Psychologist
A specialist who studies mental processes and behavior, or applies psychological methods to assess, explain, or treat them.
Psychology: The scientific study of mental processes and behavior. Psychologists work within this broad discipline, whether they conduct research or provide services.
Psychological assessment: The systematic use of interviews, tests, and observations to evaluate psychological characteristics or functioning. Assessment helps psychologists answer diagnostic, educational, and occupational questions.
Psychiatrist: A physician specializing in diagnosing and treating mental disorders, including through medication. Psychiatrists are medical doctors; psychologists generally receive doctoral training in psychology instead.
Wilhelm Wundt: A German physiologist and psychologist who established a laboratory for experimental psychology in Leipzig in 1879. His laboratory helped establish psychology as a distinct research profession.
Mental health stigma: Social disapproval or discrimination directed at people because of mental health conditions. Psychologists’ public work can challenge stigma or, when poorly framed, reinforce it.
Clinical psychology: A psychology specialty focused on assessing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral difficulties. It is the specialty most associated with psychological assessment and therapy.
Psychotherapy: A treatment method that uses psychological techniques and relationships to address emotional or behavioral difficulties. Some psychologists provide therapy to help people change distressing patterns.
Psychotherapist: A professional who provides psychotherapy, with training that may come from several disciplines. Psychologist is a specific professional background, while psychotherapist describes a treatment role.
Lightner Witmer: An American psychologist who founded a psychological clinic at the University of Pennsylvania in 1896. His clinic helped shape the early practice of applied and clinical psychology.
Psychometrics: The science of measuring psychological characteristics through tests and statistical models. Psychologists’ use of measurement affects decisions in education, employment, and clinical care.