About Jobs in Clinical Child Psychology

Psychology is an area in the social sciences that is vast and offers many job opportunities. Clinical psychology deals with the concerns of dual diagnosis, assessment, treatment and the prevention of mental disorders. Clinical child psychologists work with children in the diagnoses, assessment and treatment of mental disorders.

What do they do?

• Clinical child psychologists work in hospital, private and academic settings.

How much do they earn?

• Clinical child psychologists earn different annual incomes depending on which type of degree they hold. The income range is between $20,000 for entry level and $72,000 for PhD holders. In several cases, salaries can be $100,000 and more.

Type of degree

• Clinical child psychologists need at least a master's degree in clinical psychology, and appropriate state licensing.

Benefits

• The benefits of a clinical child psychologist are plenty. Psychologists have the option of working in private practice, where they are their own boss, or working within a group setting with other medical personnel.

Downsides

• Insurance companies require that psychologists keep extensive records of all patients.

Is it right for me?

• Clinical child psychology involves working with children who may have severe mental challenges. There is a high risk of burnout, and some clients can be needy.

Continuing education

• All psychologists working in a counseling setting must undergo continuing education throughout their careers. The upside of this is that by doing so, they are placing themselves at a higher experience level than newer psychologists.