Psychologist
The term psychologist is used to refer to a wide range of professionals in the mental health, academic, and business fields. In general, psychologists study the workings of the mind. There are four basic types of psychologists: (1) those who make a career in counseling individuals and groups; (2) those who work in research and/or teaching; (3) those who provide consulting services to industry; and (4) those who provide assessment services in schools.(1) Psychologists in Clinical Practice - The American Psychological Association has worked hard to ensure that the term "Psychologist" is protected for use by psychologists who provide counseling services. Even though anyone can study psychology and there are many different career paths in the field of psychology, to advertise yourself as a "psychologist," you have to complete a Ph.D. or a Psy.D., and you must be licensed to provide counseling services. States use two terms to refer to psychologists who work primarily with clients in a counseling setting: (1) Licensed Clinical Psychologist and (2) Licensed Psychologist.
(2) Psychologists in Academia - Academics primarily focus on research, teaching and professional training rather than counseling individual clients. In academia, there are many types of psychologist, including Developmental Psychologists, Cognitive Psychologists, Social Psychologists, and Evolutionary Psychologists, but none of these are licensed to provide counseling services.
(3) Psychologists in Industry - The two primary titles used in this field are Industrial Psychologist and Organizational Psychologist. These professionals help companies balance the need for efficient operations with ensuring workers maintain a fulfilling role within the organization and hence, less employee turnover. Industrial and Organizational Psychologists would normally work within the human resources department of a company, but sometimes work as independent consultants as well.
(4) Psychologists in the Schools - These psychologists primarily offer psychological and skills assessment testing for students in school and are usually referred to as School Psychologists or Educational Psychologists. These are licensed professionals, but the license usually comes from the state agency responsible for teacher certification, not mental health licensing. School Psychologists also tend to hold a Ph.D. (sometimes Master's degree) in education, not psychology. School psychologists may not market their services as counseling services and must use the term "school psychologists." They cannot refer to themselves simply as psychologists.