15 Types Of Psychologists And Their Functions

Psychology is a discipline that has been developing for several years. In its origins, this science was mostly unitary, that is, there was no division and specialization as such. Generally, the approach and techniques used were similar regardless of the individuality and personal characteristics of each person. Likewise, in its beginnings the field or area of ​​work of psychology was limited to a few contexts and objects of study. However, this discipline is not static, so throughout its history it has adapted to the various phenomena and new contexts of a dynamic society, adopting new challenges and objects of study as well as incorporating knowledge and improving their techniques.

Currently this discipline has expanded enormously to other sectors of society, which is why it has expanded its field of study and has become more complex through the division of this science into different branches which thus promote specialization. This proliferation of specialties, currents and approaches enrich psychology, in the same way that they promote a specific, competent and individualized approach and intervention to different demands.

Therefore, although the general objective of psychology, and all the branches that make it up, is the understanding of the processes of the human brain and its practical application, this can be approached and approached from very different facets or areas.

Regarding the types of psychology, the current reality is that there are a large number of branches within this science and on many occasions this branch presents subdivisions or other branches. It is because of that It is difficult to establish in a concrete and definitive way how many types of psychology there are. currently. Furthermore, the dividing line between branches is sometimes diffuse or ambiguous. Despite this, today a series of types or branches of psychology can be clearly identified:

• Clinical psychology
• Child and adolescent clinical psychology
• Psychogerontology
• Psychotherapy
• Educational psychology
• Psychology of social intervention
• Legal and forensic psychology
• Traffic and safety psychology
• Psychology of work and organizations
• Psychology of sports and physical activity
• Psychology of consumption, advertising and marketing
• Neuropsychology
• experimental psychology
• Health Psychology
• Sexology and couples

There are a series of professional and work competencies of psychologists that are required and applied transversally in any of the divisions of psychology. In addition to these transversal skills, there is a series of specific knowledge that is essential depending on the work context in which one works. This specificity is what differentiates a psychology professional from one field from another professional from a different area. Therefore, currently there is a large number of types of psychologists due to the volume of specialty branches that exist.

Likewise, it is important to emphasize that also within the same area of ​​psychology there are differences in approaches and current that is adopted when working. Even so, there is no clear and defined consensus about the number of total professional profiles in psychology; these vary depending on the country and the expert who evaluates it, since there are currently no specific and determined criteria. Furthermore, due to the increasing application of psychology to almost all sectors of the population and to most phenomena, there is a tendency to expand and grow the professional categories of this discipline on a continuous basis. However, below we show you the most representative types of psychologists and whose profile has been recognized by the majority.

Not all people who are professionally dedicated to psychology carry out the same tasks and tasks; in fact, depending on the specialty, they tend to have very different functions and methodologies. Due to the existence of various branches or areas of psychology, a series of professional profiles of psychologists can be identified:

1. Clinical psychologist

Clinical psychology is the most popular and well-known branch of this science, it is dedicated to the evaluation and intervention of mental and emotional psychopathology. Therefore, its functions are to evaluate the person by exploring their vital areas and mental processes with the aim of establish a diagnosis that allows a psychological intervention and treatment that allows the person to improve their quality of life. Additionally, clinical psychologists are trained to preparation of reports, for expert advice and counsel to various consulting organizations. Within clinical psychology there is the possibility of specialization in a group of disorders such as eating behavior, anxiety, etc.

2. Child and adolescent clinical psychologist

The child and adolescent clinical psychologist performs the same functions as a clinical psychologist, but their work is focused on a child and adolescent population sector This is because the problems, their manifestations and the interventions are different between this age group and adults. Likewise, to practice correctly in this area, knowledge about evolutionary or developmental psychology is very necessary in comparison with other branches of this discipline and depending on the age of the patient, more or less of the work or intervention is carried out with the family. The functions are those of evaluation, diagnosis and intervention and treatment

3. Psychogerontologist

Due to the aging of the population, psychogerontology arises, whose main function is the estudy of old age and the promotion of well-being of this sector of society. In general, professionals who are dedicated to this area evaluate, intervene and accompany both the elderly person and their family members in this process. They are also responsible for designing and implementing psychoeducational programs that promote dignified and as active aging as possible. preventing possible future health problems. Psychogerontology focuses its activity not only on the elderly person, but also on their formal and informal caregivers.

