What is a Health Psychologist?

Health Psychologists are licensed psychologists who have doctorial degrees in Clinical, Counseling, or Educational Psychology who go on to do specialized post-doctoral training in Health Psychology. Health Psychologists generally work in medial settings such as hospitals. However, they can also work in other settings such as private practice settings, performing more traditional mental health work.

If working within hospitals Health Psychologists may be found providing clinical care for patients in General Internal Medicine and Family Practice Clinics, Spinal Cord Injury Units, Pain Management Centers, Geriatric Clinics and Nursing homes, Sleep Clinics, Cardiology Clinics, Infections Disease Clinics, and many more. Additionally, Health Psychologists also direct obesity treatment clinics, perform pre-bariatric surgery evaluations, pre-organ transplant evaluations, and function as team members in the treatment of various chronic health diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, and pulmonary issues.

Finally, Health Psychologists are often found in academic medical settings (like medical and nursing schools) providing education to various medical disciplines, engaging in research, and holding academic appointments (e.g., Assistant, Associate, and Full Professorships) within those Institutions).

Gerald J. Strauss, Ph.D.
Section Chief, Clinical Health Psychology
Cleveland VA Medical Center
Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine
Case Western Reserve School of Medicine