Assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. Help individuals with distress or maladjustment understand their problems through their knowledge of case history, interviews with patients, and theory. Provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment. May design behavior modification programs and consult with medical personnel regarding the best treatment for patients.
PsychologyTherapy and CounselingEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingCustomer and Personal Service
Technology & tools
Medical softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareWord processing softwareVideo conferencing softwareSpreadsheet software
Representative tasks
Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.Document patient information including session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatmentIdentify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information ob
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Standard intakes and biopsychosocial assessments — conduct under licensed supervision in a community-mental-health clinic.Risk assessment (suicide, self-harm, abuse) — perform per the agency's safety protocol on every relevant encounter.Evidence-based psychotherapy manuals (CBT, IPT) — deliver to fidelity on routine adult cases.Psychological test administration (WAIS, PHQ-9, GAD-7) — administer and score per published manuals.Clinical documentation in the EHR — maintain to agency and payer standards.HIPAA and informed-consent practice — apply consistently across patient encounters.Treatment-planning collaboration with a clinical supervisor — contribute concrete goals and measures.Crisis-line and after-hours coverage — staff per agency rotation with appropriate consultation.Routine consultation with prescribers, schools, and families — conduct with consent and clear scope.Routine supervision sessions — prepare for with cases, recordings, and reflective questions.
developing
Independent caseload of routine outpatient cases — manage with supervisor consultation on complex situations.Targeted evidence-based protocols (PE, CPT, DBT skills, EMDR) — deliver to fidelity on indicated cases.Psychological testing batteries (cognitive, personality, neuropsych screen) — administer, score, and interpret.Integrated reports for schools, courts, or workers' comp — author independently with appropriate caveats.Group therapy protocols — facilitate routinely (DBT skills, anxiety, substance use).Trainees and practicum students — supervise on clinical fundamentals under a licensed supervisor.Couples and family interventions in routine contexts — deliver evidence-based models.Outcomes monitoring (PHQ-9, BDI, ORS) — use to inform treatment decisions in each case.Consultation with PCPs, schools, and case managers — lead with concrete recommendations.Ethics and licensure scope — maintain across jurisdictions and payer environments.
proficient
Complex and high-risk caseloads — manage independently across diagnostic complexity (PTSD, severe mood, dissociation).Specialty programs (trauma clinic, eating disorder, OCD, perinatal) — deliver with mastery of the relevant protocols.Clinical supervision and consultation — provide to postdocs and licensed colleagues across complex cases.Program development and protocol fidelity — lead within a clinic or department.Forensic and disability evaluations — conduct independently with defensible methodology.Research and program evaluation — lead small to mid-size studies in the practice setting.Insurance audits and quality reviews — lead with documentation and outcomes data.Teaching and training contributions to graduate programs — maintain regularly.Cross-disciplinary teams (medicine, social work, education) — lead on complex care plans.Professional ethics and peer consultation — model and contribute through formal channels.
advanced
Clinical leadership of a department, program, or large practice — set direction across staff, training, and outcomes.Statewide or national program design — lead in collaboration with payers, agencies, and academia.Doctoral training pipelines — design and direct with APA-style accreditation requirements.Externally funded research on intervention science — lead as principal investigator across institutions.Public-mental-health policy — advise legislators, agencies, and trustees with evidence.Disciplinary norms (APA, licensure boards, ethics committees) — advance through formal leadership.Major awards, named lectureships, and editorial roles — hold consistent with sustained field shaping.Crisis-response programs and mass-casualty mental-health planning — lead at jurisdictional scale.Workforce development and supervision standards — institutionalize through training systems.Cross-disciplinary policy (justice, education, healthcare) — catalyze with evidence and coalitions.