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) 473-4873veronica.hutchings@cdha.nshealth.ca