Psychotherapist

Clinical and health psychology is the field of specialization of psychology that deals with human behaviour and the psychological phenomena that affect people's mental health and well-being.
To achieve it, these professionals use methods and techniques proceeding from observation and research in order to study, explain, prevent, assess, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate the psychological aspects that negatively affect people's behaviour, emotions or relationships. The specific methodology used by these professionals will depend on the type of therapeutic orientation with which they work (psychoanalytic, behavioural, gestalt, transpersonal, systemic, etc.).

Clinical psychologists may work with individuals, couples, groups or communities, children, teenagers, adults or the elderly. It is usual that depending on the intervention that they make, they end up specializing in a specific type of care: children, addictions, couple therapy or eating disorders, among others. Moreover, they can also work in emergency situations, attending victims or people involved in the emergency or accident, relatives, and other involved professionals.

• Assessment and diagnosis:
  Interview the patient in-depth, collect and analyse the reason for the consultation and relevant information in order to evaluate any potential psycho-pathological alterations or disorders.
  Check the person's medical history in order to identify all the variables that influence, and assess related risk factors, protective factors and coping resources.
  From all the information collected, make the diagnosis and prepare reports, certificates and psychological assessments.
  
• Treatment:
  Design the specific treatment, schedule the work sessions and prepare the necessary psychological materials and resources.
  Give the treatment in order to help patients alleviate their suffering and that of their relational environment.
  Develop actions to promote health by promoting patient's resources in order to maintain the improvement made and avoid the onset of psychopathological disorders or detect them as soon as possible.
  Achieve conditions necessary for effective communication and a good therapeutic relationship with the patients, relatives and community at which the intervention is directed.
  
• Teamwork and networking:
  Work alongside other professionals to provide optimal care to population. Design and conduct joint treatments.
  Coordinate with administrations and organizations outside their organization who can offer support and resources. If necessary, refer the patient to the most appropriate professional.
  Update their technical expertise and exchange knowledge and experiences.

Regulated training and graduates

• Grau: Psicologia

Complementary training

Other specific skills

Self-control: Level 2

Communication: Level 3

Empathy: Level 3

Analytical thought: Level 2

Team work and cooperation: Level 2

Customer service

Direct and personal interaction with people and relating to the public are highly-motivating activities for individuals who have an interest in the field of customer service. A focus on people and on satisfying customers' needs is key in the occupations included in this field. These jobs entail the need to know suitable techniques for attending to the public and being able to give appropriate service that is tailored to their needs and expectations. Good examples are activities which offer assistance and guidance during functions, trips or at facilities, and those which provide advice in relation to products and services.

Healthcare

Working to maintain and improve health, as well as physical and mental well-being, is the primary interest of people who are involved in the field of healthcare. Some of the activities in this field include making diagnoses, prescribing treatments and monitoring illnesses and injuries. These activities also include the application of therapeutic treatments (traditional or alternative) with a view to facilitating the physical recovery of those being treated. To carry out these activities, one must have in-depth knowledge of the human body and medicine, in its various specialisations.

Social community worker

Individuals related to the social/community field have an interest in working to improve people's social well-being and quality of life, as well as enhance their integration into their social, family and/or work environment. The professional activities that are common in this field include providing special support and aid to people at risk of social exclusion, designing programmes and implementing resources for the social and cultural stimulation of an area, and acting as mediators for conflict resolution in family, social or interpersonal environments. These activities involve constant interaction with people in order to improve their psychological and social well-being.

Technical of therapies with animals

Neuropsychologist

Mediator

Palliative care specialist

Music therapist

• Work hours

  Depending on the institution in which they work, it can be part- or full-time.

• Salary

  The gross annual salary paid to employees ranges from 16.947 to 25.531 Euros. Median: 20.801 euros annum gross.
  
  Source: Report "Observatory of Jobs and Salaries of the Labour Market. Barcelona Activa", elaborated by ICSA Grupo. April 2015.

• Other features

  A certain investment in the material resources required to hold sessions may be necessary, depending on the kind of therapy provided.

• Professional category

  Technician

• Human resources and equipment

  Personal computer.
  Phone line.
  Equipped consultation facilities (waiting room and reception area, consultation room, bathroom).

• Initial investments

  Between 5,000 and 10,000 Euros if the medical consultation facilities are rented.