Health psychology is defined as "a field of psychology dealing with the emotional and cognitive factors that contribute to, help to maintain, or result from disease, illness, or injury." Put simply, health psychology uses the interaction of the body and the mind to help people feel better and enjoy optimal wellness across the lifespan.
What is a Health Psychologist?
A health psychologist is a licensed psychologist who is trained to provide traditional psychological treatment for emotional and mental conditions but who also has specialized training and experience in working with individuals who have medical issues. It is not necessary that someone have an emotional or mental condition or a medical condition to benefit from working with a health psychologist.
Many people find it helpful to see a psychologist on a regular basis to prevent the build up of emotional distress rather than waiting to react to distress that has accumulated over time. Mental health and physical health are interrelated and cannot be separated. Taking care of yourself emotionally is one part of caring for your overall health.
What Type of Work Does a Health Psychologist Do?
Health psychologists help people with a wide variety of issues and work with child, adolescent, adult and geriatric populations.
In addition to traditional psychological assessments and treatments, health psychologists also provide medical-related treatments and evaluations, such as:
Treatments
- Pain Management
- Biofeedback
- Hypnotherapy/Hypnosis
- Cognitive Rehabilitation/Retraining
- Coping with Chronic Illness
- Coping with Disability, Injury, or Body Alteration
- Eating Disorders
- Fertility & Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART)
- Post-Partum Depression
- Sexual Dysfunction
- Addiction
- Psychosomatic & Conversion Disorders
- Trauma
- Grief & End of Life
Evaluations
- IVF or Egg/Sperm Donor or Surrogate
- Pre-surgical Bariatric
- Pre-surgical Dorsal Column Stimulator
- Pre-surgical Organ Transplant
- Cognitive/Brain Injury
- Workers' Compensation/Return to Work/FMLA for Mental Health Reasons
- Medication Seeking, Abuse, & Dependence
- Differential Diagnosis (Psychosomatic & Conversion Disorders)
- Mental Competency for Medical Decision Making (DNR, etc.)
What is Forensic Psychology?
Forensic psychology is the application of psychological science, principles, and methods to answer questions or solve problems within the legal system. It is the intersection of psychology and the law with family, juvenile, criminal and civil courts as well as with law enforcement, investigative, or correctional agencies.
What is a Forensic Psychologist?
A forensic psychologist is a licensed psychologist who is trained to provide traditional psychological treatment for emotional and mental conditions but who also has specialized training and experience in working with the legal system. Not everyone who needs the services of a forensic psychologist has an emotional or mental health condition, although some may.
A Judge may appoint a forensic psychologist to evaluate and answer specific questions of relevance to the legal decision-making. Or, an attorney may refer a client for an evaluation or services. Other times, and individual voluntarily seeks the services of a forensic psychologist to assist in addressing important psychological issues relevant to their legal case.
What Type of Work Does a Forensic Psychologist Do?
Forensic psychologists work with people, authorities, attorneys, and judges on a wide variety of issues relevant to all areas of the legal or correctional system. In addition to traditional psychological assessments and treatments, health psychologists also provide forensic-related treatments and evaluations, such as:
Treatments
- Mediation & Parent Coordination
- Court-Ordered Treatment (Anger Management, Parenting, etc.)
- Reunification Therapy
Evaluations
- Custody, Parental Capacity, Parental Alienation, and Termination of Parental Rights
- Child Abuse Potential
- Child Abuse Allegation Credibility
- Sex Offender Risk
- Violence Risk
- Competency to Stand Trial
- Adoption & Attachment
- Criminal Responsibility, Criminal Mitigation
- Diminished Capacity
- Insanity (NGRI) vs. Guilty But Mentally Ill (GBMI)
- Mental Competency (Miranda Rights, Waivers, Trials, Sentencing)
- Reintegration/Release Readiness
- Victim/Witness Credibility & Reliability
- Malingering
- Loss of Consortium
- Emotional Damages
- Disability & Worker's Compensation
- Guardianship
- Mental Competency for Financial Decision Making
- Pre & Post Event Functional Comparisons (Psychological Impact)
- Fitness for Duty (Police, Fire, EMS, Military), Pre-employment, Government/Security Clearance
Other Forensic Services
- Legal Consultation & Assistance: Case Review, Scientific Reviews, Report Writing
- Police Interviewing Techniques & Confessions
- Jury Composition Profiling
- Offender Profiling
- Review and Critique of Other Experts' Methods & Results
- Expert Witness Testimony (case specific or subject specific) at Depositions or Trials
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