A Day in the Life of a Clinical Psychologist at UCLA and Spectrum Psych LA
A clinical psychologist's day varies greatly; one day might include "a call with a school counselor," running "a parent training group," individual sessions (both in-person and via telehealth), intakes, meetings with undergraduates regarding research projects, documentation, and research tasks such as preparing focus group questions. This highlights the multifaceted nature of the profession, encompassing direct patient care, administrative tasks, and academic pursuits.
Communication, Problem-Solving, Teamwork, Practical, Real-World Examples
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Reina Factor
Clinical Psychologist
UCLA and Spectrum Psych LA
Emory University 2012
Virginia Tech PhD Clinical Psychology
Psychology
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness
Medical
Honors Student, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. A day may involve a variety of tasks, including client meetings (both in-person and via telehealth), parent training groups, consultations with other professionals (e.g., school counselors), intakes for group therapy, and administrative tasks such as documentation.
2. There is significant variation from day to day in terms of the types of activities and clients seen.
3. The work also involves research activities, such as preparing focus groups and working with undergraduate students on research projects. This showcases the combination of clinical practice and research that can be part of a clinical psychologist's work.
Transcript
What does the day in the life of a clinical psychologist look like?
That's a great question. It really varies a lot.
One day last week, I had a call with a school counselor, ran a parent training group, and had an individual session. Some of these were in person, and others were over telehealth.
I also did an intake for a group to determine if an individual was appropriate for it. I had meetings with undergraduates about research projects and did a lot of documentation, like writing notes about appointments.
Finally, I did some research, focusing on questions for focus groups and getting that ready. This is just one example, but my days can vary a lot.