Who are psychologists?
Psychologists are mental healthcare professionals who specialize in psychotherapy or talk therapy. They study the mind and behavior and help people cope better with their daily lives, relationship issues, and mental health problems. Psychologists work in hospitals, mental health facilities, psychiatric institutions, or health clinics. Some practitioners also choose to work in a research or academic setting.
Psychologists, generally, are not licensed to prescribe medications. However, psychologists in New Mexico, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, and Louisiana can attain additional training to become eligible to prescribe some limited medicines that can help patients with conditions like anxiety and depression.
Counseling psychologist vs. clinical psychologist
The practice areas of counseling and clinical psychology overlap quite a bit. However, the one primary difference is that clinical psychologists heavily rely on psychopathology, i.e., the study of mental health conditions. They diagnose and treat mental disorders that are significant and persistent. They can perform cognitive behavior therapy, psychoanalysis, transcranial magnetic stimulation, or other intensive therapies. Due to their patient's needs for more in-depth treatment, clinical psychologists often work in crisis centers, behavioral health hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and inpatient treatment centers.
On the other hand, counseling psychologists are more inclined towards helping patients dealing with various stressors, such as emotional, social, physical, etc. They enable patients to identify fears and trauma and develop coping skills or adopt modifications in behavior. Counseling psychologists guide their patients through marital conflict, anxiety, depression, parent and family challenges, etc. Thus, a clinical psychologist attends to more severe and complex mental health issues than a counseling psychologist.
Education and training of psychologists
An aspiring psychologist must first earn a bachelor's degree and then enroll in graduate school. This graduate education lasts four to six years and leads to either a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree. During their time in graduate school, they must complete a one-year internship. Following this, they must pass a national examination and any state-specific tests as necessary for their practice location. Some psychologists choose to specialize further by completing a postdoctoral fellowship.
In many states, supervised clinical hours are required after obtaining the doctoral degree as a prerequisite for licensure. This often includes undergoing a postdoctoral fellowship. The final step before licensure involves passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), a computer-based test developed by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.
Psychologists typically spend 8-12 years in education and training before becoming licensed practitioners. They may also pursue board certifications in clinical psychology. The American Board of Professional Psychology provides certifications in several specialty areas for licensed psychologists.
Specialties, subspecialties, and proficiencies in professional psychology
The American Psychological Association (APA) defines the following specialties in psychology:
- Clinical neuropsychology
- Clinical health psychology
- Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychology
- School psychology
- Clinical psychology
- Clinical child and adolescent psychology
- Counseling psychology
- Industrial-organizational psychology
- Behavioral and cognitive psychology
- Forensic psychology
- Couple and family psychology
- Geropsychology
- Police and public safety psychology
- Rehabilitation psychology
- Group psychology and group psychotherapy
- Serious mental illness psychology
- Clinical psychopharmacology
The APA defines the following subspecialties in psychology:
The APA defines the following proficiencies in psychology:
- Addiction psychology
- Sport psychology
- Biofeedback and applied psychophysiology
Reasons to see a psychologist
Most people wait for their problems to become "bad enough" before seeing a psychologist. This outlook is not advisable. Instead, it would be best to trust your instinct and seek help from a clinical psychologist near you.
If you are facing any of the following, you should consider seeing a psychologist:
- Feeling unfulfilled in life
- Unable to sleep
- Dealing with a traumatic event
- Undergoing a significant life change, like moving to a new city, switching jobs, etc
- Feeling helpless, worried, depressed, anxious, overwhelmed, stressed, sad, or angry
- Facing difficulties in completing daily tasks or concentrating
- Relying on maladaptive mechanisms to cope, such as drug use or alcohol consumption that are interfering with your emotions, health, responsibilities, or relationships
- Grieving the loss of a loved one
- Fixating over negative thoughts that seem out of control
- Persistent thoughts that are taking a toll on your work, relationships, or overall well-being
- Feeling that life is not worth living
Taking care of your mental health
Taking intentional steps to nurture your mental well-being can bring a range of benefits. Prioritizing your mental health is essential for many reasons, including:
- Lowering the risk of facing mental health problems
- Enhancing physical health, as chronic stress can lead to physical issues
- Strengthening and sustaining healthy relationships
- Developing positive coping skills for life’s challenges
- Reaching your full potential
- Inspiring and uplifting those around you
There are many ways to support mental wellness — the key is discovering what suits you best. Here are a few strategies to consider:
- Cultivate gratitude — Take time to appreciate positive moments each day, no matter how small. It might be enjoying a sunny day, reconnecting with a friend, or finishing a task. Writing these down can serve as a comforting reminder on tough days.
- Recognize your emotions — Experiencing a variety of emotions is normal, so try not to be too hard on yourself. Instead of suppressing feelings, talk to someone you trust or seek professional help if they become too overwhelming.
- Prioritize restful sleep — Good sleep is vital for mental clarity and mood regulation. Persistent sleep deprivation can increase irritability and heighten the risk of depression. Aim for around 8 hours of sleep and limit screen time before bed.
- Move your body — Regular physical activity, even light exercise like walking, can help relieve tension and boost mood. Movement can also enhance focus and decision-making skills.
- Maintain a balanced diet — Proper nutrition plays a significant role in mental health. Nutrient deficiencies like vitamin B12 can affect mood, while a healthy, nutrient-rich diet can help reduce stress and anxiety.
