What is a Psychologist?

A psychologist is someone who studies mental processes and human behaviour by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another and the environment. Some psychologists work independently, doing research or working only with patients or clients. Others work as part of a healthcare team, collaborating with physicians, social workers, and others to treat illness and promote overall wellness.

What does a Psychologist do?

A psychologist is someone who studies mental processes and human behaviour by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another and the environment.

A psychologist will typically do the following:

• Conduct scientific studies to study behaviour and brain function (neuropsychologist)
• Collect information through observations, interviews, surveys, tests, and other methods
• Find patterns that will help them understand and predict behaviour
• Use their knowledge to increase understanding among individuals and groups
• Develop programs that improve schools and workplaces by addressing psychological issues
• Work with individuals, couples, and families to help them make desired changes to behaviours
• Identify and diagnose mental, behavioural, or emotional disorders
• Develop and carry out treatment plans
• Collaborate with physicians or social workers to help treat patients
• Psychologists seek to understand and explain thoughts, emotions, feelings, and behaviour. Depending on the topic of study, psychologists use techniques such as observation, assessment, and experimentation to develop theories about the beliefs and feelings that influence a person’s actions.

Psychologists often gather information and evaluate behaviour through controlled laboratory experiments, psychoanalysis, or psychotherapy. They also may administer personality, performance, aptitude, or intelligence tests. They look for patterns of behaviour or cause-and-effect relationships between events, and use this information when testing theories in their research or treating patients.