Clinical psychologists diagnose and treat mental, behavioral and emotional disorders. They might work directly with patients experiencing conditions ranging from personal issues to severe and chronic disorders such as schizophrenia.They might also do research studies on behavior and the brain. Some clinical psychologists specialize in a certain population of patients, such as children or the elderly, or specific areas, such as behavioral and cognitive psychology. Responsibilities of clinical psychologists can include:

• Interviewing, observing, assessing and experimenting on patients to diagnose their mental or behavioral disorder
• Giving personality and intelligence tests and looking for behavioral patterns
• Developing individualized treatment plans and behavior modification programs for patients
• Counseling patients and their families
• Researching behaviors and theories and writing papers on their findings
• Prescribing medications (only clinical psychologists in Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana and New Mexico are legally allowed to prescribe medications)

Successful clinical psychologists have various skills, ranging from clear communication to problem-solving. They must have good social skills when interacting with patients as well as a scientific mind. Clinical psychologist skills might include:

• Interpersonal skills: Clinical psychologists should be approachable and work well with patients, their families and other professionals. They should show empathy and support for their patients.
• Integrity: Patients must trust their psychologist to share private information with them. The professional should be trustworthy, keep information confidential and make their patients feel safe and comfortable.
• Analytical skills: Clinical psychologists must evaluate their observations and information to come to solutions or treatments for patients’ disorders.
• Communication: Clinical psychologists spend a lot of time listening to and communicating with patients. They should communicate in a way that encourages patients to share their experiences. Those with a research focus should be able to clearly explain their study findings in publications and presentations.
• Observational skills: These professionals must identify subtle behavioral signs and understand the meaning of patients’ actions, expressions and other nonverbal cues.