What Is Clinical Psychology?
Everyone has off days when they just don’t feel like themselves. For the majority of people, these feelings are normal, and they don’t last long at all. For some, however, these feelings are more serious, and they could indicate a mental or emotional problem. Clinical psychology is a broad branch of psychology that focuses on diagnosing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Some of the more common disorders that might be treated include learning disabilities, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
What do clinical psychologists do?
Clinical psychologists meet with clients to identify emotional, mental and behavioral problems in their lives. Through observation, interviews and tests, the psychologist will diagnose any existing or potential disorders.
What is the difference between clinical and counseling psychology?
A counseling psychologist has a stronger focus on healthy individuals, who have fewer pathological mental problems. A clinical psychologist has a stronger focus on those with a psychosis or other serious mental illness. This goes back to them taking over some degree of the work previously reserved for psychiatrists.
Best Clinical Psychology Masters Programs
Mphil In Psychology – University Of Cambridge
The MPhil is one year of full-time research with an individual supervisor followed by examination of a research thesis in an oral examination. Although the official course title is MPhil in Biological Science (Psychology), candidates can undertake research in any area of psychology. The MPhil is most commonly taken as a stand-alone research degree by candidates with only one year of funding. If this course is taken as part of a route to the PhD a further three years of study and funding are required as well as satisfactory performance in the MPhil. The PhD project may draw on the topic of the MPhil, but the same work cannot be presented for both degrees. Applications are usually considered in one round – for October entry. This allows applicants to compete for funding and to attend the Graduate Induction events held at the beginning of the academic year. All candidates are expected to take part in the Department’s Graduate Education Programme and the Graduate School of Life Science’s Skills Training Programme.
Cost: £8,094 for UK and EU students / £ 26,502 for international students.
Programme website: MPhil in Psychology
Msc In Psychological Research – University Of Oxford
The MSc in Psychological Research is a one year taught master’s course. The course provides a broad-based research training programme in psychology, covering theory and methods in core domains of psychology reflecting particular research strengths within the department. Hands-on research training within the core research themes of the department is also provided. Applicants are strongly advised to visit the Medical Sciences Graduate School website to help them identify the most suitable course.
Cost: £7,432 for UK and EU students / £21,732 for international students.
Programme website: Msc In Psychological Research – University Of Oxford
MSc Developmental Psychology and Clinical Practice – University College London This MSc aims to encourage an integrated understanding of child development and a range of childhood disorders, and to give students an opportunity to apply this understanding in a clinical setting through a supervised placement in the second year within a mental health service. Normally, a minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor’s degree from a UK university in Psychology, or in another relevant social, clinical or life science discipline, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard is required for admission. It is highly desirable that students have obtained relevant experience working with children or adolescents prior to application. Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website
Cost: £9,570 per year for UK and EU students / £24,420 per year for international students.
Programme website: MSc Developmental Psychology and Clinical Practice – University College London
Research Masters In Psychology – University Of Amsterdam
The Research Master’s programme is firmly embedded in the experimental approach to psychology that characterizes the psychology programme at the University of Amsterdam. Specialised courses are taught in informal, highly interactive small groups settings. In addition to content-related courses covering all areas in psychology, the programme offers a series of advanced courses on research methods and statistics, programming and computer skills, and writing and presentation skills. Central to the Research Master’s programme are two separate research projects (Internship and Thesis). In principle, papers based on these research projects should qualify for publication in international academic journals.
Cost: €2,006 per year for EU students / €14,740 per year for international students.
Programme website: Research Master Psychology Course catalogue
Msc In Forensic Mental Health (Clinical Forensic Psychology) – King’s College London
This programme examines the complex links between mental illness and antisocial behaviours across the lifespan. Clinical and research training is delivered by a distinguished multidisciplinary team. The MSc Forensic Mental Health is a flexible postgraduate programme designed for students with an interest in developing clinical or academic skills specific to the assessment and treatment of persons with mental disorders who engage in criminal behaviour. Throughout the programme there is an emphasis on the clinical relevance of research findings. Students will develop the critical skills necessary to assess and manage risk of antisocial and criminal behaviour and to establish, manage and evaluate programmes for reducing such behaviour. You will study alongside students from a wide range of professional and academic disciplines from all over the world.
