat real people with real problems
Masters ThesisMasters Thesis Another research project – this time a little Another research project – this time a little
biggerbigger
The path to becoming a The path to becoming a clinical psychologist – step clinical psychologist – step
33The Doctoral Degree (PhD; 4-6 years)The Doctoral Degree (PhD; 4-6 years) Additional advanced courses in Assessment, Additional advanced courses in Assessment,
Interventions, Psychopathology, Interventions, Psychopathology, PsychometricsPsychometrics
Clinical Practica & Year long internshipClinical Practica & Year long internship The match!The match!
DissertationDissertation This project proves you’re the expert!This project proves you’re the expert! You’ve added to the theoretical and empirical You’ve added to the theoretical and empirical
knowledge base in your areaknowledge base in your area
The path to becoming a The path to becoming a clinical psychologist – step clinical psychologist – step
44Registration (process depends on province/education)Registration (process depends on province/education)
In Nova Scotia:In Nova Scotia: Apply (transcripts, letters of reference)Apply (transcripts, letters of reference)
Candidates’ RegisterCandidates’ Register
Period of Supervision Period of Supervision 4 years after Masters; 1 year after PhD 4 years after Masters; 1 year after PhD
Examination of Professional Practice in Psychology Examination of Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP)(EPPP)
Oral Ethics/Jurisprudence ExamOral Ethics/Jurisprudence Exam
Hospital-Based Psychology Hospital-Based Psychology CareersCareers
Usually Monday-Friday, 9-5 (8-4) jobUsually Monday-Friday, 9-5 (8-4) job Interdisciplinary team member vs. Interdisciplinary team member vs.
Consultant Consultant Committees & research Committees & research ~60-80% of time is clinical work (including ~60-80% of time is clinical work (including
lots of documentation)lots of documentation) Income security, pension, benefits, Income security, pension, benefits,
& FUN activities!& FUN activities!
Gross Salary at Capital HealthGross Salary at Capital Health Masters: 63,000-86,000/yrMasters: 63,000-86,000/yr Doctoral: 83,000-117,000/yrDoctoral: 83,000-117,000/yr
What do Clinical What do Clinical Psychologists at Capital Psychologists at Capital
Health do?Health do?That depends on whether s/he is a:That depends on whether s/he is a:
Mental Health PsychologistMental Health Psychologist
NeuropsychologistNeuropsychologist
Health PsychologistHealth Psychologist
Clinical Mental Health Clinical Mental Health PsychologyPsychology
Stereotypical “Psychologist”Stereotypical “Psychologist” Mental Health diagnosis is primary Mental Health diagnosis is primary
reason for being seenreason for being seen Depression / Suicide attemptDepression / Suicide attempt AnxietyAnxiety Bipolar (manic-depression)Bipolar (manic-depression) Eating DisordersEating Disorders SchizophreniaSchizophrenia
Usually work in a hospital or mental Usually work in a hospital or mental health clinic, PhD may be requiredhealth clinic, PhD may be required
Clinical NeuropsychologyClinical Neuropsychology
Assessing brain functioningAssessing brain functioning CT scan tells you what the brain looks likeCT scan tells you what the brain looks like Neuropsych Ax tells you what the brain can Neuropsych Ax tells you what the brain can
dodo Treatments to improve functioning Treatments to improve functioning
following brain injuryfollowing brain injury E.g., Computerized cognitive re-trainingE.g., Computerized cognitive re-training
Usually work in a hospital or Usually work in a hospital or rehabilitation facility, PhD usually rehabilitation facility, PhD usually requiredrequired
Neuropsychological Neuropsychological AssessmentAssessment
Examples of Areas AssessedExamples of Areas Assessed Attention: digit spanAttention: digit span Memory: word lists, short storiesMemory: word lists, short stories Language: naming picturesLanguage: naming pictures Visual Spatial: copying figures Visual Spatial: copying figures
AssessmentAssessment
ExamplesExamples Attention: digit spanAttention: digit span Memory: word lists, short storiesMemory: word lists, short stories Language: naming picturesLanguage: naming pictures Visual Spatial: copying figures Visual Spatial: copying figures Executive Functions: Stroop EffectExecutive Functions: Stroop Effect
RedRed greengreen purplepurple blueblue
OrangeOrange Blue Blue purple purple red red
orangeorange green green Orange Orange red red
blue blue green green purplepurple Green Green
Read the wordsRead the words
Red green purple blue
Orange Blue purple red
orange green Orange red
blue green purple Green
Name the colour of the blocksName the colour of the blocks
blue purple red orange
green red green blue
purple orange blue green
purple red orange red
Name the colour of the ink – do not read the words
Clinical Health Clinical Health PsychologyPsychology
Assess and treat individuals who have Assess and treat individuals who have health problemshealth problems E.g., MS, organ failure, ABI, STIs, cancer, E.g., MS, organ failure, ABI, STIs, cancer,
diabetes, pain, insomnia, GI issues, dementia, diabetes, pain, insomnia, GI issues, dementia, heart disease, etc. heart disease, etc.