4. Psychotherapist

Psychotherapists also work from a clinical orientation, however they usually address less serious or more everyday problems than clinical psychologists; they do not normally intervene with people with serious psychopathological problems with a clinical diagnosis. Psychotherapy aims improve a person’s well-being promoting the understanding and reflection about herself and her problems, the expression of needs, the establishment of objectives and the acquisition of personal resources and coping tools.

5. Educational psychologist

Educational psychology professionals carry out their work in the educational environment, where they focus on understanding of learning processes and how various factors such as the environment or the influence of the different agents involved in this process and performance affect. The functions of this type of psychology are detection and intervention in the educational needs of students, school and professional guidance, intervention in the improvement of education and the prevention of problems associated with the educational environment. They can work both individually and jointly with other school agents, such as teachers.

6. Social psychologist

People who are dedicated to the psychology of social intervention guide their action towards both people, groups and communities from a perspective that includes the social context and its influence on different processes and problems. Community psychologists present functions such as research about the context and its effects on different groups an analysis of needs, the promotion of community revitalization and the planning, programming and evaluation of social intervention programs aimed in many cases at vulnerable groups or at risk of social exclusion.

7. Legal and forensic psychologist

Legal and forensic psychologists work in the legal and criminal environment, so they require knowledge about the law and legal reality. Its functions are to carry out the expert opinion or evaluation of the legal actors preparing reports, advising other legal professionals in decision-making, intervening in the rehabilitation and reintegration of people serving sentences, as well as improvement of the victim’s situation. In the following article you will find more information about forensic psychology.

8. Traffic and safety psychologist

Road psychologists carry out psychological examinations for permits driving, weapons or other risky activities, as well as detect those that are not granted due to dangerousness. Likewise, they carry out advisory functions in children’s road safety education, carry out prevention campaigns of accidents, rehabilitation of people who have been injured, as well as carrying out research and study work to promote safety in this area.

9. Psychology of work and organizations

Specialization in this area of ​​psychology is dedicated to and oriented toward the workplace and the functioning of organizations. They perform various functions, some of them are selection, evaluation and orientation of personnel, professional guidance, evaluation and improvement of health conditions in the work environment and worker satisfaction, promotion of a positive climate and culture of the organization or development and training of company personnel. Here you will find more information about psychology applied to organizations and companies.

10. Physical activity and sports psychologist

This discipline addresses psychological factors in the field of sport, in the sporting performance of those people who are dedicated to physical activity. An example of this is sports psychology in school and youth football. The functions of these types of psychologists are psychological preparation of the athlete the study of the influence of mental processes on physical ones, psychological intervention in the rehabilitation of an injury or the promotion of learning about sports.

11. Consumer, advertising and marketing psychologist

This area focuses on human behavior in relation to consumption and the design of products on the market. Among the functions of psychologists who belong to this branch are the study of perception, attention, motivation and their processes, developing marketing strategies that are attractive and effective, market research and consumer trends of the population and its sectors, design and adaptation of advertising messages, design, implementation and evaluation of advertising campaigns, etc. For example, color psychology in marketing and advertising.

12. Neuropsychologist

Neuropsychologists focus on neurology from a psychological point of view. They develop functions such as research about brain functions and regions and its relationship with psychological processes, evaluation, intervention and rehabilitation with people who have suffered brain damage, development of neuropsychological evaluation measures or early detection of brain conditions through behavioral alterations.

13. Experimental psychologist

The experimental psychologists are aimed at research in the area of ​​psychology and obtaining new knowledge that can be applied practically. In some cases the experimental methodology is used, but currently there are multiple methods for research in addition to the experiment. His work consists of contrasting hypotheses, verifying results, studying the limitations of their generalization and obtaining meaningful data through the use of various experimental methodologies.

14. Health psychologist

Health psychology studies the factors that influence health from a biospicosocial perspective, that is, it includes a biological, psychological and social point of view. Its functions include research on lifestyles, behaviors and their impact on health, promotion of healthy habits the prevention of problems and diseases impact on health policies and their design, detection of risk factors and health protection, etc.

15. Sexologist and couples therapist

Sexologists and couples therapists are dedicated to the area of ​​sexuality and sexual relationships. Its functions are evaluation, diagnosis and intervention in sexual disorders or relationship problems, carrying out couples therapy, promoting sexual education, planning, designing and promoting campaigns or workshops on healthy sexuality, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancies, risky or irresponsible behavior in sex, etc. Here you will find more information about the role of the psychologist specializing in sexology.

This article is merely informative, at PsychologyFor we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

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