Clinical Psychology

Y Careers

Graduates of the Clinical Programme have many different career opportunities such as:

• Health, including work with young children who have developmental and/or behavioural problems, children and adolescents with mental health difficulties, clients who live in the community and/or who may be in-patients for a period, clients in crisis, older people, rehabilitation for those with neuropsychological impairment, clients who experience pain, and forensic psychiatry.
   
• New Zealand Corrections (Psychological Service) employs clinical psychologists throughout the country.  In this setting they work with offenders who are on probation or in prison, sometimes in specialist units such as the Youth Offenders Unit or units that provide treatment for sexual offending.
   
• The Child, Youth and Family (Specialist) Service employs clinical psychologists in some cities.  These clinicians work with children, caregivers and/or families, assisting social workers by providing assessments and sometimes treatment.
   
• Psychologists trained in clinical psychology may work for Group Special Education, where they focus on assessing and intervening with children and young people whose behavior interferes with their learning in school.
   
• Others work with people with disabilities, physical and intellectual, in specifically developed settings (in Hamilton we have the Community Living Trust).
   
• Many clinicians eventually become self-employed in private practice after obtaining further experience, and work with clients who self refer as well as those who are referred by other individuals and agencies.