Clinical psychologist

A clinical psychologist assesses, diagnoses, and treats mental health conditions through psychological testing and evidence-based talk therapy. They conduct intake interviews, administer and interpret cognitive and personality assessments, formulate diagnoses, and deliver structured treatments for disorders ranging from anxiety and depression to trauma and personality disorders, usually over a course of sessions.

Holding a doctoral degree, they work in private practice, hospitals, clinics, and academic settings, and some specialize in particular populations or conditions. The work pairs scientific rigor — choosing and measuring the right intervention — with the relational skill to build the trust that makes therapy effective.