Behaviour modification / motivational Behaviour modification / motivational enhancementenhancement
Mental health issues may be secondary Mental health issues may be secondary to, or co-morbid with, health problemsto, or co-morbid with, health problems
Usually work in a hospital or medical Usually work in a hospital or medical clinic, PhD may be requiredclinic, PhD may be required
My typical weekMy typical week
Monday: reports, committee work & Monday: reports, committee work & dept meetingsdept meetings
8-10 assessment/therapy clients, CG & 8-10 assessment/therapy clients, CG & EAD groupsEAD groups
SupervisionSupervision patient rounds & consultation, patient rounds & consultation, documentation, documentation, professional development, professional development, researchresearch
AssessmentAssessment
Presenting ProblemPresenting Problem Medical HistoryMedical History Family & Social SupportFamily & Social Support Education & Work Education & Work Previous Mental Health IssuesPrevious Mental Health Issues LifestyleLifestyle Leisure InterestsLeisure Interests Goals Goals
TherapyTherapy
Cognitive Behavioural Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)Therapy (CBT)
Interpersonal Interpersonal TherapyTherapy
Emotion-FocusedEmotion-Focused
Acceptance-Based Acceptance-Based TherapyTherapy
Humanistic / Client-Humanistic / Client-CenteredCentered
Feelings(Emotions &
Physical sensations)
ThoughtsBehaviours
CBT
Other Career Other Career OptionsOptions
AcademiaAcademia
University ProfessorUniversity Professor Assistant Prof, Associate Prof, ProfAssistant Prof, Associate Prof, Prof
Conduct Research, supervise Conduct Research, supervise honours/graduate students research honours/graduate students research projects, teachprojects, teach
If clinical/counseling, may supervise If clinical/counseling, may supervise clinical students in training clinics / clinical students in training clinics / counselling centrescounselling centres
Other Reseach Career Other Reseach Career OptionsOptions
Bachelor, Masters or PhD – depends Bachelor, Masters or PhD – depends on the position!on the position!
Possible Duties:Possible Duties: Administer surveys / collect dataAdminister surveys / collect data Program evaluationProgram evaluation Project / Lab co-ordinatorProject / Lab co-ordinator Design research projects to answer a ?Design research projects to answer a ? Create questionnaires & analyse dataCreate questionnaires & analyse data
PsychometristPsychometrist
Bachelor or Masters degreeBachelor or Masters degree
Works under a psychologist, usually Works under a psychologist, usually a neuropsychologista neuropsychologist
Administers and scores testsAdministers and scores tests Conduct treatments under the Conduct treatments under the
supervision of psychologistsupervision of psychologist
Salary at Capital HealthSalary at Capital Health $55,000-70,000$55,000-70,000
Private Practice Private Practice PsychologistPsychologist
Self-employed or part of groupSelf-employed or part of group 100% of time is clinical work100% of time is clinical work Fee for serviceFee for service Usually 3Usually 3rdrd party payers (insurance) party payers (insurance) Full time = ~25 billable hours/weekFull time = ~25 billable hours/week
Individual Therapy: ~$140-155/hour Individual Therapy: ~$140-155/hour Neuropsych Assessment: ~$2500-3000Neuropsych Assessment: ~$2500-3000
For more info contact me at:
Psychology: QEII Capital District Health AuthorityQEII Health Sciences Centre4th floor, Abbie J Lane Building, Suite 40605909 Veteran’s Memorial Lane Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 2E2Phone: (902) 473-4788 Fax: (902) [email protected]