PSYCHOLOGIST 1                                                 L0765

Definition:

This is practitioner level professional work in the field of psychology.

Employees in this class perform independent and specialized work in clinical, vocational, rehabilitation, educational, counseling, forensic or research areas of a psychological services program. Work includes the diagnosis of individual patient needs, the planning, development and implementation of patient therapies, the evaluation of individual patient progress and the formulation of individual patient prognoses. Important aspects of this work include the selection and application of psycho-therapeutic treatments including the frequency, intensity and duration of applied therapies. Work includes the development of treatment procedures and the implementation of policies regarding the delivery of psychological services to individual patients/clients served. Clinical supervision may be exercised over technical personnel. Work is performed under the general supervision of a doctoral level licensed psychologist or program administrator and is subject to review through consultation and evaluation of work performed.

Selects and supervises the administration, scoring and interpretation of a wide range of psychological diagnostic measures and employees other diagnostic techniques to evaluate intellectual functioning, personality structure, interests, aptitudes, and related psychological factors.

Establishes reliability, validity and confidence limits for psychological measures.

Performs individual, conjoint, group or family counseling or psychotherapy or other therapeutic procedures and techniques of a psychological nature with a variety of patients or clients in a multi-disciplinary setting.

Participates in staff meetings to discuss and evaluate the adjustment of patients/clients and their individual plan; may serve as Treatment Team Director.

Formulates short and long term psychological treatment objectives for individual patients/clients.

Reviews preliminary interpretations of standard psychological tests; prepares comprehensive diagnostic, progress evaluation and prognostic mental status reports.

Develops and implements positive reinforcement programs including reinforcement schedules and their application to direct tangible reinforcement systems and to token economies.

Develops and implements behavior programs with restrictive clauses such as over-correction, contingent observation, required relaxation and non-preferred activity.

Develops and implements counseling programs to deal with adjustment problems in daily living, social interaction and work settings.

Directs and instructs professional, technical and non-professional personnel in the theories, methods, practices and techniques employed in a psychological services program.

Reviews evaluation results and therapeutic recommendations with patients/clients.

Assists an administrative superior in the development of a psychological services program.

Assists in research projects of a psychological services program; may be assigned responsibility for planning, organizing, and conducting a specific segment of a research project.

Testifies as an expert witness in legal proceedings regarding patients/clients.

Performs related work as required.

Required Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of the principles and methods of psychology including statistical measurement of individuals and groups, diagnostic evaluation, psychotherapy, and the relationships between diagnostic findings and therapeutic methodologies.

Knowledge of the application of psychology to individual and group behavior.

Knowledge of mental illnesses and disabilities, their symptoms, treatment and social implications.

Knowledge of the principles and methods of psychological research and experimental design as applied to the field of psychology.

Knowledge of the standards and ethical principles of the practice of psychology.

Ability to promote and implement facility psychological services programs.

Ability to administer, score and interpret a wide range of psychological tests.

Ability to interpret and evaluate varied psychological data, prepare reports of findings, and develop and implement recommendations.

Ability to apply the principles and methods of administration and supervision.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients/clients, departmental and facility personnel, and the general public.

Minimum Experience and Training:

A doctoral degree in a clinical, applied, or behaviorally oriented field of psychology including a clinical internship or one year of clinical, applied, or behavioral experience under the supervision of a doctoral level psychologist.<

Necessary Special Requirement:

Possession of a current license to practice psychology as issued by the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychologist Examiners or possession of a current license to practice psychology as issued by another state with licensure requirements acceptable to the Board. Pennsylvania licensure must be obtained within one year of employment.

Necessary Special Requirement:

Applicants for positions in Mental Health facilities must meet the current guidelines for defining a doctoral degree in psychology as developed and published by the Council for the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology.

Date Established or Last Revised

Class Specification - 1986

Evaluation Guide - 1995

Commonwealth Equivalent PSG ST08