It’s a natural question to come up when one considers the investment of time and effort that a graduate degree in clinical psychology takes. The overall job outlook for graduates with a clinical psychology degree is bright. Even if the financial rewards weren’t motivation enough, clinical psychology offers a unique opportunity to help people in very real ways. 

Still, it’s natural to ask the question: what kinds of jobs can I get with a clinical psychology degree? Let’s get some answers.

Clinical Psychologist

Let’s start with the obvious one. The most natural career path for a graduate of a master’s level clinical psychology degree like the one you can get from West Liberty University is the traditional employment destination you would expect: a clinical psychologist. The words “clinical psychologist” can encompass a lot of careers, including some that you’ll find on this list. This entry is specifically for those psychologists who also function as therapists who see patients on a regular basis. 

This office can be part of a private practice or health system. Their typical day-to-day work is to treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. The most common disorders are depression and anxiety, though clinical psychologists can and do treat more complex issues like bipolar disorder. 

Substance Abuse Counselor 

Specializing in the counseling of individuals experiencing addiction and other complications arising from substance abuse. Substance Abuse Counselor works with patients addicted to substances of all kinds, including illegal drugs and prescription medications. These patients often require close work with psychology specialists to overcome their addictions, manage withdrawal symptoms, and recover successfully.

Clinical psychology graduates are especially well-suited to helping those experiencing substance abuse issues, such as analyzing behavior and circumstances that lead to addiction and developing a plan for the patient to manage their lives without those substances.

Human Resources Professional 

As companies grow, more and more employees want an empathetic and emotionally supportive human resources department. It’s more important than ever for employees at all levels to feel that they are valued. 

A clinical psychologist is a great addition to a comprehensive and modern human resources environment. Some of the benefits of having a psychologist on the HR staff include their ability to evaluate the behavior and performance of employees, helping to make sure that the right people are hired for the right positions. Psychologists can also help with the evaluation of skills, performance, and emotional states of employees. 

Forensic Psychologist

Forensic psychologists work with law enforcement as expert witnesses, and they can be used to evaluate defendants for competency to stand trial. In many trials, the ability of a defendant or witness to understand the process of a trial is a deciding factor in how the prosecution proceeds. This understanding can be a challenge for persons experiencing mental illness of many kinds. or to assess if the defendant is sane or mentally ill. The forensic psychologist must evaluate, provide treatment recommendations, help determine a witness’s credibility, and sometimes even recommend terms of the sentence. 

These are just three of the wide variety of careers available to clinical psychology graduates. If you’re interested in pursuing one of these exciting jobs, you can get started right here.