Archive for June, 2009

New York Psychologists

Saturday, June 13th, 2009

New York psychologists are people who work in a number of different areas sharing their expertise with others in order to help people. You will find New York psychologists working in universities as teachers and counselors. You will also find them doing research.

Many of the statistics that you read about what to do with dreams, sleep, anger management, and social behaviors are done by psychologists that are doing research in order to help enlighten us that we might benefit from the knowledge in positive ways. There are also New York psychologists that work as clinical psychologists, counseling psychologists, psychiatric nurses, marriage and family therapists, social workers and those who work in private practice.

New York psychologists are professionals who are required to obtain a minimum of education and practice to be licensed in the state of New York.

After a basic education and an undergraduate degree, the individual must complete a doctoral degree in psychology. This must be followed by a two year period of experience in their field under the supervision of a psychologist. This practical training may take place in a clinical environment or at a hospital. When this is completed, the person must pass an examination to the satisfaction of the board of psychology.

All those who seek to be licensed must be at least 21 years of age or older, considered to be of good moral character and cannot have a criminal record. The fee and processing of the examination is $175. The greater area of New York has a good amount of professional counselors and mental health professionals that is growing every year.

According to 2007 statistics the number of professionals was as follows: The Bronx (Bronx county) had 175 licensed practitioners, Brooklyn (King county) 631, Manhattan (New York County) 2,950. Queens ( Queens county) 437 and Staten Island (Richmond county) 112. In total numbers, licenses received in all of New York State were 11,349. This does not represent the number of people in practice as some of them may workout of state or are taking time off.

Like all other states and countries, New York psychologists are social scientists. It is practical and involves observation, evaluation and interpretation. Psychologists using their methods are able to help in the modification of certain individuals.

The type of behavior that is considered undesirable or maladaptive can then be prevented, eliminated or modified. A behavior that needs to be changed is behavior that is not acceptable to society because it can be harmful to others or those who exhibit it. The areas of psychology are, to say the least, vast. These professionals study many different areas, some of which are often surprising to people. Sensation and perception, intelligence testing, stress coping, health, human development through the entire life span, motivation and emotion, consciousness and the basics of behavior, social behavior and the study and treatment of psychological disorders.

New York psychologists also study in areas of archeology and biology, and don?t let it surprise you if you find a psychologist or two working at the zoo in order to study social behavior. Psychology is not just about humans but also understanding them from the DNA level, how they are affected by the environment from the outside as well as how they react to it from the inside. Because of this, psychology continues to advance in a world of human diversity.

The majority of people who seek help or assistance from a New York psychologist are people from the mainstream of society. They are people that are like you who live typical lives. They are involved with family, work, which involves us in relationships that include family members, work associates and communication with others or social interaction. These people work with New York psychologists to learn coping skills for stress, sleep problems, depression and improving mental skills like memory, as well as getting rid of behavior that isn?t considered bad but interferes with the quality of life that a person is seeking for themselves. New York psychology in private practice can be found in the yellow pages of any phone directory.

They can also be found on the internet where you can gain information to help you decide what type of psychologist you need. In many cases the information covered will also include a map that tells you where the office or hospital is to be found that you wish to go to.

Other places to find a New York psychologist are from your family doctor, hospitals, health care centers, schools, some businesses, community mental health clinics and community health centers. New York psychologists have been trained to have empathy and respect for their clients. Most people who are looking for personal help will probably look at therapy called insight therapy, in which a psychologist assists the individual in getting to know and understand their self better so that they might recognize behavior that is often unconscious.

Psychological Perspectives in the Modern Age

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Since the 1960s, the various methods used by psychologists have changed remarkably. Now, most of them do not identify with any particular school of thought, and prefer to concetrate on a given specialty area instead. They generally use a more universal approach, drawing on ideas from a range of perspectives. What follows are some of the major perspectives that  continue to play a role in the development of psychological thought and counseling today:

Through the study of human physiology, psychology gradually evolved and became a separate science, namely biological psychology-a perspective that stresses the biological and physical aspects of man’s behavior. It is enhanced by our present-day ability to do research and come to a greater understanding of the human nervous system and brain. Using tools such as PET amd MRI Scans, scientists can now determine the psychological effects of drugs, brain damage, and disease in a way that was never possible before.

Behavioral psychology is concerned with the way in which human behavior is learned and reinforced by relevant environmental variables. Its principles are generally applied in a mental health setting as counselors and psychiatrists use different techniques to diagnose and treat a wide range of mental illnesses.

The cognitive perspective concentrates on our various mental processes including thinking, decision-making, memory and problem-solving. This approach has become increasingly popular in recent decades, due to the influence of Albert bandura, Jean Piaget, and others.

Cross-cultural researchers and psychologists study human behavior from a cultural perspective, and as a result, they have made important discoveries about the influence society and culture have on the individual’s thinking and related behavior.

Evolutionary researchers and psychologists apply the essential principles of evolution to various psychological phenomena. This approach maintains that certain mental processes have assisted humans in reproduction and survival throughout history.

Influenced by the work of Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and others, the humanistic perspective emphasizes the way in which motivation can influence human thought and behavior. With this approach, the concept of self-actualization is considered to be the key, along with other basic elements.

The psycho-dynamic perspective, which began with Sigmund Freud, focuses on early childhood events, interpersonal relationships, and the unconscious mind as factors in explaining human behavior and treating those who suffer from some form of mental illness.

The goal of researchers and practitioners in the field of psychology is to comprehend and interpret human emotion, thought and behavior. Their studies are based on certain topics or problems to be solved rather than any underlying philosophy, and they freely choose among various perspectives to shed some light on their investigation. Their findings also have practical applications in many areas, including the treatment of mental illness, self-help, and performance enhancement.