Differentiating among Similar Careers &

among Similar Sounding Career Titles

Barbara G. Licht, Ph.D.Department of Psychology

Florida State University

Topics to be Covered

1. Comparing graduate programs that train you to assess and treat psychological problems

2. Comparing graduate programs that train you to apply psychology to managing employees &/or product development.

3. Comparing careers that begin with “neuro.”

Degrees that train you to

Assess & Treat Psychological Problems

• Clinical Psychology, Doctoral

• Counseling Psychology, Doctoral

• Psychiatry, M.D. plus residency in Psychiatry

• Clinical Social Work, Master’s

• Mental Health Counseling, Master’s

• School Psychology, Educ. Specialist (Ed.S.)

• Applied Behavior Analysis, Master’s

• Speech Therapy, Master’s

• Music &/or Art Therapy, Master’s

• Counseling specialty Master’s (Marriage/Family, Rehabilitation, Addictions, etc. )

Comparison of Doctoral versus Master’s Degrees

1. Higher salaries with Doctorate, but more therapy jobs for Master’s.

2. If want to supervise Master’s level therapistsand/or develop & evaluate new programs,better to get Doctorate.

3. If want to conduct research, need Doctorate.

4. If mainly want to do individual or group therapy, Master’s may be best.

Comparison of Psychiatry versus all Other Degrees

1. Psychiatry, M.D. plus 4-year Psychiatry residency.

2. Much higher hourly rate for Psychiatrists, but insurance only reimburses for 15-min. sessions.

3. Consequence of #2, Psychiatrists onlyprescribe medication for psychological problems.

Differences between Clinical Ph.D. & Counseling Ph.D.

1. Types of problems you are trained to treat. Counseling: Wide range of problems. Examples: child behavior, marital, depression, anxiety, substance

abuse, interpersonal, PTSD. Usually do not treat severely mentally ill.

Clinical: Entire range of psychological problems.

2. Relative emphasis on research. Clinical: BIG emphasis on conducting research &

evaluating efficacy of treatments . (Housed in Psychology departments.)

Counseling: Less emphasis on research & evaluating efficacy of treatments. (Housed in Colleges of Education). Still includes research.

3. Individual programs differ.

Differences between Clinical Ph.D. versus Psy.D. 1. Relative emphasis on research Ph.D. heavy emphasis on research Psy.D. very little research training

2. Where programs are housed Ph.D. Accredited programs usually within regular “not-for profit” universities, both public & private Psy.D. Many accredited programs within freestanding “for profit” institutions, but some within universities. 3. Cost of graduate training “For profit” more expensive—often VERY expensive, little financial aid; generally poorer training.

4. Competitiveness“For profit” less competitive

Differences among Other Therapy-Based Programs

1. Evidence-based vs. Eclectic

2. Recognition by Health Insurers

3. Broad vs. Specialized Programs

Program may be specialized by who you are trained to treat and/or techniques employed

• Clinical Psychology, Doctoral

• Counseling Psychology, Doctoral

• Psychiatry, M.D. plus residency in Psychiatry

• Clinical Social Work, Master’s

• Mental Health Counseling, Master’s

• School Psychology, Educ. Specialist (Ed.S.)

• Applied Behavior Analysis, Master’s

• Speech Therapy, Master’s

• Music &/or Art Therapy, Master’s

• Counseling specialty Master’s (Marriage/Family, Rehabilitation, Addictions, etc. )

Careers that apply Psychology to Managing Employees or Product

Development

• Industrial-Organizational Psychology (I/O), Master’s or Doctorate

• Human Resource Management (HR; HRM), Master’s

• Public Administration (PA), Master’s

• Instructional Design; Instructional Systems (ID/IS) Master’s

• Performance Management (PM), Master’s

• Human Factors Psychology (HF), Master’s or Doctorate

Activities in which these Professionals Engage

• Select of best employees for specific jobs: I/O; HRM; PA

• Train employees: I/O; HRM; PA; ID/IS; PM; HF• Motivate employees: I/O; HRM; PA; ID/IS; PM• Evaluate employees: I/O; HRM; PA• Build leadership skills: I/O; HRM; PA• Enhance relations among employees &

between employees & managers: I/O; HRM, PA• Develop products (e.g., technology) or environments

to match the abilities of humans: HF• May work for one large organization or consult

w/different organizations : All degrees

Difference between I/O and HRM

I/O housed in Departments of PsychologyHRM housed in Colleges of Business

1.I/O involves more research2.HRM can get higher paying jobs3.Social/Political/Fiscal values may differ

Career Titles that include “Neuro”

• Neuroscience (Physiological Psych, Biopsychology):Basic research with animal modelsDoctorate in Neuroscience

• Cognitive Neuroscience & Clinical Neuroscience: Research with humansDoctorate in cognitive, clinical, or neuroscience

• Clinical Neuropsychology:Doctorate in Clinical PsychologyDiagnose & treat psychological problems in persons w/ neurological problemsMay do research &/or collaborate with neurologists

• Neurology: M.D. plus 4-year residencyProvides medical treatment for neurological problems.