Diagnose or evaluate mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests, and formulate and administer programs of treatment.
<ul><li>Interact with clients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, or vocational development and adjustment.</li><li>Identify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, or reference materials.</li><li>Use a variety of treatment methods, such as psychotherapy, hypnosis, behavior modification, stress reduction therapy, psychodrama, or play therapy.</li><li>Discuss the treatment of problems with clients.</li><li>Counsel individuals and groups regarding problems, such as stress, substance abuse, or family situations, to modify behavior or to improve personal, social, or vocational adjustment.</li><li>Write reports on clients and maintain required paperwork.</li><li>Consult with or provide consultation to other doctors, therapists, or clinicians regarding patient care.</li><li>Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling or treatments and the accuracy and completeness of diagnoses, modifying plans or diagnoses as necessary.</li><li>Obtain and study medical, psychological, social, and family histories by interviewing individuals, couples, or families and by reviewing records.</li><li>Select, administer, score, and interpret psychological tests to obtain information on individuals' intelligence, achievements, interests, or personalities.</li><li>Develop and implement individual treatment plans, specifying type, frequency, intensity, and duration of therapy.</li><li>Refer clients to other specialists, institutions, or support services as necessary.</li><li>Maintain current knowledge of relevant research.</li><li>Consult reference material, such as textbooks, manuals, or journals, to identify symptoms, make diagnoses, or develop approaches to treatment.</li><li>Observe individuals at play, in group interactions, or in other contexts to detect indications of mental deficiency, abnormal behavior, or maladjustment.</li><li>Provide occupational, educational, or other information to individuals so that they can make educational or vocational plans.</li></ul>