Find an Online Psychology Program for You
Featured Online Psychology & Counseling Programs
What Is Health Psychology?
Health psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on how mental, emotional, and social factors affect a person’s physical well-being. This field, also sometimes referred to as medical psychology, also focuses on a patient’s mental and emotional reaction to an illness or recovery from an illness.
Medical doctors are the health professionals that typically treat a person with a physical malady. They may perform diagnostic tests, for instance, and administer medication to treat the symptoms of a disease or the disease itself. Professionals in the field of health psychology, on the other hand, are less interested in the actual illness, and more interested in the person suffering from the disease.
In general, the health psychology field covers many areas. Professionals in this field may try to understand how an illness affects the emotional and mental wellbeing of a patient. The reasons why people seek healthcare and the ways that they interact with their medical doctors are also covered under the broad field of health psychology.
Although certain aspects beliefs of health psychology were recognized since the beginning of the psychology movement, it wasn’t until the late 1970’s that it was recognized as a separate branch of psychology. It was around this time that Stephen Weiss, Joseph Matarazzo, and several other psychology professionals sponsored a petition to create a new health psychology division in the American Psychology Association (APA). Because of their efforts, over 600 other psychology professionals signed the petition, and in 1978, Division 38 of the APA - the Health Psychology Division - was created.
Featured Health Psychology Degree Programs
Why Do We Need Health Psychology?
Health psychology has several practical purposes in life.
First of all, it can help medical doctors better care for their patients' health. By understanding the mental, emotional, and socioeconomic factors that might lead to certain illnesses, doctors can also have a better understanding of how to prevent these illnesses.
Health psychology also plays a role in helping medical professionals understand the mental and emotional effects of certain illnesses. This not only refers to the effects of certain symptoms on patients, but also the behavioral, social, and economic ramifications that illnesses might have as well.
Research conducted in the field of health psychology can also help improve the relationships between medical doctors and their patients. Improving communication between these two sets of people - the professional and the layperson - can lead to a higher percentage of patients following through with their treatments and less physical illnesses.
What Are the Education Requirements to Become a Health Psychologist??
Below is the complete educational path for the Psychologists:Psychologist Educational TrackSchool ProgramsAverage Education LengthChoosing Online or Campus1.Earn a Bachelor’s DegreeView Programs4 YearsOnlineorCampus2.Earn A Master’s DegreeView Programs2 Additional YearsOnlineorCampus3.Earn a PHD or PsyDView Programs2-4 Additional YearsOnlineorCampus
Psychologist Educational TrackSchool ProgramsAverage Education LengthChoosing Online or Campus1.Earn a Bachelor’s DegreeView Programs4 YearsOnlineorCampus2.Earn A Master’s DegreeView Programs2 Additional YearsOnlineorCampus3.Earn a PHD or PsyDView Programs2-4 Additional YearsOnlineorCampus
Considering health/medical psychology falls under the broader subject of psychology, it, like is subject to strict rules and regulations about who can be licensed as a health/medical psychologist. In all 50 states, psychologists are required to have earned at least a Master’s degree in the subject. But in order to practice clinically and call yourself a clinical psychologist, you need a doctoral degree. There are two ways to enter the field of health/medical psychology. The first is to get either a PhD in Psychology or a PsyD degree. A number of universities offer doctorates in the field of health/medical psychology such as schools like Mercer University, the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.
After getting the doctorate, it is often a requirement to get a master’s degree or certificate in psychopharmacology.
The other way is to go to medical school to become a medical doctor. Many medical schools offer medical psychology integrated into a medical degree program.
All health/medical psychologists need to be licensed and certified before practicing. After getting a doctorate, the candidate must take an exam and going through a supervised internship.
A Master’s degree opens up positions, working under a licensed psychologist, as a research assistant or behavior specialist. But most jobs require a doctorate.
Professional organizations for the field include theAcademy of Medical Psychology, and theSociety for Health Psychology.
What Does a Health Psychologist Do?
The jobs of those pursuing health psychology careers might vary widely from one professional to another. Ultimately, the duties and responsibilities of these psychology professionals will depend on their specialties.
In general, there are four main types of health psychology careers - clinical health psychology, community health psychology, occupational health psychology, and public health psychology.
Where Do Health Psychologists Work?
Individuals interested in health psychology careers will often find that there are a number of employment opportunities in a variety of different organizations.
Healthcare facilities - like hospitals and clinics - will often hire health psychologists, for instance. Non-profit organizations and government sectors might also employ health psychologists, as will large corporations and universities. These professionals might also be able to find positions in government and private research facilities.
What Is the Average Salary of a Health Psychologist?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), clinical and counseling psychologists earn a median salary of $90,130 as of May 2022. Even though the BLS doesn’t track data for health psychologists specifically, their duties are often clinical in nature so this number may prove helpful while planning your education and career.
A peek into the mean salaries of clinical psychologists working in healthcare settings may provide more context:
2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics job market trends and salary figures forclinical and counseling psychologistsare based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed June 2023.
Related Articles
Related CareersPolice Psychology CareersPositive Psychology CareersApplied Psychology CareersCareers in NeuropathologyHow to Start a Career as a Child PsychologistComparative Psychology CareersBecome a GerontologistPsychometrician CareersGeriatric Psychology CareersHow to Start a Career as a School PsychologistCareers in Personnel PsychologyEngineering Psychology CareersAirforce Psychologist CareerPsychological Anthropology CareersCareer As A Cognitive PsychologistConsumer Psychology CareersCultural Psychology CareersBecome a BiogerontologistWhat Is Criminal Psychology? How to Begin Your CareerBecome a Social GerontologistGeropsychology CareersCommunity Psychology CareersHow to Become a Clinical PsychologistGet Started in an Army Psychologist CareerCareers in NeurologyMedia Psychology CareersHow to Start a Forensic Psychology CareerMilitary Psychology CareersChild and Developmental Psychology CareersHow to Become a Neuropsychologist: Your Complete Guide to Degrees & Careers in NeuropsychologySpiritual Psychology CareersBecoming an Environmental PsychologistIndustrial & Organizational Psychology CareersRehabilitation Psychology CareersSports Psychology Degrees & CareersTranspersonal Psychology CareersExperimental Psychology CareersEducational Psychology CareersPsychiatry CareersSocial Psychology CareersNavy Psychology CareersCareers in Cognitive NeuroscienceCounseling Psychology Careers
Related Careers
