Health PsychologyHealth Psychology

The bio-psycho-social The bio-psycho-social approach to health!approach to health!

Who is a health Who is a health psychologist:psychologist:

• Someone who works to understand Someone who works to understand how various factors affect health:how various factors affect health:– BiologicalBiological– BehavioralBehavioral– SocialSocial

• Concerned with psychological Concerned with psychological influences on health and recoveryinfluences on health and recovery

What do they do?What do they do?

• They work in research and medical They work in research and medical settingssettings

• They conduct research and provide They conduct research and provide clinical servicesclinical services

• They often focus on prevention through They often focus on prevention through research and clinical interventionsresearch and clinical interventions

• Half do teaching and research; half have Half do teaching and research; half have clinical rolesclinical roles

What are some sample What are some sample work settings?work settings?

• Primary health care programsPrimary health care programs• Inpatient medical unitsInpatient medical units• Pain management centersPain management centers• Smoking clinicsSmoking clinics• Headache management centersHeadache management centers• Colleges and UniversitiesColleges and Universities

What are some typical What are some typical tasks they perform?tasks they perform?

• They do lots of assessment and then They do lots of assessment and then develop interventionsdevelop interventions– Various types of assessments (such as Various types of assessments (such as

Cognitive/behavioral and Cognitive/behavioral and psychophysiological)psychophysiological)

– Inteventions planned (e.g. stress Inteventions planned (e.g. stress management; relaxation therapy)management; relaxation therapy)

– Teach people to cope betterTeach people to cope better– Research (e.g. effect of lifestyle changes on Research (e.g. effect of lifestyle changes on

HIV)HIV)

What are career What are career opportunities like?opportunities like?

• Good, especially if the person is:Good, especially if the person is:– A good writerA good writer– Has “grantsmanship”Has “grantsmanship”– Has the right degrees:Has the right degrees:

• Ph.D. or Psy.D.Ph.D. or Psy.D.• Licenses (licensed like clinical/counseling Licenses (licensed like clinical/counseling

psychogists and board certified)psychogists and board certified)

Bachelors Level JobsBachelors Level Jobs

• Health Educator (a certification is Health Educator (a certification is available)available)

• Recreational Therapist Recreational Therapist – Settings such as hospitals, community Settings such as hospitals, community

programs programs – Populations include the disabled, Populations include the disabled,

elderly – focus on developing interestselderly – focus on developing interests

• Salary approx. $35,000Salary approx. $35,000

Occupational Therapy Occupational Therapy Asst.Asst.

• Bachelors Degree + a certificate in Bachelors Degree + a certificate in Occupational TherapyOccupational Therapy

• Assist Occupational Therapists in Assist Occupational Therapists in providing servicesproviding services

• Help provide services necessary to help Help provide services necessary to help people re-enter workforce AND/OR people re-enter workforce AND/OR improve life and independenceimprove life and independence

• Average Salary $42,000Average Salary $42,000

Physical Therapy Asst.Physical Therapy Asst.

• This career is similar to This career is similar to Occupational Therapy Asst.Occupational Therapy Asst.

• Assists physical therapist with Assists physical therapist with providing treatments for pain, providing treatments for pain, injury, disabilityinjury, disability

• A license may be requiredA license may be required• Very competitive salaries of Very competitive salaries of

approximately $41,000approximately $41,000

Health EducatorHealth Educator

• A focus on helping to prevent A focus on helping to prevent illnesses and increase healthy illnesses and increase healthy lifestyle choiceslifestyle choices

• Focuses on cultural factorsFocuses on cultural factors• Designs programs and Designs programs and

interventionsinterventions• Salary low $40,000 rangeSalary low $40,000 range

Masters LevelMasters Level

• Primarily via Masters Degrees in Primarily via Masters Degrees in Counseling and Social WorkCounseling and Social Work

• Rehabilitation Counseling, Health Rehabilitation Counseling, Health Counseling and Social WorkCounseling and Social Work

Health PsychologistHealth Psychologist

• Ph.D. levelPh.D. level• See Dr. Martin’s presentationSee Dr. Martin’s presentation• Researches and applies knowledge Researches and applies knowledge

to help people overcometo help people overcome– Perceived BarriersPerceived Barriers– Consequences (short vs long term)Consequences (short vs long term)– Social NormsSocial Norms

What courses should I What courses should I take now to prepare?take now to prepare?

• Social PsychologySocial Psychology• Learning & BehaviorLearning & Behavior• AbnormalAbnormal• PhysiologicalPhysiological• Health PsychologyHealth Psychology• Anatomy & PhysiologyAnatomy & Physiology• Community PsychologyCommunity Psychology