- Stay hydrated — Drinking enough water supports energy levels and cognitive function. Avoid excessive caffeine, as it can increase restlessness and worsen anxiety.
- Make time for relaxation — Explore relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, journaling, breathing exercises, or listening to music. Experiment with different methods to find what feels most calming for you.
By staying mindful and proactive about your mental health, you can take care of yourself as a preventative measure before meeting with a psychologist near you.
Talk therapy and its benefits
Talk therapy is a method mental health professionals use to communicate with patients. It helps in the identification of issues that give rise to emotional distress. The severity or complexity of these issues decides the next steps after talk therapy. For many, it may lead to the diagnosis of a mental health disorder such as sadness or anxiety.
That is, however, not always the case. Talk therapy is a safe space for many to talk about feelings and triggers comfortably. Through these conversations, a psychologist can unearth the cause behind their distress. Some common ones include grief and loss, medical illness, relationship issues, or childhood traumas.
A psychologist can help you understand these stressors' impact on your daily life and work. They can also recommend strategies and solutions to decrease the severity of these symptoms. Talk therapy sessions generally last anywhere between 50 minutes to an hour. Based on your symptoms and the treatment plan devised by your psychologist, the frequency of the sessions can vary.
Talk therapy is a slow process whose success depends upon a patient's willingness to trust their psychologist and be truthful about their feelings. The psychologist-patient relationship also highly influences its effectiveness. Early interventions with talk therapy have been found to reduce the long-term chances of developing severe mental health conditions, especially in those who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
What to expect when visiting a psychologist near you?
Different psychologists have distinct approaches to therapy and client interactions, but typically, you can anticipate the following process:
- Initial questions: During your first visit, the psychologist will ask several questions to assess your situation better. These may include:
- What brings you to therapy?
- What factors improve or worsen your issue?
- Can you describe your personal history?
- When did you first notice this problem?
- What has been your involvement with alcohol and drugs?
Responding to these questions helps the psychologist gather essential information. It could take multiple sessions to develop a comprehensive understanding of your concerns.
- Conduct assessments: The psychologist might administer one or more psychological assessments or tests to gain deeper insights into your issues. These evaluations help identify underlying problems and can contribute to forming a diagnosis. The tests may measure various aspects, such as mood, personality traits, memory, or concentration abilities.
- Setting goals: During the session, you may work on establishing goals or objectives for your therapy. These can range from short-term aims for the upcoming week to long-term milestones for your therapeutic journey. Setting these targets helps to provide direction and measure progress in your treatment.
- Discuss treatment: After the psychologist thoroughly understands the issues you are experiencing, they will work with you to create an appropriate treatment plan based on evidence-based therapies that have shown effectiveness. The psychologist will explain the options and involve you in deciding the best course of action.
Find a top-rated psychologist in Chandler, Arizona
Talk therapy or counseling sessions often involve sharing one's most vulnerable feelings and complex emotions. Its success also depends on how openly the patient can convey their feelings to the psychologist. To be able to do so, there should be a comfortable patient-psychologist relationship, making it essential to find the right clinical psychologist for your needs. Zocdoc can help you in your search.
Log in to Zocdoc and add information like your condition or specialty, location, and insurance plan. Zocdoc will display a list of psychologists near you based on your search. You can browse this list to become familiar with their educational background, areas of expertise, experience, and licensure. Zocdoc provider profiles also have information on practitioners' ratings, awards, accreditations, languages, insurance plans they accept, whether or not they treat children, etc.
If your insurance plan is not listed on Zocdoc, you can upload a photo of your medical insurance card. This feature does not apply to vision or dental cards. Zocdoc will scan the image and identify your likely plan. If you encounter issues while uploading the card image, you can reach out to the Zocdoc service team for assistance. For any other insurance-related questions, refer to Zocdoc’s patient help center.
After shortlisting the psychologists, you can decide by reading the user-verified reviews left by previous patients. Once you have agreed upon a clinical psychologist near you, you can book an in-person or virtual appointment on Zocdoc.
All bookings on Zocdoc are safe, free, and 100% secure.
Psychology statistics in Chandler, Arizona
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Arizona had about 630 practicing counseling and clinical psychologists as of May 2023. Another report from the bureau indicated that, as of May 2023, there were approximately 270 active psychologists of various specialties in the state.
According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), in February 2021, approximately 40.8% of adults in Arizona reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression. The report also revealed that out of these, nearly 27.4% could not get the required therapy or counseling. Other findings by NAMI indicate that around 87,000 people in Arizona, aged between 12 and 17, had depression, while around 257,000 adults faced a severe mental illness.
According to America's Health Rankings, in 2023, an estimated 19.6% of Arizonan adults aged 18 to 44 reported experiencing frequent mental distress. The rates for those between 45 and 64 and above 65 were about 13.7% and around 7.6%, respectively. Of those reporting such mental discomfort, approximately 17.3% were female, while almost 12.0% were male.
Sources
Cleveland Clinic
Indeed
Verywell Mind
WebMD
Healthline
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics[1]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics[2]
America's Health Rankings[1]
America's Health Rankings[2]
National Alliance of Mental Illness
American Psychological Association[1]
American Psychological Association[2]
American Psychological Association[3]
First Session
Doctors Hospital of Manteca
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