Overview
What is a child psychologist?
A child psychologist has professional training and clinical skills to evaluate and treat the mental, emotional, social and behavioral health of infants, toddlers, children and adolescents.
Child psychologists have a thorough understanding of the basic psychological needs of children and adolescents and how their family and other social contexts influence their:
- Social and emotional adjustment.
- Developmental processes.
- Behavioral adaptation.
Child psychologists also have expert knowledge of mental and behavioral conditions that affect children.
What do child psychologists do?
Child psychologists use a wide range of procedures and skills when working with children and adolescents, including:
- Assessing psychological, intellectual, cognitive and behavioral issues with testing and evaluation.
- Using interventions such as psychotherapy (talk therapy) and behavior management.
- Developing prevention programs, such as preventing bullying, addictions, teen pregnancy, etc.
- Consulting with other professionals and healthcare providers who work with children.
Child psychologists are often included in the comprehensive care of children with medical problems. For example, they may help children with sleep difficulties or chronic pain or those coping with a chronic illness.
The emotional, mental and behavioral conditions that affect children are often treated differently from adults due to differences in age, cognitive levels and maturity. Because of this, child psychologists can use several different types of therapy techniques based on your child’s age and unique situation. Depending on the age and needs of your child, child psychologists may work solely with you (or guardians) to help with parenting skills or how to best address your child’s behaviors.
These therapies include:
- Art therapy.
- Behavioral therapy.
- Child-centered play therapy.
- Child-parent relationship therapy.
- Child anger management therapy.
- Child trauma therapy.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
- Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT).
- Emotionally focused therapy.
- Group or family therapy.
- Music therapy.
- Occupational therapy.
- Parent-child interaction therapy.
What’s the difference between a child therapist and a child psychologist?
A child therapist has a master’s degree in a mental health-related field such as psychology, counseling psychology or marriage and family therapy. A child therapist is qualified to evaluate children’s mental and behavioral health and use therapeutic techniques, such as talk therapy. Therapists usually have an approach that’s more focused on problem-solving.
A child psychologist has a doctoral degree (PhD) and often has extensive training in psychological research or clinical practice. Child psychologists can conduct many tests that therapists can’t, to help diagnose mental health and learning issues, such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder and learning differences.
Should my child see a therapist or psychologist?
While the work of child therapists and child psychologists overlap in a lot of ways, there are some distinct differences in what they can offer you and your child.
A therapist can help your child to work through difficult situations, learn coping skills to manage intense feelings and help families get along better.
While a therapist can help treat your child’s emotional or mental health issues, they may not be the best fit if you need a diagnosis for an IEP (individualized education plan) or other school accommodations. Schools often prefer that you work with a psychologist for this.
Your child may benefit from seeing a therapist if:
- They need emotional support and someone to talk to about their feelings.
- They’re struggling with anxiety, depression, anger or big life changes.
- You’d like help figuring out how to get along better with your child and improve difficult behavior.
- You’d like your child to meet with someone regularly, and you’re not looking for help with medication or more complex mental health conditions.
A child psychologist can conduct many tests that therapists can’t, which can be helpful when you need more information about the source of your child’s difficulties or if your child needs an IEP.
Your child might benefit from seeing a psychologist if:
- You think your child might have a condition that affects their learning or social interaction, such as ADHD, a learning difference or autism spectrum disorder.
- Your child needs help managing emotional or behavioral problems.
- You’d like a more detailed diagnosis for your child.
- One of your goals for therapy is to discover what changes you can make at home and changes your child’s school can make to better support your child.
Both child therapists and child psychologists can’t prescribe medication. If your child needs medication to manage a more complex mental health condition, they may need to see a child psychiatrist, which is a medical doctor who’s an expert in the field of psychiatry — the branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication.
What conditions do child psychologists treat?
Child psychologists can treat many kinds of behavioral, emotional, social and mental health issues in children and adolescents. They can also help children with stressors and issues in school, with their family and in life in general.
The conditions and situations a child psychologist can help treat include:
How can I tell if my child needs to see a child psychologist?
Therapy is an invaluable tool that provides a safe space for adults and children alike to talk through and deal with the stressors life throws at us — whether they’re mental health conditions or temporary situations.
You know your child better than anyone else. If you feel your child is struggling with issues such as school, relationships, managing emotions, behavior and/or learning, they may benefit from seeing a child psychologist.
Here are a few general situations and behaviors to look out for that can help you decide if and when your child could benefit from seeing a child psychologist:
- Your child is dealing with a big change or a stressful situation, such as bullying, a health condition, divorce or a move to a new city or school.
- Your child’s mental, emotional and/or behavioral problems seem to be getting worse over time instead of better.
- Your child or family has experienced a trauma, such as a death, an accident or abuse.
- You notice big personality and/or behavioral changes in your child.
- It’s difficult for your child to make and keep friends.
- Your child’s grades are dropping or they’re often having trouble with their behavior in school
What They Do
Child psychology refers to the treatment of a wide range of issues and disorders that affect children and their families. Job duties for child psychologists include administering tests, conducting research, and engaging in therapy sessions with individuals, families, and groups. Child psychologists work in private practices, schools, hospitals, and government agencies.
The emotional, mental, and behavioral disorders that affect children are often treated differently than adults. Typically, a child psychologist works with clients on a one-on-one basis in order to build trust and talk candidly. In many cases, a child’s caregivers or other important individuals (e.g. teacher, pediatrician) are involved in the treatment process, making child and family psychology an important skill for graduates.
