While searching LinkedIn for outstanding psychologists to join NYMHC, I ran into something unexpected: an overwhelming number of different doctoral-level psychology degrees. I’m used to filtering for clinical or counseling psychologists—the degrees tied directly to providing therapy and psychiatric collaboration—but LinkedIn surfaced everything from industrial-organizational psychology to cognitive science to educational psychology.
It made me wonder: What do all of these highly trained people actually do for a living?
So I did a deep dive, and here it is—the complete, plain-language guide to psychology doctoral degrees and the careers they lead to.
1. Clinical Psychology (PhD or PsyD)
What it is: The broadest and best-known path.
What they do:
- Psychotherapy
- Psychological testing (neuropsych, cognitive, ADHD, personality, forensic)
- Clinical research
- Hospital-based behavioral health
- Academic roles
These are the psychologists we most often hire at NYMHC.
2. Counseling Psychology (PhD or PsyD)
What it is: Similar to clinical but with more emphasis on strengths, wellness, identity, and life transitions.
What they do:
- Psychotherapy
- Career counseling
- College counseling centers
- Testing in many states (scope varies)
These professionals are also core to outpatient mental-health practices like ours.
3. School Psychology (PhD, PsyD, or EdD)
What it is: Specializes in learning, behavior, and educational systems.
What they do:
- Psychoeducational testing
- IEP and special-education evaluations
- Behavioral interventions in schools
- Consultation with teachers and administrators
Most work in K-12 settings; some move into private testing practices.
4. Industrial–Organizational (I/O) Psychology (PhD)
What it is: The psychology of the workplace.
What they do:
- Leadership assessment
- Hiring systems and organizational culture
- Training, coaching, team performance
- HR analytics or consulting
These folks rarely do therapy—they’re improving companies, not treating patients.
5. Health Psychology (PhD or PsyD)
What it is: Mind-body relationships and chronic illness.
What they do:
- Behavioral medicine in hospitals
- Pain management
- Psycho-oncology
- Diabetes, cardiac, and bariatric behavioral health
Often integrated into medical teams.
6. Neuropsychology (PhD or PsyD)
What it is: Specializes in the brain–behavior relationship.
What they do:
- Comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations
- Differential diagnosis (ADHD vs autism vs brain injury, etc.)
- Work in hospitals, rehab units, neurology clinics
They are test-heavy specialists and rarely do long-term therapy.
7. Cognitive Psychology (PhD)
What it is: The study of memory, attention, perception, and learning.
What they do:
- Research
- UX testing
- Human-factors jobs
- AI and tech roles
These degrees are research/science focused—not clinical.
8. Cognitive Science (PhD)
What it is: Interdisciplinary study of mind and intelligence.
What they do:
- AI, machine learning, robotics
- Neuroscience labs
- Tech companies
- Academic research
Often more STEM than psychology.
9. Social Psychology (PhD)
What it is: Study of human behavior in groups, dynamics, and influence.
What they do:
- Research
- Data science and analytics
- Government/public policy
- Marketing and consumer behavior
Typically not clinical.
10. Developmental Psychology (PhD)
What it is: Study of lifespan development—children through older adulthood.
What they do:
- Research
- Early-childhood interventions
- Policy and program design
A few become licensed psychologists, but most stay in research or applied developmental roles.
11. Biopsychology / Behavioral Neuroscience (PhD)
What it is: The biology underlying behavior, emotions, and cognition.
What they do:
- Labs and research institutes
- Pharma/biotech
- Brain-behavior research
Not clinical.
12. Experimental Psychology (PhD)
What it is: Research-focused training in psychological science.
What they do:
- Academic research
- Human-factors design
- Government and private-sector research roles
These programs train scientists, not clinicians.
13. Educational Psychology (PhD or EdD)
What it is: How people learn and how to optimize learning environments.
What they do:
- Curriculum design
- Learning assessment
- Ed-tech companies
- Government/larger educational systems
Some overlap with school psych, but not typically clinical.
14. Human Factors Psychology (PhD)
What it is: Psychology applied to technology, machines, and user experience.
What they do:
- UX research
- Aviation safety
- Engineering and product design
A niche but growing field.
15. Forensic Psychology (PhD or PsyD)
What it is: Intersection of psychology and the legal system.
What they do:
- Competency evaluations
- Risk assessment
- Expert testimony
- Consulting for courts, corrections, and law enforcement
Many are clinically trained; others specialize purely in evaluation.
16. Medical Psychology / Clinical Health Psychology (PhD or PsyD)
What it is: Psychologists embedded within medical systems (distinct from health psychology in some states).
What they do:
- Integrated primary care
- Presurgical evaluations
- Pain, sleep, chronic illness
In some states (e.g., Louisiana, New Mexico), medical psychologists may prescribe under special statutes.
17. Quantitative / Psychometrics Psychology (PhD)
What it is: Measurement, statistics, and psychological assessment science.
What they do:
- Test development (e.g., ETS, Pearson)
- Data science
- Research methods
They’re the mathematicians of psychology.
18. Sports Psychology (PhD or PsyD)
What it is: Mental performance and resilience in athletes.
What they do:
- Work with teams and universities
- Private consulting
- Performance coaching
Some are clinically licensed; others are coaches/consultants.
19. Community Psychology (PhD)
What it is: Focus on systems, public health, and underserved communities.
What they do:
- Program design
- Policy
- Research
- Community interventions
Not typically clinical unless they pursued licensure.
So… What Does This All Mean?
Psychology is a massive field, and only a portion of these doctoral degrees lead to clinical practice. When we recruit at NYMHC, we’re primarily focused on:
- Clinical Psychologists
- Counseling Psychologists
- Neuropsychologists (for testing roles)
- School Psychologists with postdoctoral clinical training (selectively)
But the broader universe of psychology doctorates reminds us how rich—and fragmented—the field really is.
Whether someone specializes in brain injury, workplace culture, human learning, or cognitive science, a psychology doctorate can lead to a surprisingly wide range of careers. And next time I’m searching on LinkedIn, I’ll be a little less mystified at the alphabet soup.