Careers inCareers in PSYCHOLOGYPSYCHOLOGY

Veronica Hutchings, PhDVeronica Hutchings, PhDPsychologist (Candidate Register)Psychologist (Candidate Register)Capital District Health AuthorityCapital District Health Authority

Queen 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 something, If you like/are interested in something,

you can study it in psychology!you can study it in psychology!

What is Psychology?What is Psychology? Literally: “the study of the mind”Literally: “the study of the mind” Practically: the study of thoughts, feelings, Practically: the study of thoughts, feelings,

and behavioursand behaviours Wikipedially: an academic and applied Wikipedially: an academic and applied

discipline involving the scientific study of discipline involving the scientific study of human mental functions and behaviour. human mental functions and behaviour.

SomeSome Areas in Psychology Areas in Psychology HealthHealth DevelopmentalDevelopmental MathematicalMathematical CognitiveCognitive SocialSocial BiologicalBiological LearningLearning Evolutionary Evolutionary ForensicForensic

Educational / SchoolEducational / School AbnormalAbnormal Testing & Testing &

MeasurementMeasurement PersonalityPersonality CounsellingCounselling SportsSports Industrial/Industrial/

OrganizationalOrganizational Sensation / Perception Sensation / Perception Positive Positive

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:

Health PsychologistHealth Psychologist

Mental Health PsychologistMental Health Psychologist

NeuropsychologistNeuropsychologist

Clinical Health Clinical Health PsychologyPsychology

Usually work in a hospital or medical Usually work in a hospital or medical clinic, PhD may be requiredclinic, PhD may be required

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, diabetes, pain, insomnia, GI issues, dementia, heart disease, etc. dementia, 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

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

My typical weekMy typical week Monday: reports, committee work & dept Monday: reports, committee work & dept

meetingsmeetings Tuesday (Rehab, inpatients only): Tuesday (Rehab, inpatients only):

behaviour rounds behaviour rounds 1-2 assessments1-2 assessments consult with team, documentationconsult with team, documentation

Wednesday-Friday (Transplant):Wednesday-Friday (Transplant): 3-4 therapy sessions 3-4 therapy sessions 1-2 assessments (2hrs + chart review)1-2 assessments (2hrs + chart review) patient rounds & consultation, documentation, patient rounds & consultation, documentation,

professional development, researchprofessional development, research

Clinical Mental Health Clinical Mental Health PsychologyPsychology

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

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

Clinical NeuropsychologyClinical Neuropsychology

Usually work in a hospital or Usually work in a hospital or rehabilitation facility, PhD usually rehabilitation facility, PhD usually requiredrequired

Assessing brain functioningAssessing brain functioning Attention, memory, language, visuo-Attention, memory, language, visuo-

spatial skills, motor skills, ability to spatial skills, motor skills, ability to plan/organize, intelligence, etc.plan/organize, intelligence, etc.

Treatments to improve functioning Treatments to improve functioning following brain injuryfollowing brain injury E.g., Computerized cognitive re-trainingE.g., Computerized cognitive re-training

AssessmentAssessment

ExamplesExamples Attention: digit spanAttention: digit span Memory: word lists, short storiesMemory: word lists, short stories Language: naming pictures, COWATLanguage: naming pictures, COWAT 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 pictures, COWATLanguage: naming pictures, COWAT Visual Spatial: copying figures Visual Spatial: copying figures Executive Functions: Trails, StroopExecutive Functions: Trails, Stroop

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

blue blue orange orange purple purple redred

blueblue purplepurple redred orangeorange

greengreen redred greengreen blueblue

purplepurple orangeorange blue blue green green

purple purple redred orangeorange red red

orange orange greengreen blue blue purplepurple

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: 52,000-76,000/yrMasters: 52,000-76,000/yr Doctoral: 64,000-95,000/yrDoctoral: 64,000-95,000/yr

Clinical Psychologist vs. Clinical Psychologist 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 Medical Degree (M.D.)(M.D.)

Usually prescribe Usually prescribe meds meds

some conduct some conduct psychotherapypsychotherapy

Treat those with Treat those with severe mental severe mental health issueshealth issues

On callOn call

The path to becoming a The path to becoming a doctoral level psychologist – doctoral level psychologist –

step 1step 1The 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 doctoral level psychologist – doctoral level psychologist –

step 2step 2The 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 StatisticsResearch Methods & Design, and Statistics

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 doctoral level psychologist – doctoral level psychologist –

step 3step 3The 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 doctoral level psychologist – doctoral level psychologist –

step 4step 4Registration (time depends on province)Registration (time depends on province) Apply (transcripts, letters of reference)Apply (transcripts, letters of reference)

Candidates’ RegisterCandidates’ Register

Period of Supervision (1 year post-PhD in Period of Supervision (1 year post-PhD in NS)NS)

EPPPEPPP

Oral Ethics/Jurisprudence ExamOral Ethics/Jurisprudence Exam

Some provinces permit registration at Some provinces permit registration at Masters level*Masters level*

Other Psychology Other Psychology CareersCareers

Academia (University professor)Academia (University professor) Research Co-ordinator or assistantResearch Co-ordinator or assistant

Private PractisePrivate Practise PsychometristPsychometrist Research Assistant/Co-ordinatorResearch Assistant/Co-ordinator

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 $51,000-64,000$51,000-64,000

Private Practise Private Practise 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:

Department of Psychology Capital District Health AuthorityQEII Health Sciences Centre3rd floor, Bethune Building, Room 3321276 South Park StreetHalifax, Nova Scotia   B3H 2Y9Phone: (902) 473-8342  Fax: (902) 473-2148veronica.hutchings@cdha.nshealth.ca