Some child psychologists practice in clinical environments where they work directly with their clients. Other child psychologists work in research positions within academic, government, or private institutions. Some child psychologists who work in schools focus on how behavioral and mental disorders affect learning. They may help students address their problems, implement performance plans, and provide counseling for teachers and guardians. Child psychologists have the ultimate goal of coordinating the care and recovery of children with these disorders.
Career Growth
The job prospects for psychologists are promising over the next several years, which includes careers for those with child psychology degrees. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employment for psychologists will grow 8% by 2030, which will add an average of 13,500 jobs per year.
The overall employment of clinical, counseling, and school psychologists is projected to grow due to the demand for psychological services in schools, education organizations, hospitals, mental health centers, and social service agencies. Besides psychologists who were self-employed, the largest employers of psychologists in 2020 were elementary and secondary schools at the local, state, and private levels.
Salary Potential
According to the BLS, the average pay for clinical, counseling, and school psychologists was $79,820 in 2020. Those who work in elementary and secondary schools earned $77,560. Most psychologists in clinics, government, industry, or schools work full-time schedules during regular business hours. Child and family psychologists who have their own practice can set their own hours.
Education Required
Becoming a child psychologist requires training to administer tests that help to evaluate, assess, and diagnose the issues and disorders of children. A great starting point for any individual wishing to pursue a child psychology career is to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. This program gives students the foundation in psychology needed to pursue graduate education and career goals.
In most states, a clinical and counseling psychologist needs to hold either a Ph.D. in Psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree. Professionals who earn graduate degrees such as a Master of Education in School Counseling or Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling are also able to work with children. Certification or licensure is required to practice, and requirements vary by state.
Child Psychologists: What they do and how to become one
Child psychologists assess and treat children and adolescents. They help children cope with stresses like divorce, death, and family or school transitions. Their clientele may include children with a variety of developmental issues, from learning disabilities to severe mental illness. A partial list of problems treated includes attention deficit disorder, autism, obsessive compulsive disorder, phobias, and adjustment disorder. A part of the job is arriving at the best diagnosis when a complex set of symptoms is presented. More so than other mental health professionals, psychologists are experts in conducting psychological tests.
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Child psychology is one of several psychological specialties that focuses on the formative years. Clinical psychologists typically receive more training in providing long-term mental health therapy than do school psychologists. Their programs are more clinically focused than those of developmental psychologists. Clinical child psychologists are considered health service providers. However, their training also prepares them in indirect roles, as consultants or researchers.
A closely related specialty is pediatric psychology; pediatric psychologists work in medical settings. Child psychologists may work in outpatient centers, government agencies, or hospitals. Some are in private practice.
Child Psychologist Education and Training
Child psychology is a sub-specialty of clinical psychology. Individuals pursue a PhD in clinical psychology. They do a one year internship before receiving their doctoral degree. After graduation, they practice an additional year under supervision before achieving full licensure.
Grand Canyon University (GCU) offers a variety of Master’s in Psychology programs modeled after the standards and recommendations set by the American Psychological Association with emphases in: Forensic Psychology, General Psychology, GeroPsychology, Health Psychology, Human Factors Psychology, Industrial and Organizational Psychology and Life Coaching. Three Bachelor’s in Psychology programs are also offered. Click here to learn about GCU and their programs.
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) offers online Bachelor’s and Master’s in Psychology programs with several emphases to select from as well as a CACREP accredited online Master’s in Counseling. Click here to learn about SNHU and their programs.
Click Here to learn more about psychology education options based on your current educational attainment.
The Society of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology (Division 53 of the American Psychological Association) offers some advice to students about selecting a graduate program (https://www.clinicalchildpsychology.org/node/192). It is not necessary that the school offer a separate track in child psychology. However, it is imperative to train in the discipline. A person who is interested in a career that involves child psychology research should find a primary mentor who is in the discipline. One may have a better educational experience if there are multiple faculty members with expertise in this area; even the number off child psychology students can be important. Doctoral education in turn influences internship opportunities and postgraduate supervised practice opportunities.
Those who know they want to pursue child psychology can seek out programs with a concentration. There are even programs that combine clinical and school psychology.
The Society of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology offers a mentorship programs for undergraduates considering pursuing child psychology at the graduate level (https://www.clinicalchildpsychology.org/StudentMentorship). Division 53 has put together a list of internships and postdoctoral fellowships that may interest prospective child psychologists (https://www.clinicalchildpsychology.org/internships_postdocs).
Child Psychologist Licensing and Certification
Clinical child psychologists are state licensed. The psychology license may reflect that one is a clinical psychologist” or merely a ”licensed psychologist”. Many jurisdictions require psychologists to describe their areas of competence as part of the licensing process. Some state boards even discuss these as part of an oral examination process.
National board certification is different than licensing. It does not grant the right to practice, but does recognize expertise in specialty areas. The American Board of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (ABCCAP), a member board of the American Board of Professional Psychology, grants the Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology credential. A candidate must meet the generic requirement for ABPP diplomate status; this includes graduation from a program that is accredited or meets similar criteria.
A candidate who completes a residency in child and adolescent psychology may be eligible after completing as little as one year of postgraduate practice (http://www.clinicalchildpsychology.com/eligibility). The Board notes that pediatric psychologists are eligible.
The child psychologist will submit practice samples related to his or her child psychology practice and go through an oral examination process.
Additional Child Psychologist Resources
The Society of Pediatric Psychology (Division 54) is a professional resource for individuals in pediatric psychology (http://www.apadivisions.org/division-54/membership/index.aspx).