Cost: £9,900 total fees for UK and EU students / £27,150 total fees for international students.
Programme website: Msc In Forensic Mental Health
Msc In Children And Young People’s Mental Health And Psychological Practice – University Of Edinburgh
This programme offers the unique perspective that children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing is influenced by developmental processes at multiple levels, from individual to sociocultural, and that our approaches to working should be informed by this dynamic, interactional system. We draw on the knowledge and clinical experience of a community of developmental, clinical and health psychologists, to help you understand children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing from this perspective. The programme includes both conceptual and applied elements. At the conceptual level, the programme will review different theories of children and young people’s mental health involved in the complex structure of typical and atypical development. At the applied level it will include the application of psychological knowledge to understanding the difficulties experienced by children and young people and the critical appraisal of psychological knowledge and its implications.
Cost: £9,500 for full-time campus-based UK and EU students / £19,300 for full-time campus-based international students / £3,600 total cost for all online students.
Programme website: Mental Health in Children and Young People: Psychological Approaches
Msc In Clinical And Health Psychology – University Of Manchester
The MSc in Clinical and Health Psychology provides a thorough grounding the in the research, theory and practice of clinical and health psychology.You will be taught about current and novel developments by leading researchers and clinicians within a highly influential research-active division of a Russel Group University.The course has been designed to help prepare you for a career in clinical or health psychology and can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis. You will also learn about the principles and evidence-base of psychological interventions to change behaviour and cognition at the individual, group and population level, as well as the role of psychologists within healthcare settings such as the NHS and how the science of psychology is applied in clinical practice.
Cost: £9,750 total cost for UK and EU students / £22,000 total cost for international students.
Programme website: MSc Health Psychology .
Mphil In Clinical Psychology – Cardiff University
The programme has strong links with Health and Social Care Services across Wales. The programme also enjoys an excellent relationship with the School of Psychology at Cardiff University where it is based, and receives valued support from its commissioners, the Welsh Government.The programme is three years full-time and leads to the award of Doctor of Clinical Psychology validated by Cardiff University. Trainees are full-time employees of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB) and registered postgraduate students of Cardiff University. The programme is intended for graduates with a degree in Psychology (or equivalent) and who are eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society. Successful completion of the programme confers eligibility to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council and Chartered Clinical Psychologist status with the British Psychological Society.
Cost: £4,195 for UK and EU students / £18,980 for international students.
Programme website: School of Psychology
Masters Of Psychology: Theory And Research – Ku Leuven
The research masters programme aims at guiding students to become independent researchers in psychological science. The faculty offers a challenging and dynamic study environment with research-based education in close interaction with internationally renowned researchers. The primary purpose of the Master of Psychology: Theory and Research is to prepare students to pursue a PhD project. Many of our graduates go on to pursue academic careers at top universities. The programme also provides a solid background for international careers in a variety of other settings.
Cost: €906.10 for all students.
Programme website: Visit the programme’s website.
Msc Psychological Therapies Practice And Research – University Of Exeter
The MSc programme offers an excellent standard of academic and clinical teaching delivered by experienced psychoanalytic psychotherapy practitioners, supervisors, academics and researchers. This two year programme consists of academic and clinical work leading to the award of a Msc in Psychological Therapies and Research. On successful completion of the MSc students are eligible to apply for Qualifying Training in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy or Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. This entails a third year of clinical seminars and two years of clinical work leading to a qualification as a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist, or with a fourth year of seminars and clinical work, as a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist. Trainees will be competent to work independently and gain membership of the British Psychotherapy Foundation and registration as a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist or a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist with the British Psychoanalytic Council.
Cost: £2,600 for all students.
Programme website: MSc Psychological Therapies Practice and Research (Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic Therapy)
Masters In Clinical Psychology Salary
While the average beginning salary for industrial-organizational psychologists with a master’s degree is about $40,000 – $50,000, experienced industrial-organizational psychologists with a doctorate degree can earn up to $250,000 per year. See Best Psychology Masters Programs Online 2019 / 2020
