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Careers in PSYCHOLOGY

Careers in PSYCHOLOGY. Veronica Hutchings, PhD Psychologist (Candidate Register) Capital District Health Authority Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre. How did I become interested in Psychology? I hated needles… Why is Psychology so fascinating?

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Careers in PSYCHOLOGY

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  1. Careers inPSYCHOLOGY Veronica Hutchings, PhD Psychologist (Candidate Register) Capital District Health Authority Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre

  2. How did I become interested in Psychology? • I hated needles… Why is Psychology so fascinating? • If you like/are interested in something, you can study it in psychology! What is Psychology? • Literally: “the study of the mind” • Practically: the study of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours • Wikipedially: an academic and applied discipline involving the scientific study of human mental functions and behaviour.

  3. Health Developmental Mathematical Cognitive Social Biological Learning Evolutionary Forensic Educational / School Abnormal Testing & Measurement Personality Counselling Sports Industrial/Organizational Sensation / Perception Positive Some Areas in Psychology

  4. What do Clinical Psychologists at Capital Health do? That depends on whether s/he is a: • Health Psychologist • Mental Health Psychologist • Neuropsychologist

  5. Clinical Health Psychology • Usually work in a hospital or medical clinic, PhD may be required • Assess and treat individuals who have health problems • E.g., MS, organ failure, ABI, STIs, cancer, diabetes, pain, insomnia, GI issues, dementia, heart disease, etc. • Behaviour modification / motivational enhancement • Mental health issues may be secondary to, or co-morbid with, health problems

  6. Assessment • Presenting Problem • Medical History • Family & Social Support • Education & Work • Previous Mental Health Issues • Lifestyle • Leisure Interests • Goals

  7. Therapy Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Interpersonal Therapy Emotion-Focused Acceptance-Based Therapy Humanistic / Client-Centered CBT

  8. My typical week • Monday: reports, committee work & dept meetings • Tuesday (Rehab, inpatients only): • behaviour rounds • 1-2 assessments • consult with team, documentation • Wednesday-Friday (Transplant): • 3-4 therapy sessions • 1-2 assessments (2hrs + chart review) • patient rounds & consultation, documentation, professional development, research

  9. Clinical Mental Health Psychology • Usually work in a hospital or mental health clinic, PhD may be required • Mental Health diagnosis is primary reason for being seen • Depression / Suicide attempt • Anxiety • Bipolar (manic-depression) • Eating Disorders • Schizophrenia

  10. Clinical Neuropsychology • Usually work in a hospital or rehabilitation facility, PhD usually required • Assessing brain functioning • Attention, memory, language, visuo-spatial skills, motor skills, ability to plan/organize, intelligence, etc. • Treatments to improve functioning following brain injury • E.g., Computerized cognitive re-training

  11. Assessment Examples • Attention: digit span • Memory: word lists, short stories • Language: naming pictures, COWAT • Visual Spatial: copying figures

  12. Assessment Examples • Attention: digit span • Memory: word lists, short stories • Language: naming pictures, COWAT • Visual Spatial: copying figures • Executive Functions: Trails, Stroop

  13. Red green purple blue Orange Blue purple red orange green Orange red blue green purple Green blue orange purple red

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  15. Hospital-Based Psychology Careers • Usually Monday-Friday, 9-5 (8-4) job • Interdisciplinary team member vs. Consultant • Committees & research • ~60-80% of time is clinical work (including lots of documentation) • Income security, pension, benefits, & FUN activities! Gross Salary at Capital Health • Masters: 52,000-76,000/yr • Doctoral: 64,000-95,000/yr

  16. Academic degree (Ph.D. or masters*) Don’t prescribe meds (this might change) Psychotherapy (i.e., “talk therapy), p & p tests Treat problems within a wide range of severity Usually set hours Medical Degree (M.D.) Usually prescribe meds some conduct psychotherapy Treat those with severe mental health issues On call Clinical Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist

  17. The path to becoming a doctoral level psychologist – step 1 The Honours Degree (BA or BSc; 4 years) • Gives you a broad base in psychology • E.g., developmental, social, personality, abnormal, learning, cognition, bio/neuropsychological, history of psychology, statistics, research design, emotions, etc. • Volunteer in research labs • Gets you experience and letters of ref!!! • Conduct Honours Thesis • your very own research project …YAY!

  18. The path to becoming a doctoral level psychologist – step 2 The Masters Degree (MA or MSc; 2 years) • Advanced Courses in: Assessment, Interventions, Psychopathology, Ethics, Research Methods & Design, and Statistics • Clinical Experience Practica • Assess / Treat real people with real problems • Masters Thesis • Another research project – this time a little bigger

  19. The path to becoming a doctoral level psychologist – step 3 The Doctoral Degree (PhD; 4-6 years) • Additional advanced courses in Assessment, Interventions, Psychopathology, Psychometrics • Clinical Practica & Year long internship • The match! • Dissertation • This project proves you’re the expert! • You’ve added to the theoretical and empirical knowledge base in your area

  20. The path to becoming a doctoral level psychologist – step 4 Registration (time depends on province) • Apply (transcripts, letters of reference) • Candidates’ Register • Period of Supervision (1 year post-PhD in NS) • EPPP • Oral Ethics/Jurisprudence Exam • Some provinces permit registration at Masters level*

  21. Other Psychology Careers • Academia (University professor) • Research Co-ordinator or assistant • Private Practise • Psychometrist • Research Assistant/Co-ordinator

  22. Academia • University Professor • Assistant Prof, Associate Prof, Prof • Conduct Research, supervise honours/graduate students research projects, teach • If clinical/counseling, may supervise clinical students in training clinics / counselling centres

  23. Other Reseach Career Options • Bachelor, Masters or PhD – depends on the position! • Possible Duties: • Administer surveys / collect data • Program evaluation • Project / Lab co-ordinator • Design research projects to answer a ? • Create questionnaires & analyse data

  24. Psychometrist • Bachelor or Masters degree • Works under a psychologist, usually a neuropsychologist • Administers and scores tests • Conduct treatments under the supervision of psychologist Salary at Capital Health • $51,000-64,000

  25. Private Practise Psychologist • Self-employed or part of group • 100% of time is clinical work • Fee for service • Usually 3rd party payers (insurance) • Full time = ~25 billable hours/week Individual Therapy: ~$140-155/hour Neuropsych Assessment: ~$2500-3000

  26. Thanks! For more info contact me at: Department of Psychology Capital District Health AuthorityQEII Health Sciences Centre3rd floor, Bethune Building, Room 3321276 South Park StreetHalifax, Nova Scotia   B3H 2Y9Phone: (902) 473-8342  Fax: (902) 473-2148veronica.hutchings@cdha.nshealth.ca

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