Clinical psychology is the application of psychological theory and research to the alleviation of human problems in living. At one time, the term "mental illness" was used to describe the types of problems of interest to clinical psychologists, but this term no longer describes accurately the broad range of topics with which contemporary clinical psychologists are concerned. Today, clinical psychologists are interested not only in traditional "mental" or psychological problems such as schizophrenia and severe depression but also in more common but important problems in living such as fears, shyness, sexual problems, marital problems, and physical health and illness.

The broad array of topics studied by clinical psychologists makes it difficult to give a concise definition of the field, and considerable overlap can be seen between clinical psychology and other psychology specialties (e.g. learning, developmental, psychopathology, physiological). This overlap, however, is due largely to the fact that clinical psychology is the application of knowledge acquired from research by psychologists in many other specialties.

Similarities also can be seen between clinical psychology and other "helping" professions such as social work and psychiatry. Clinical psychology, however, can be distinguished from these fields and others by two overriding characteristics. First, the roots of clinical psychology are in theory and research from the entire field of general psychology. Second, clinical psychology is a scientific field, rooted in the scientific method and in an appreciation for research. To the clinical psychologist, research and application go hand-in-hand because of the belief that the best way to intervene in human problems is to do so systematically and scientifically and to evaluate objectively the effects of these interventions.

Clinical Psychologists engage in a wide variety of functions and roles in a wide variety of settings. Most clinical psychologists are practitioners who spend most of their time providing services to people with emotional and behavioral problems. These practicing clinical psychologists work in community mental health centers, psychiatric hospitals, medical hospitals, medical schools, or in their own private offices. Many clinical psychologists teach in colleges and universities, often in programs that train clinical psychologists. Some clinical psychologists are engaged in research for government agencies or corporations. Finally, some clinical psychologists provide direct services and consultation to business and industry in dealing with such problems as personnel selection, job stress, and employee substance abuse. Thus, training in clinical psychology allows much flexibility and choice in activities and employment settings.

For a long time, psychology has been one of the most popular undergraduate majors in colleges and universities, and a large number of people with bachelor degrees in psychology seek additional training in master's and doctoral programs. Each year, the nation's universities graduate several thousand people with master's or doctoral degrees in clinical psychology. Thus, the competition for jobs in psychology has become keen, and the doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) has become essential for many jobs that were open to people with master's degrees only a decade or so ago. A doctoral degree is necessary for licensing as a private practice clinical psychologist in every state. Most teaching positions at colleges and universities require the doctoral degree. The jobs in community mental health centers and hospitals that offer the most flexibility, responsibility, variety, and financial reward require doctoral training. People with master's degrees in clinical psychology still can find jobs, but such jobs are less plentiful than ten years ago and tend to offer fewer opportunities for advancement and professional growth than jobs requiring the Ph.D. or Psy.D. The most sought after, most competitive, and most difficult training in clinical psychology is in Ph.D. or Psy.D. programs accredited by the American Psychological Association. Degrees from these programs also provide the greatest opportunity for interesting and financially rewarding careers. Over 100 doctoral training programs in clinical psychology in the United States and Canada are accredited by the APA. Most programs receive 10 or more applications for each trainee slot. Thus, programs are highly selective and tend to admit only students with excellent grades, high Graduate Record Examination scores (e.g., 1100 or above), good letters of recommendations from professors or supervisors, and some experience in psychological research or practice. The Ph.D. in clinical psychology is now A.P.A accredited at George Mason University.

The undergraduate student who desires graduate training in clinical psychology should begin planning his or her preparation as soon as possible. A psychology major is not essential for entry into master's or doctoral programs but does offer the best preparation for graduate work. Most important is solid training in general psychology and some exposure to the major specialties in psychology--learning, personality, physiological, developmental, social, statistics and psychometrics (tests and measurements). A course in abnormal psychology or psychopathology is required by some programs and highly desired by most. Specialty courses on such topics as behavior modification and communication/counseling skills are helpful also but not essential. More important than clinical psychology course work at the undergraduate level is a firm foundation in general psychology and a demonstration of a commitment to learning, scholarship and hard work. Many programs consider the undergraduate grade point average (overall GPA) the most important objective measure of this commitment. A number of minor areas of concentration are compatible with a psychology major. Fields that have the greatest overlap with the content of psychology include biology, sociology, anthropology, and philosophy. The topic of one's minor is usually less important than a demonstration of scholarship through good grades and good letters of recommendation from instructors.