What Do Clinical Psychologists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for clinical psychologists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what clinical psychologists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Clinical Psychologists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about clinical psychologists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Clinical Psychologists assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. Help individuals with distress or maladjustment understand their problems through their knowledge of case history, interviews with patients, and theory. Provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment. May design behavior modification programs and consult with medical personnel regarding the best treatment for patients.
Popular Job Titles For Clinical Psychologists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Psychologists
- Clinical Psychologists
- Behavioral Health Specialists
- Psychotherapists
- Licensed Psychologists
- Outpatient Therapists
- Licensed Clinical Psychologists
- Behavioral Specialists
- Health Psychologists
- Chief Psychologists
- Pediatric Psychologists
- Telehealth Therapists
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for clinical psychologists can be found.
Best Industries for Clinical Psychologists
Clinical Psychologists Jobs By Industry
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 40.3%
- Outpatient Care Centers: 9.6%
- Offices of Physicians: 8.7%
- Individual and Family Services: 7.5%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 5.8%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 5%
- Other: 23.1%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of clinical psychologists can be found working in the Offices of Other Health Practitioners sector. In 2022, about 40.3% of all jobs for clinical psychologists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Outpatient Care Centers (9.6%), Offices of Physicians (8.7%), Individual and Family Services (7.5%), State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (5.8%) and Education and Hospitals (State Government) (5%).
What Do Clinical Psychologists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what clinical psychologists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work clinical psychologists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that clinical psychologists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for clinical psychologists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Clinical Psychologists
Based on 47,365 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Clinical Psychologists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 29,443 | 62% |
| Mental Health | 15,700 | 33% |
| Behavioral Health | 13,990 | 30% |
| Clinical Psychology | 13,402 | 28% |
| Psychotherapy | 13,088 | 28% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Clinical Psychologists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 9,691 | 20% |
| Management | 7,080 | 15% |
| Leadership | 6,505 | 14% |
| Research | 5,703 | 12% |
| Planning | 4,418 | 9% |
Based on 47,365 job postings related to clinical psychologists, psychology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 62% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for mental health, behavioral health, clinical psychology, psychotherapy and treatment planning were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for clinical psychologists, followed by management, leadership, research, planning and scheduling.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 29,443 | 62% |
| Mental Health | 15,700 | 33% |
| Behavioral Health | 13,990 | 30% |
| Clinical Psychology | 13,402 | 28% |
| Psychotherapy | 13,088 | 28% |
| Treatment Planning | 11,868 | 25% |
| Social Work | 8,310 | 18% |
| Psychological Evaluations | 7,448 | 16% |
| Psychiatry | 7,251 | 15% |
| Telehealth | 6,617 | 14% |
| Family Therapy | 5,873 | 12% |
| Crisis Intervention | 5,489 | 12% |
| Case Management | 4,550 | 10% |
| Mental Diseases | 4,433 | 9% |
| Billing | 4,228 | 9% |
| Group Therapy | 3,903 | 8% |
| Substance Abuse | 3,560 | 8% |
| Clinical Supervision | 3,422 | 7% |
| Marketing | 3,334 | 7% |
| Medical Records | 3,328 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 9,691 | 20% |
| Management | 7,080 | 15% |
| Leadership | 6,505 | 14% |
| Research | 5,703 | 12% |
| Planning | 4,418 | 9% |
| Scheduling | 4,003 | 8% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 3,863 | 8% |
| English Language | 3,667 | 8% |
| Writing | 3,660 | 8% |
| Coordinating | 3,142 | 7% |
| Problem Solving | 2,970 | 6% |
| Teaching | 2,867 | 6% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 2,479 | 5% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 2,428 | 5% |
| Customer Service | 2,346 | 5% |
| Time Management | 2,236 | 5% |
| Self-Discipline | 2,137 | 5% |
| Advocacy | 2,068 | 4% |
| Report Writing | 1,968 | 4% |
| Presentations | 1,963 | 4% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Clinical Psychologists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychologists | 22,498 | 19.9% |
| Clinical Psychologists | 20,195 | 17.9% |
| Behavioral Health Specialists | 13,988 | 12.4% |
| Psychotherapists | 11,593 | 10.3% |
| Licensed Psychologists | 11,577 | 10.2% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was psychologists, with 7,024 unique job postings. Clinical psychologists were second, with 4,448 postings, followed by behavioral health specialists, psychotherapists and licensed psychologists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to clinical psychologists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychologists | 22,498 | 19.9% |
| Clinical Psychologists | 20,195 | 17.9% |
| Behavioral Health Specialists | 13,988 | 12.4% |
| Psychotherapists | 11,593 | 10.3% |
| Licensed Psychologists | 11,577 | 10.2% |
| Outpatient Therapists | 7,333 | 6.5% |
| Licensed Clinical Psychologists | 5,809 | 5.1% |
| Behavioral Specialists | 2,896 | 2.6% |
| Health Psychologists | 2,724 | 2.4% |
| Chief Psychologists | 1,402 | 1.2% |
| Pediatric Psychologists | 1,634 | 1.4% |
| Telehealth Therapists | 952 | 0.8% |
| Outpatient Psychotherapists | 2,548 | 2.3% |
| Behavior Specialists | 990 | 0.9% |
| Child Psychologists | 1,119 | 1% |
| Line Therapists | 1,060 | 0.9% |
| Counseling Psychologists | 797 | 0.7% |
| Behavioral Support Specialists | 789 | 0.7% |
| Behavioral Health Registered Nurses | 1,436 | 1.3% |
| Licensed Outpatient Therapists | 1,746 | 1.5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for clinical psychologists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for clinical psychologists.
How much do clinical psychologists make?
Clinical Psychologists: How do you become one?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.