The 12 types of psychologists (and what functions they perform).

A classification according to the fields of action of mental health professionals.

When people hear the word "psychologist," they immediately associate it with a man or woman sitting in an office a man or woman who sits in an office listening and taking notes on what his or her client is saying while and taking notes on what his or her client is telling him or her while lying on a couch. This is one of the many myths surrounding the psychology profession that can often be heard.

It is clear that there are many psychologists who carry out this type of practice, which is known as psychotherapy. But the fields of applied psychology are many, and therefore psychologists perform different tasks and functions, and work with different clients: families, organizations, athletes, dogs, among others.

Within the world of psychology there is a wide variety of jobs, roles and specialties that need not be very similar to each other.

The different types of psychologists

Psychologists have varied areas of specialization. Within these, some psychologists work in the practical field, but also in research or teaching. You will be surprised to know, for example, that there are psychologists who develop their profession in the field of video games...

As you can see, the areas of application in which psychologists work are manifold, and for this reason, we present below a list with the types of psychologists that exist and we explain their main functions.. These categories are not mutually exclusive, so it is not uncommon for one person to have the functions of two or even three types of psychologists.

Similarly, the fields of study of two of these types can be the same, considering that psychologists who are dedicated to research have a similar training to many others who are dedicated to intervene on a specific topic, as we will see.

12 types of psychologists to understand this discipline

Below we explain what types of psychologists exist and what functions each one performs.

1. Clinical psychologists

Clinical psychologists evaluate and treat mental and emotional disorders..

These psychopathologies range from short-term crises to longer-term difficulties. Some clinical psychologists have specialized in different pathologies: depression, eating disorders, anxiety, personality disorders, etc. Others focus on specific populations: children, adolescents, drug addicts, among others. Clinical psychology is regulated by law, so it is necessary to have completed an official master's degree or a competitive examination (for example, the PIR) to be able to practice it.

2. Psychotherapists

Psychotherapy is a model of clinical intervention that offers psychological support and a series of techniques to improve the quality of life of patients.

Psychotherapy, in most countries, is not regulated by law, and the problems it treats are not of the same severity compared to those usually addressed by clinical psychology. Psychotherapists often deal with everyday problems, interpersonal relationship problems or emotional problems. For example, relationship difficulties, or stress management treatment.

3. Educational psychologists

Educational psychology bridges two fields of study: psychology and education. It focuses on the processes involved in learning and of individuals and on the roles played by the actors in the educational field, as well as the environment in which this learning takes place.

Thus, the educational psychologist usually works in educational centers (e.g. schools) or educational guidance centers. Their functions are varied, and they may work individually, for example in the evaluation and treatment of a child's learning disorders, or they may work in a multidisciplinary manner with other educational professionals.

4. Developmental psychologists

Developmental psychologists can often work as educational psychologists, since learning is an important part of an individual's development.

But developmental psychology not only includes children or adolescents in its field of study and application, but also includes old age.. Therefore, these professionals can also work in nursing homes. In Western societies there are more and more elderly people, so in recent decades the work of these professionals has become essential.

5. Experimental psychologists and other researchers

Experimental psychologists conduct tests and experiments to gain new knowledge about different psychological aspects or phenomena.. In psychology, however, other methodologies are also used that do not always involve the use of the experimental method, as is the case, for example, in case studies.

Psychologists engaged in research may have the same training as other types of psychologists, but instead of intervening on subjects or groups, they do research on them to obtain information with which to test hypotheses or obtain specific data that they are asked to provide. They can study aspects of basic psychology such as memory, attention, perception or learning processes, among others, but also phenomena linked to a specific context, such as the appearance and propagation of rumors or the generation of specific discourses.

They usually work in universities or public or private research centers, and recently there has been a boom in the interest of companies in hiring these professionals, due to the importance of the development of R&D programs. Large companies are very interested in topics such as consumer perception of a certain product, or in occupational health issues.

6. Neuropsychologists

A neuropsychologist is a professional dedicated to neuropsychology.

In order to work in this field, it is necessary to have a Bachelor's or Bachelor's degree in psychology, as well as a postgraduate degree in this specialty. These positions are often filled by clinical psychologists or experimental psychologists, as many neuropsychologists are involved in research. In the applied field, they may work, for example, in the cognitive, behavioral and emotional rehabilitation of a brain-damaged patient, or in early diagnosis and intervention in dementia.

7. Social psychologists

Social psychologists study and work on human behavior and the psychological factors that affect the social, community or affecting the social, community or group environment.

They are interested in aspects such as interpersonal, intragroup and intergroup relationships. They are also interested in issues such as culture, prejudice or attitudes towards other individuals, and develop programs for groups, for excluded minorities, for disadvantaged groups, among others. Professionals dedicated to the study of political psychology and cultural psychology can also be included here, and it is also normal to find people with training in anthropology and gender studies in this category.

8. Organizational and work psychologists

Organizational and work psychologists apply psychological methods and principles in the work and organizational environment..

Their work is varied, but they usually work in personnel selection, training, occupational health or development departments. They are also involved in performance appraisals or consumer satisfaction surveys. In addition, in the work environment, psychological variables such as motivation and leadership are of particular importance.

9. Forensic and criminal psychologists

Forensic psychologists apply psychological principles to legal aspects. Their expertise is essential in the courtroom. They can, for example, help a judge decide which parent should retain custody of a child by providing useful information or assess the mental competence of a defendant during a trial.

Forensic psychologists are not the same as criminal psychologists. To better understand the difference between the two fields of application of psychology, we invite you to read our article: "Differences between Criminal Psychology and Forensic Psychology".

10. Sports psychologists

Although the work of sports psychologists is not well known by many individuals, few doubt the importance of psychological factors in sports performance. Sports psychologists work with the athletes, the coach, the team and the entire organization to maximize the potential of the team or athlete. or athlete. Some of the psychological variables that are worked on are: self-efficacy, attention, motivation, level of activation or stress. But they also work on the interpersonal relationships of athletes, the influence of the environment or communication.

To learn more about the work of a sports psychologist, you can click on this article: "10 reasons to have a sports psychologist in your life".

11. Sexologists

Sexologists are professionals specialized in diagnosing and treating psychological disorders that affect the intimate relationships of individuals (e.g., sexual dysfunction). of individuals (for example, Erectile Dysfunction or premature ejaculation).

They are also in charge of educating patients on aspects related to healthy sexuality.

12. Other fields of application

But it doesn't end there, because there are psychology professionals who are dedicated to smaller fields of applicationThe psychology of traffic and road safety, marketing psychology, psychology applied to video games, psychology applied to nutrition, group psychology, canine psychology, coaching...

In short, psychology is a field that has obvious connections with any economic, social and medical area, and it is for this reason that the profession of psychologist can find very varied specializations and applications.

Beyond the types of psychologists

It should be borne in mind that, regardless of how we classify the different types of psychologists, they all perform a fundamentally similar task: the study of behavior and mental processes and the application of this new knowledge in areas such as clinical psychology, education, etc.

In other words, all of them, from their different fields of action, help to better understand who we are and what we do, help to better understand who we are and how we can change..

Bibliographical references:

• Gadenne, V. (2006). Philosophy of psychology. Spain: Herder.
• Morris, Charles (1997). Introduction to Psychology (Ninth edition). Prentice Hall.
• Myers, David G. (2005). Psicología. Mexico: Médica Panamericana.
• Papalia, D. and Wendkos, S. (1992). Psicología. Mexico: McGraw-Hill.
• Santamaría Ambriz, Rocío (2002). "Acerca del método psicoanalítico de investigación". Revista Universidades.