Clinical health psychology is an area of health psychology that focuses on treating individuals. Professionals pursuing clinical health psychology careers often focus on how an individual's lifestyle and behavior might affect his overall health. Clinical health psychologists will also usually work with individuals to help change bad habits or overcome lifestyle problems that may be affecting their physical health. (Becoming a, n.d.)
Similarities and Differences
Similarities in the training and work between those in health psychology and psychology include the training that occurs within psychology. Both degrees must include the core courses required of a psychology degree. A health psychologist and the medical psychologist must earn a PhD …show more content…
I would prefer to practice health psychology in either a private practice clinic or hospital setting. Pg 15 If not a health psychologist, a career in gerontology would be my second career choice in the category of health psychology. Working directly with aging clients is appealing and falls within my current interest in my social work degree pursuit. When looking into the study of gerontology, social gerontology is also an interesting health psychology field as well. “Social gerontology is the subfield of gerontology that deals with the social aspects of aging” (careersinpsychology.org). Advocacy is another common responsibility of gerontologists, namely social gerontologists. Senior advocates may act as links between older adults and the world around them. They may help them with the long and difficult paperwork associated with such things as health care or insurance. Social gerontologists also usually work to help dispel some of the myths that surround old age and work to set older adults up with employment, education, volunteer opportunities, or social activities. (careers) When considering how these health psychology fields and subfields, they relate closely to my career goal of either a hospital social worker or a hospice social worker. In both of these career goals I will be working closely with clients dealing with illnesses whether chronic or terminal, having the knowledge of how illnesses can impact someone’s behavior and mental health is important to how I will empower and support these clients. While health psychology and psychology are not my end degree goals in graduate school. It is clear to me that they are intertwined and connected closely to my current MSW degree and future client
Similarities and Differences
Similarities in the training and work between those in health psychology and psychology include the training that occurs within psychology. Both degrees must include the core courses required of a psychology degree. A health psychologist and the medical psychologist must earn a PhD …show more content…
I would prefer to practice health psychology in either a private practice clinic or hospital setting. Pg 15 If not a health psychologist, a career in gerontology would be my second career choice in the category of health psychology. Working directly with aging clients is appealing and falls within my current interest in my social work degree pursuit. When looking into the study of gerontology, social gerontology is also an interesting health psychology field as well. “Social gerontology is the subfield of gerontology that deals with the social aspects of aging” (careersinpsychology.org). Advocacy is another common responsibility of gerontologists, namely social gerontologists. Senior advocates may act as links between older adults and the world around them. They may help them with the long and difficult paperwork associated with such things as health care or insurance. Social gerontologists also usually work to help dispel some of the myths that surround old age and work to set older adults up with employment, education, volunteer opportunities, or social activities. (careers) When considering how these health psychology fields and subfields, they relate closely to my career goal of either a hospital social worker or a hospice social worker. In both of these career goals I will be working closely with clients dealing with illnesses whether chronic or terminal, having the knowledge of how illnesses can impact someone’s behavior and mental health is important to how I will empower and support these clients. While health psychology and psychology are not my end degree goals in graduate school. It is clear to me that they are intertwined and connected closely to my current MSW degree and future client