Clinical Psychology

Psychology is an applied discipline that includes phenomenological and scientific investigation of human mind including its behavior, cognition and possible effects. Similarly, a clinical psychologist is an expert in psychology who conducts study and application of psychological so as to understand, prevent and relieve psychological-based distress. On the other hand, a medical psychiatrist is a physician or a medical health professional known for treating mental disorders. 

Clinical psychology inculcates the application of psychology to treat some of the severe disorders including phobias, bipolar disorder and mental disorders such as schizophrenia. The assessment also includes determining the cause, nature and after effects of distress as well as the psychological factors correlated with allied physical, behavioral, social and emotional aspects of the patient.

Clinical Psychology includes science, theory and practice to comprehend, predict and ease the discomfort thereby promoting human adaptation, adjustment and personal development. Furthermore, clinical psychologists precede their work with patients who are suffering from everyday stress they face, consisting of job, academic performance, marriage, family and relationships. This branch of intellects focuses on psychological, biological, social and behavioral facet of human life span, when they are subjected to varied cultures at different socio-economic levels. 

Area of Activity

Clinical psychologists are mainly involved in pursuing research, study, supervision of developmental program for evaluation, consultation and professional practice to support activities that promotes psychological health in individuals, families and groups. Additionally, clinical psychologists are dedicated to offer treatment to patients coping with numerous degrees of mental stress and trauma that may include phobias and mood swings. This work may range from prevention, to early intrusion and treatment of individuals with psychological problem. Majority of the clinical psychologists work with a meticulous patient group that may include adult health, child and family, learning disabilities and offer a spectrum of professional services:

    * Offer psychological treatment (psychotherapy)

    * Carry out various psychological researches

    * Performing several prevention and treatment programs

    * Counseling sessions with school and business enterprises

    * Providing expert testimony on forensic psychology

    * Teaching and program administration

    * Interpreting psychological assessment and allied tests

Eligibility Criteria

Psychology is offered as a subject at 10+2 level along with a combination of other subjects related to social sciences and statistics. Psychology Honors is offered by most of the universities at the graduation level and at the post graduation level the aspirants can opt for MA or MS in Psychology, Social work or Counseling. Further for pursuing M.Phil or Ph.D in Psychology, one needs to have graduated with psychology. Additionally, post graduation degrees such as M.Phil and doctorate are increasingly specialized as well as require a lot of research. Further those who do not wish to spend so many years in studies can pursue one year diploma in Special Education or Mental Retardation. If you have interest in helping people with their problems (counseling), then you can opt for psychology related graduation degrees in education and social work. To sum up the eligibility criteria:

Program	Eligibility	Duration
Bachelors in Psychology	10+2	3 years
Post graduation in Psychology	Bachelors in Psychology	2 years with specialization in a particular branch of Psychology
Ph.D./ M.Phil	PG or Diploma in Psychology	2 years

University/Institutions offering various Psychology Courses 

A successful psychologist need not require any medical degree, but he/she needs to posses enough experience of varied characteristics of psychological behavior in order to better facilitate the masses. And to do the same, an aspirant needs to get trained in a professional institution. Some of the institutions where psychology courses can be pursued:

For Graduation in Clinical Psychology

    * Barakatullah Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal, (Madhya Pradesh)

    * Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar, (Gujarat)

    * Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, MGM Medical College, Indore

    * Dr. Hari Singh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Department Of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sagar, (Madhya Pradesh)

    * Jai Narayan Vyas University, Jodhpur, (Rajasthan)

    * Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, (Delhi)

    * Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, (Haryana)

    * Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, (Haryana)

    * North Eastern hill University, (Meghalaya)

    * Ravi Shankar Shukla University, Raipur, (Madhya Pradesh)

    * South Gujarat University, Surat, (Gujarat)

    * University of Ajmer, Ajmer, (Rajasthan)

    * University of Delhi, Delhi, (Delhi)

    * Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar, (Orissa)

For Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology

    * NIMHANS, Bangalore (rated amongst the top ten institutions in this field globally) 

    * Karnataka University, Dharwad (PhD Programme)

For Post Graduate Diploma Course in Medical and Social Psychology

    * National Institute of Medical Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore

    * Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi

    * B.M. Institute of Mental Health, Ahmedabad

For Post Graduate Diploma in Counseling and Guidance

    * University of Madras

    * Punjab University

    * National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Delhi

    * Psychology of Education, Bureau of Education, Allahabad

For Diploma in Professional Psychology

    * Aligarh Muslim University (providing Certificate in Rehabilitation of physically handicapped)

    * NIMHANS, Bangalore

For Certificate in applied Psychology

    * Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Chembur, Mumbai

Additionally for the aspirants residing in North India, Punjab University, Chandigarh University and Delhi Universities are great options. Additionally, MJP Rohilkhand University, Bareilly offers Master degree in applied and clinical psychology and M.Sc in applied Clinical Psychology is offered by Guru Jhambeshwar University in Hissar. 

Typical Employers and Job Prospects

The nature of psychologist is based on the area of specialization of any subject. Clinical Psychologists work in numerous settings, including universities, colleges, primary and secondary schools, govt. institutions, private enterprises, hospitals, clinics etc. Some of the typical employers also include social welfare organizations, research establishment, rehabilitation centers, prisons, child/youth guidance centers and many more including:

    * Hospitals

    * Psychiatric units

    * Health centers

    * Community mental health teams

    * Child and adolescent mental health services

    * Social services

Clinical Psychologists are currently highly in demand and would be required in the coming future by the National Health Services (NHS) so as to meet the requirements of newer branches of counseling and forensic and health psychology. Some of the career prospects of the allied field can be

    * Clinical psychologist or assistant clinical psychologist

    * Consumer psychologist

    * Counseling psychologist

    * Counselor

    * Educational psychologist

    * Forensic psychologist (prison and probation services)

    * Health psychologist

    * Mental health worker

    * Occupational therapist & psychologist

    * Psychotherapist

    * Social researcher

    * Social worker

Remuneration

Clinical Research seems to be the future of Psychological courses as well as is fast emerging as a rewarding career prospect in India and other parts of the globe. Psychology is a highly rewarding and lucrative realm of study and research and therefore, a psychologist salary depends on the factors such as his/her specialization in a particular subject as well as experience in the field. Additionally, professional psychologists having M.Phil and Ph.D degrees earn handsome salary. Again those indulged in private practice have more scope for earnings. 

India possesses favorable conditions for successful establishment of pharmaceutical companies that has encouraged the pharmaceutical giants from around the world to set up their operations in Indian Subcontinent. Consequently, there is a huge demand of trained clinical research professionals and hence opening new avenues for unemployed.